Aerospace art appreciation thread

[Pipcard]

(Post any interesting aerospace-related art that you find. Make sure to give credit and a link to the source!)

Launch on Demand by Drell-7

"A versatile, reusable vehicle to access low Earth Orbit is the Holy Grail for the Astronautics community. The Space Shuttle, with its expendable tank, refurbishable Solid Rocket Boosters, and long periods of servicing between every flight, never lived up to this expectation (nor was it meant to. The U.S. Congress declined to fund the full system) So this still remains a science fiction dream today. Here we see two such craft, ascending together into orbit."

 

[jedidia]

So, we're supposed to just dump the entire concept ships website in here?

 

[MaverickSawyer]

So, we're supposed to just dump the entire concept ships website in here?

Nah... Only the good stuff.

 

[Evil_Onyx]

Coolhand blog

bagera3005
I think this will be a good addition to Orbiter

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Coolhand blog

NO! DON'T BRING HIM BACK!!!! Remember the XR-2 MkII debacle?

bagera3005
I think this will be a good addition to Orbiter.

Yes... yes it would.

 

[kamaz]

Retro style - NASA concept art of Space Station Freedom, 1991

And a 1984 version:

 

[Scav]

(images)

I read the word 'INTERPLANETARY' in the first image and the word 'EXPEDITIONS' almost snuck into my brain. . . :shifty:

 

[kamaz]

...And a nice collection of Shuttle concept art.

 

[steph]

Nice truck:

Why, why does it have the thrusters backward? Perhaps they're guns, not thrusters? Maybe some form of reverse-thrust? Or simply "it looks cool".

Taken from www.conceptships.blogspot.com

 

[Malky]

I really like this one...

 

[kamaz]

I'm going to go nuclear.

Stan Borowski's bimodal NTR (NASA):

Martian Dawn by Drell-7 -- NERVA:

Leaving the nest by Drell-7 -- a very similar NERVA stack (I'm tempted to rotate this by 90 degrees and use it as wallpaper):

Brussard ramjet by William-Black. PSA: Next time, if you are doing far-future LEO views, remember to redraw coastlines to account for sea level rise, instead of using stock NASA photos!

---------- Post added at 10:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:59 PM ----------

In related news, I was looking for Shuttle-Centaur drawings, and I have stumbled accross this thread at NSF, which, in addition to Shuttle-Centaur artwork has a ton of Gallileo concept art. Enjoy

 

[Pipcard]

CLARKE SpaceStation by feguimel

"British commercial space station, CLARKE. Shown still in building process. To the left, a commercial reaction engine space-plane is about to deliver its cargo."

 

[kamaz]

...And here is a talk by someone who draws these for a living ( http://www.patrawlings.com/ ):

---------- Post added at 11:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:41 PM ----------

More retro stuff -- Boeing's 1977 study into space-based solar. Note the Shuttle to see the size of the structure:

 

[Pipcard]

Neptune Cruiser by beltminer

"A spaceplane, operated by the Trident corporation, designed to service the huge aerostat balloons mining helium three in Neptune's upper atmosphere. These vehicles also have the capability to act as atmospheric scoops, if necessary, to bring limited quantities of the precious fusion fuel to the orbital storage facility."

 

[Matias Saibene]

This is the Olympus Star Cruiser, a 3D model I made in SketchUp, and never could successfully export to Orbiter. It is a star cruiser that serves as transport and main ship of the fleet.

PS: this time MS Aerospace does not refer to a dysfunctional company that I use it only when I joke.

 

[Pipcard]

Kaybor-Kendi 'Tallantelli' Launch Vehicle by Abiogenisis

"Access to space has been achieved twice in Birrin history.

In the first age rocket technology advanced so far as to allow several moon landings and the construction of space stations, the remains of many still orbiting Chriirah in the modern era several thousand years later.

The second, post war age eventually saw a return of birrin rocketry, mostly reverse engineered from rediscovered ancient designs. With the expanding need for communication, navigational and military satellites many launch systems were developed, though few approached the versatility of the Tallantelli.

A mishmash of technologies, the Kaybor-Kendi Tallantelli launch vehicle was designed for versatility rather than specific requirements, allowing a Kaybor-led business consortium to service clients from around the globe. Taking off from large specialised runways, the Tallantelli carries its cargo piggyback propelled by 6 powerful turbojets and two huge linear aerospike engines. As the thinner upper atmosphere is reached the turbojets are shut down and their exhaust slot closed to improve aerodynamics, while the aerospikes automatically adjust their efficiency as the vehicle climbs towards space.

For many rockets the altitudes reached by these systems is sufficient and they are launched under their own power to achieve orbit. Heavy loads, or those with smaller propulsion systems may need and extra boost. Four conventional liquid rocket engines mounted in pairs beneath the aerospikes are ignited, pushing the vehicle ever higher and helping to maintain a nose-up attitude in the thinning atmosphere until launch altitude is reached.

With launch complete, the vehicle can then return to any number of specialised spaceports servicing the industry and land as a conventional aircraft, ready for another flight in only a few days.

Depicted is one of the most versatile configurations of the Tallantelli: The re-usable manned vehicle Tuum, launched from the Tallantelli with the help of a solid rocket booster, can carry relatively large payloads and more importantly complex construction and maintenance machinery into orbit, where it deploys them to build and repair space stations, satellites, and interplanetary spacecraft."

 

[fsci123]

What? Little ol' Fsci cant have fun with these interstellar vessels?

I presume that the last one is an antimatter rocket... Note the large radiators and extended engine. Or it could be a pure fusion rocket using a long reaction chamber to maximize thrust output.

Note: I realized that the last image is entitled fusion rocket after i wrote the previous statement.

 

[Unstung]

I've been following this man's digital paintings for some time. He often makes aerospace scenes based on actual events and photographs.

 

[fsci123]

The flames on the third picture gave me confused and twisted feelings.:blink:

 

[Linguofreak]

This is art.

When you hear the buzzer, stare at the art.

You should now feel mentally reinvigorated.