Tiled "image map shaders"?

[AzurePlanet]

My question is:

"Is it possible to get a planet surface using a lot of tiled image map shaders?"

I've tried to use the rotate X Y Z vector functions, but my only result is changing image map colors in a strange mood... 
My attempt is getting a planet surface using many tiled small image maps, instead of a single big one: something like "virtual textures" used in program "Celestia".
http://www.shatters.net/celestia/

[bigben]

Short of using spherical projection as you mentioned the short answer is no.. for now.  The Plan Y projection will only work for the top hemisphere.