This is a collection of space related 3D models available for viewing in the free application Google Earth. The X PRIZE Cup 3D space models were developed by a variety of people and published mostly at the Google Earth Community. Below are descriptions of each of the 3D space models, a screenshot, a link to download, instructions on how to view, and credits to the author(s) of the models. Download Google Earth 4.
Apollo 11 Launchpad
This 3D model shows an Apollo Saturn V rocket on Launch Pad 39B, Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Apollo 11 3D Model 
- Google Earth 4 REQUIRED
Credit: This 3D Model developed and posted by 'jpwade' at the Google Earth Community.
Apollo 11 in Lunar Orbit
This innovative 3D model not only shows you the Apollo 11 mission as it was in orbit about the moon, but also downloads an image overlay to make Google Earth look like the moon.
Apollo 11 in Lunar Orbit - Download this Google Earth file. Make sure your "Borders" layer is turned off. You may also want to turn off the "Atmosphere" in GE Options.
Credit: This 3D Model developed and posted by 'fabri2' at the Google Earth Community.
Arecibo Radio Telescope
The Arecibo Radio Telescope is used by astronomers to research the Universe just like an optical telescope only it captures radio frequencies instead of optical frequencies. The Arecibo Telescope dish is 1000 feet (305 meters) wide and is nestled amoungst the hills of Puerto Rico.
Arecibo Radio Telescope - Download this Google Earth file. This file shows the 3D terrain, the telescope's dish and its superstructure.
Credit: This 3D Model developed and posted by 'GregTSL' at the Google Earth Community.
Ascender Over White Sands
Ascender is designed to be the first sub-orbital aeroplane since the X-15, and is designed to carry passengers to space. It would start a sub-orbital space tourism business that would build up the credibility needed for full orbital tourism. It is based on a design included in a feasibility study for the European Space Agency.
Ascender Over White Sands - Download this Google Earth file. There are views of the model over White Sands runway, on ascent at 1 mile altitude, and finally one at sub-orbital altitudes.
Credit: This 3D Model developed and posted by 'jpwade' at the Google Earth Community.
Baikonur Space Center: Russia
Soyuz Launch Facility (Site 1)
The original facilities founded in 1955 included a single launch pad at Site 1, and an assembly building connected by a railway.
The world's first artificial satellite was launched from the same pad on October 4, 1957. After the launch of the first manned spacecraft, Vostok-1, in 1961, the pad at Site 1 was nicknamed "Gagarinskiy Start" (Gagarin's pad).
See Russian Space Web for History of Baikonur:Soyuz Launch Facilities
Baikonur Space Center: Russia - Google Earth 4 REQUIRED.
Double click the folder or its contents to see the models. This will actually load folders to several 3D models for Baikonur. Leave Gagarin Pad on, then turn on/off each of the others (so only one collection is on at a time)
- Gagarin Pad - base models used by those below
- Sputnik
- Soyuz SL
- Soyuz TM
- Soyuz ST
- Soyuz on railcar in route to launch
- Soyuz being lifted onto launch pad
Credit: This collection of 3D Models developed and posted by 'jpwade' at the Google Earth Community.
Chandra X-Ray Observatory
Chandra is an X-ray Observatory launched by NASA on July 23, 1999. It was sent out by the Shuttle Columbia during the STS-93 mission.
Chandra allows scientists from around the world to obtain unprecedented X-ray images of exotic environments to help understand the structure and evolution of the universe.
See NASA: Exploring the Invisible Universe: Chandra X-ray Observatory
Chandra X-Ray Observatory - Download this Google Earth file. Double click the folder or its contents to see the model
Credit: This 3D Model developed and posted by 'AmericanXplorer1' at the Google Earth Community.
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope was put into orbit by the Space Shuttle in 1990. The Hubble is the largest space-based observatory and has made very valuable contributions to the science of astronomy.
See NASA's Hubblesite, and Wikipedia on Hubble
Hubble Space Telescope - After loading double click on the folder.
Credit: This 3D model was created and posted by 'jpwade' at the Google Earth Community.
International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is a joint project of five space agencies from the USA, Russia, Japan, Canada, and from Europe. The space station is located in orbit around the Earth at an altitude of approximately 360 km (220 miles), a type of orbit usually termed low Earth orbit .
See Space.com on ISS, and Wikipedia on ISS
International Space Station - After loading click on the "Tour" folder and press "Play".
Credit: This 3D model was created and posted by 'jpwade' at the Google Earth Community.
Mars Rover
The Mars Exploration Rover is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet.
Primary among the mission's scientific goals is to search for and characterize a wide range of rocks and soils that hold clues to past water activity on Mars.
