Next up, another classic design from the fertile mind of Phil Bono, the Hyperion.
This is a large single stage to orbit (SSTO) design, which can launch via a rocket sled, (should there be a convenient nearby 1 mile high mountain, anyway).
Category: spacecraft
NASA PRANDTL Flying Wing – finished renders
Some finished renders of the flying wing design. See previous posts for the work in progress, and sample reference images.
The sky was the most difficult part here. I was compositing onto panoramic photos, and had to make my own sky. I really liked the dark greyish green, but it’s not very realistic.
Continue reading “NASA PRANDTL Flying Wing – finished renders”
NASA – PRANDTL Flying Wing for Mars
This concept is a flying wing, or bodyless plane, currently being tested for a possible flight to prove the concept. It is intended to work well in the thin atmosphere of the planet Mars, and would be tested at very high altitude on Earth, where the pressure is similar.
You can find out more about the project here:
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/features/mars_airplane.html
Here’s the current state of my quickie project, I’m still very unsure on what to do on the bottom of the craft.
Classic space cruiser, finished renders
Right! The space cruiser is now done. I struggled a bit with the nose until I decided to make it a dome, and then added the spike, and the scallopped textures around it.
These renders are deliberately not done in a very realistic style. To be specific:
- The environment reflected in the chrome is not in the scene
- The lighting is very broad, not accurate for a smape scene.
- Lighting directions may not match properly, I’ve gone for drama over realism.
Classic 1930’s space cruiser
It occured to me that I really don’t remember ever seeing one of those really old pulp SF cover space cruisers done in a modern CGI style. You know, the ones that look like a cross between a Zepellin and an express steam train:
Buck Rogers – The Original Rocket
I’ve just finished up “The Satellite”, the original 1930’s design for the Buck Rogers Rocket. References were a bit contradictory, so I would not be surprised if you find some that look a bit different.
Here are some of the more unusual features:
- It’s a tractor rocket. By which I mean the rockets are at the front and it is pulled by them, rather than pushed.
- It has four retro rocket tubes at the front.
- It lands by balancing on it’s tail! Not very stable…
- It had four weapons blisters with slots down the side.
Video for the Krafft Erhike Space Station concept.
Now added a video. complete with soundtrack, to showcase the mesh and the concept!
Continue reading “Video for the Krafft Erhike Space Station concept.”
Krafft Ehrike – 1958 Space Station design
This is a design by Kraft Ehrike, which appeared in “Life” magazine in 1958. From what I understand, the idea was to use the kind of cylindrical hulls and spherical ended tanks from upper rocket stages as basic units of contruction.
Ehrike worked with Wernher von Braun at Peenemunde on the V2 rocket program, and continued to work with WvB after they had moved to the USA.
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Delta II rocket complete!
Right, I may twiddle and tweak a bit, but I am calling this one done.
I’ve done various configurations, but (at least so far), I am only doing one fully textured version. And that’s the Mars Pathfinder version above!
The others use generic textures, rather than depict one specific mission.
Here are a couple of perspective free sets:
Progress withe the Delta II rocket mesh
Working on various elements of this rocket, with no particular plan.
I’ve also started looking at the various differing elements, such as the fairings and the number of boosters.
Anyhow, here are a selection of renders!
