Building structures

A base (spaceport) is a construct in Orbiter which allows the user to create an area on a planet which contains various observer sites, structures, VORs, runways, and pads, and other objects contained in a file for that purpose. Base configuration files are contained in the appropriate folder (Orbiter\Config\<planet or moon>\Base). One can also edit an existing base by opening the <base>.cfg file with Notepad or other text editor.

Objects

Objects contained in a base include:

• Block - cubic or rectangular structures
• Hangar - structure with curved roof
• Hangar2 - structure with triangular roof, like a house
• Hangar3 - structure with curved roof, reaching to the ground, Hangar without side walls
• Tank - circular structure with flat top
• Runway - where airplanes and spaceplanes land
• Runway lights - lighting for a runway
• Beacon array - linear lighting array, designed for taxiway
• Solar plant - an array of solar panels, self aligning to the Sun
• Train1 - Monorail train on a straight track
• Train1 - Suspension train on a straight track
• Lpad1 - Octagonal landing pad
• Lpad2 - Square landing pad
• Lpad2a - Square landing pad with a texture different from Lpad2
• Mesh - other meshes

Creating a base

Bases can be defined in the planet or moon config folder, but, in the stock Orbiter 2016, the existing bases are each defined each by their own *.cfg file in the planet's Base subfolder.

To create a new base, open Notepad, or your favorite text editor, then type in the following:

; === Surface Base ===

Name = Rincon de la vieja
Size = 2000
ObjectSize = 2000

BEGIN_OBJECTLIST
LPAD2
POS 0 0
SCALE 5 0.15 0
TEX Lpad02
NAV 128.05
END
END_OBJECTLIST