See NASA: Mars Exploration Rover Mission
Mars Rover - Look for the "Rover Views" folder and double click on the different views..
Credit: This 3D model was created and posted by 'American_Explorer13' at the Google Earth Community.
Millenium Express
Single Stage to Orbit (SSTO) has been a dream for 40 years. The fact that no boosters or drop tanks are expended means that a fully reusable SSTO vehicle could operate frequently at low recurring cost, like an airplane. Development of high-performance hydrogen-oxygen propulsion, pioneered by the General Dynamics Centaur, has encouraged the possibility of SSTO. The current development of lightweight, high-temperature materials may finally make the SSTO dream possible.
More info:
History of the Phoenix VTOL SSTO and Recent Developments in Single-Stage Launch Systems
Millenium Express - Double click "Interior Close Up" then unselect the "Interior Layer" to see the layout of payload, tanks and engines.
Credit: This 3D Model developed and posted by 'jpwade' at the Google Earth Community.
Sea Launch Platform
The Sea Launch project is a commercial international venture to develop and operate a sea-based space launch system. The platform would be moved to deep sea during launches. The main objective of this project is to provide commercial services for launching spacecraft (SC) from a mobile sea-based launch platform.
Sea Launch Platform - After loading select the "Tour" folder and click "Play" or double click the various views.
Credit: This 3D Model developed and posted by 'Gerardo64' at the Google Earth Community.
Space Shuttle Landing
Space Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-104) is one of the US space shuttle fleet. She was the fourth operational shuttle built and, after February 2003, is one of only three (along with Discovery and Endeavour) fully operational shuttles remaining in the fleet, following the destructions of Challenger (1986) and Columbia (2003).
Space Shuttle Landing - Double click on the views to see the shuttle from different angles.
Credit: This 3D Model developed and posted by 'Gerardo64' at the Google Earth Community.
Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) is an extensively modified Boeing 747 jetliner that NASA uses to transport a space shuttle orbiter. Of the 2 NASA SCA's, one is a 747-100 model, while the other is a short range 747-100SR.
The SCA's are used to ferry space shuttles from landing sites back to the launch complex at the Kennedy Space Center, and to and from other locations too distant for the orbiters to be delivered by ground transportation.
See Wikipedia
Shuttle Carrier Aircraft - Leave the previous "Space Shuttle Landing" model turned on.
Credit: This 3D Model developed and posted by 'jpwade' at the Google Earth Community.
Solar Sail - Cosmos 1
The Cosmos 1 was a ship designed to fly by the solar wind. It was launched from a Russian nuclear submarine in an ICBM rocket, but unfortunately the 1st stage did not complete its burn and it did not make it to orbit. The Cosmos 1 was designed by The Planetary Society, and there are plans to attempt another launch.
Solar Sail - Cosmos 1 - Select the "Views" folder and double click on the different views.
Credit: This 3D Model developed and posted by 'jpwade' at the Google Earth Community.
Space Elevator
The concept of an elevator to space has been thought about for quite some time. The first popular portrayal of the concept was in a book called "Fountains of Paradise" by Arthur C. Clarke. This 3D model was created to illustrate a possible design of the space elevator. The creator of the model, 'Gerardo64', also compiled a nice description of the concept.
Space Elevator - Double click the different folders to see different views.
Credit: The 3D model was posted by 'Gerardo64' at the Google Earth Community.
Spitzer Infrared Telescope
The Spitzer Space Telescope
(formerly the Space Infrared Telescope Facility [SIRTF]) is an infrared space observatory, the fourth and final of NASA's Great Observatories.
Spitzer Infrared Telescope - Double click on the different views to see different angles. Also, read the instructions for other features.
Credit: This 3D Model developed and posted by 'Gerardo64' at the Google Earth Community.
Very Large Array (VLA) Telescope - New Mexico
The Very Large Array (VLA) consists of 27 independent radio antennae, each of which has a dish diameter of 25 meters (82 feet) and weighs 209 metric tonnes (230 tons). The antennae are arrayed along the three arms of a Y-shape (each of which measures 21 km/13 miles) long. These antenna listen for radio waves from space to study astronomy and listen for possible intelligent life on other worlds. The VLA (official web site) is located near Sorroco, New Mexico.
Very Large Array - Double click on the different numbered cameras for different views. It includes an aerial image overlay which has slightly better resolution.
Credit: This 3D Model developed and posted by 'jpwade' at the Google Earth Community.
This collection of 3D space models was put together by Frank Taylor of
Google Earth Blog with help from two Google Earth Community members (and contributors to the collection): Joe Wade and Gerardo Paz. Also, special thanks to
Google SketchUp.
