cant find a mods section on the freespace 2 launcher, what exactly do you mean by that?
Ah, you are using retail I assume, which means you don't have FreeSpace Open. I suggest you download this as the graphic enhancements are astounding (Assuming your computer is upto it).
Turey's online installer can be found
here, (Beware, this can download upto 3gb of data, but as you have the retail disc's (<- assuming again) you half way there.)
And just for the hell of it....................

*Edit AGAIN*

You beat me to it again Darth!!!! Strangely enough though I didn't get a warning that some else had posted this time!