New Project- Planetary Survey Portfolio

[bbzwbbzw]

Happy Holidays All!

I'm starting a new project, something a bit different from my usual stuff. It will be set in the same universe (late 23rd century) as everything I do, but will focus on one event (the first survey of a newly discovered planet) and all of the ships, ground vehicles, uniforms, ranks, mission patches, and insignia that this mission entails.

What I am working on right now is the mothership, and I guess it's about 20% done. I still have a long way to go- the habitation ring, docks for shuttles near the nose, commo array, so it will take a while. Also, I don't have a name for the ship yet and if anyone has a suggestion, please let me know. It's a french/british/japanese expedition by the way.






top is a shrunk down overall view, the circled part is 60% of actual.

[Aethernaut]

Great start!

A couple of questions/comments:

1. How big will the habitat ring be?

2. Why is the hab ring so far from the lander? I'd think that moving the ring out further from the engine section toward the lander would also be a good idea. Not only for safety (and visual interest) but also in the event that there is an emergency that requires casualties to be moved from the docking lander to the infirmary (in simulated gravity) quickly.

3. And, where is the command center, the hab ring or elsewhere?

I like that you chose not to make the lander a winged vehicle. No telling what sort of atmosphere, or lack thereof, the explorers would be running into so it's kind of silly to assume that you'd need wings. And though it's kind of hard to make out it looks like the lander is a bulky, tough craft with a big engine(s). I think that really works for it, not to mention a great way of establishing visual weight to counter the engineering hull end of the design.

[bbzwbbzw]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Here are the answers;

1. How big will the habitat ring be?
Pretty darn big, but not bulky. I want it to look sort of like a spider web with support cables running down to the hub.

2. Why is the hab ring so far from the lander? I'd think that moving the ring out further from the engine section toward the lander would also be a good idea. Not only for safety (and visual interest) but also in the event that there is an emergency that requires casualties to be moved from the docking lander to the infirmary (in simulated gravity) quickly.

Great point- I've moved it forward. Here is a scrap view of the nose with more detailing. the two towers are going to be docking stations for shuttles. I'll be doing a more detailed separate illustration of the lander. I still have to do the docking clamp for it.




3. And, where is the command center, the hab ring or elsewhere?

I'm leaning towards in the ring.

[-MerlyN-]

I think that depending on where exactly in the solar system the ships route would take it it should be equipped with some sort of shielding. I'm no where an expert on that matter but I think recent concepts of solar explorer ship designs incorporate a huge hard (build of radiation absorbing materials) shield to protect crew and equipment from solar radiation. This would be essential on all missions that take the ship close to the sun and jupiter which also has a devestating radiation emmission.

[bbzwbbzw]

Originally Posted by -MerlyN-

I think that depending on where exactly in the solar system the ships route would take it it should be equipped with some sort of shielding. I'm no where an expert on that matter but I think recent concepts of solar explorer ship designs incorporate a huge hard (build of radiation absorbing materials) shield to protect crew and equipment from solar radiation. This would be essential on all missions that take the ship close to the sun and jupiter which also has a devestating radiation emmission.

I think I'll take the sci-fi 5th amendment on this one.

Here is another update- started work on the hab ring and the nose is done- still have to do the shuttles though.

[bbzwbbzw]

Side view is done, starting to work on front view;



I'm also starting to work on the uniforms. This is very rough and I am doing it with a tablet which I've never used before.

[-MerlyN-]

Originally Posted by bbzwbbzw

I think I'll take the sci-fi 5th amendment on this one.

What is the scifi 5th amendment?

[bbzwbbzw]

Originally Posted by -MerlyN-

What is the scifi 5th amendment?

It means I can't think of a suitable answer and decide to say nothing instead and just assume some future technological breakthrough will take care of the scientific problem

[psCargile]

Water is an excellent shield against solar and cosmic radiation. Water tanks surrounding the habitat is a NASA viable solution. But if that takes away from the aesthetic, magnetic fields will suffice for a future tech solution.

Pretty cool design.

[Aethernaut]

Looking awesome, bbzwbbzw! I like the hab ring a lot and I'm looking forward to more of the coveralls.

As to radiation shielding, water is an excellent option. Maybe put the water storage in narrow tanks in the outer walls? NASA has included lots of polyethylene in their designs for years for radiation shielding. But then, they've never left Earth orbit, so they have the planet's magnetic field taking care of most of the radiation. Speaking of... for coolness factor why not include a magnetic field generator of some sort in the hab ring? While it probably wouldn't include glowey bits or any real flash in the hardware, during approach to a star or in solar storms there could be some neat aurora effects on the field around the ship.