I was inspired by a wonderful shot I found of a storm from orbit, to dig out my old HOTOL mesh, and composite it on top:
I’m not 100% sure the stars in the background work. They are not realistic, but I’m trying to get away from slavish realism…
For those unfamiliar, HOTOL was a British spaceplane project.
“HOTOL, for Horizontal Take-Off and Landing, was a 1980s British design for a single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) spaceplane that was to be powered by an airbreathing jet engine. Development was being conducted by a consortium led by Rolls-Royce and British Aerospace (BAe).”
Here are some older renders:
Perspective free views:
HOTOL over France:
HOTOL over Bristol:
