EOS Mars Program: Construction Module by JanKaliciak
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Front view of an orbital construction vehicle, for use in assembling space stations and larger space-transports. This is built around an 'universal' life-support unit and manipulator package, that equally can be mounted on wheels for Lunar or Martian applications. In this case, it is attached to a MET vapour drive package.
Credit, where credit is due, the pod layout borrows some manipulator elements from those in '2001: A Space Odyssey', and also uses the concept from a recessed webcam lens for the viewport, so reducing the incidence of harsh sunlight, or orbital debris impacts, upon the operators' line of sight.

Comments (7)
Nice variation on the 2001 space pod. Great modeling!
Fantastic detail! Thanks for the front view of this great model.
Cool.
I like this model a lot/ Excellent work and love the Narrative.
Excellent modeling and wonderful detail. I however get the impression that this looks more like it was design for underwater exploration. All the parts look quite heavy duty especially the front. The window in front and the thickness of the hull and all the part attached looks very thick and heavy. I don't know if you would really need all that weight and thickness for protection. When you are dealing with space hardware weight is not to your advantage. Especially when it cost around ten thousand dollars to get one pound up to LEO. Just a thought. This is just my impression and is no way meant as a put down. Your modeling skills are top notch! Have a Happy New Year my friend. Cheers, David
Very good points, David, (Bambam131)....... Yes, this owes quite a lot to deep sea submersibles, as the conditions of operation have a lot in common in terms of near weightlessness, tool manipulation, and vectored navigation, and this is something I particularly researched for this draft. All EOS designs are based on comparative engineering from researched peer-reviewed papers. You are quite right to assume this is heavy duty in construction, and for two main reasons: radiation protection, and impact resistance. The shell on this vehicle is relatively thick, but the concave viewport is merely recessed for shielding purposes, and does not represent the true thickness of the body wall! A combination of aluminium alloy, kevlar webbing and thick polyethylene radiation-armour layers laminated together create a lightweight pressure cabin, that nevertheless keeps exposure to incoming cosmic radiation low. Impacts of 17,500 mph with man-made orbital debris is a commonplace in Low Earth Orbit, as are similar strikes with space-borne meteoric and cometary fragments travelling at 35,000 mph. This is a high profile issue as can be seen in this NASA report: http://www.orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/newsletter/pdfs/ODQNv12i3.pdf It is also correct to say that launching hardware into Earth orbit currently costs $10,000/Kg. However, it is anticipated much future space-borne technology will be manufactured in space itself, from mined metals acquired from Near Earth Asteroids. More on how this vehicle fits into that general space economy at: http://www.eosmarsprogram.org/ Best wishes for 2010! Jan
Well done and I like the fact that you researched this so well. Great job.