Nuclear Thermal Rocket arrives at Mars by starbase1
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
This is now done, here's a variation on the one the client liked, done for a wallpaper.
(The other was for a game box with various logos and text added)
It's a serious design for a nuclear thermal rocket where the engines are based on the 1960's NERVA design. The habitation module is based on a Bigelow inflatable habitat, and the forward fuel tank can be dropped to save weight.
The separate crew vehicle is based on an advanced Russian capsule design using tiles for thermal protection, and a European ATV for propulsion, with additional solar panels to deliver power further out from the Sun.
spacecraft in Lightwave, Mars in Modo
Nick

Comments (6)
That is a beautiful model, and I love the render! This is my favorite kind of SF, near-future stuff that's actually within the realm of possibility for our own technological capabilities. Nice job with Mars in the background too, this is a superb scene.
Excellent model work and excellent image. I do similar concepts and have posted them here on occassion.
Very very well done !!!!!
Superb finished product. Excellent work and render. Love it!!!
Excellent job on the spaceship and Mars. Will this ship be rendezvousing with a Lander already in orbit that will be taking the crew down to the martian surface? I'm curious as that is the way that I design my Mars spaceship. Wonderful work Nick! Cheers, David
This was a somewhat modular design - from what I make out of the notes, you could basically attach different free flying modules, or stretch the tanks for more fuel. The ones shown would not land on Mars. I've often thought it makes more sense to go to Phobos first,rather than all the way down and up again on the first trip. The Soviets had planned of doing a manned flyby of Mars and Venus before landing on the moon...
well done realistic ship design, hope to see something like this in use by 2050 AD.