Astrona is an online collection of artists resources and developers who specialize in space and astronomical art, science fiction art, visions of future worlds, design and visualization of technologies for living in space, space exploration, spaceships, starships, space colonies, etc. Take a journey through amazing images!
Saturday, October 14, 2006

Mechanix Illustrated. January, 1956.

All aboard for outer space, the race for the artificial satellite and space flight is on! Is this the ship that will take us to earth’s first manned satellite?

By G. Harry Stine, Viking-Aerobee Operations Engineer, White Sands Proving Grounds.

All aboard for outer space (Is this the ship that will take us to earth’s first manned satellite). All aboard for outer space (Is this the ship that will take us to earth’s first manned satellite). All aboard for outer space (Is this the ship that will take us to earth’s first manned satellite). All aboard for outer space (Is this the ship that will take us to earth’s first manned satellite). All aboard for outer space (Is this the ship that will take us to earth’s first manned satellite). All aboard for outer space (Is this the ship that will take us to earth’s first manned satellite). All aboard for outer space (Is this the ship that will take us to earth’s first manned satellite).

Link: All Aboard for Outer Space

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Most people can tell you that the Germans were developing some weird aircraft during the World War II. The German Antipodal Bomber (or Silverbird) was one of these. A revolutionary rocket-powered aircraft, it was designed for supersonic, stratospheric flight capable of striking targets anywhere in the world, that proposed Dr. Eugen Sanger and Irena Bredt in the late 1930s. In 1944 the Antipodal Bomber became one of chosen concepts to bring a "Miracle Weapon" to the USA (it was only one of the Amerika Bomber project). The design was a significant one, as it incorporated new rocket technology and spaceplane concept ideas. In the end, it was considered too complex and expensive to produce. After the war ended, the Sanger-Bredt design formed the basis for major development projects in the 1950-60s (X-20 Dyna-Soar in the US and Keldysh Bomber in the USSR), but these were cancelled.

The German Antipodal Bomber

The German Antipodal Bomber The German Antipodal Bomber

For more information check out the following sources:

Silbervogel (Wikipedia).

Sanger Amerika Bomber (Luft '46).

Amerika Bomber project by E. Saenger and J. Bredt, August 1944 (PDF).

Saturday, October 07, 2006

NASA awarded a $7.5 billion dollar contract to build a manned spaceship to Lockheed Martin. The Orion crew exploration vehicle is supposed to replace the Space Shuttle fleet. New Spaceship will be primarily used for the missions to the ISS. It is also supposed to take astronauts to the Moon and perhaps on to Mars.

NASA has selected Lockheed Martin as the prime contractor to design, develop, and build Orion, America's spacecraft for a new generation of explorers. The Orion crew capsule will carry astronauts back to the Moon and later to Mars. The first flight with astronauts aboard is planned for no later than 2014. Orion's first flight to the moon is planned for no later than 2020. Orion improves on the best features of Project Apollo and the Space Shuttle Program, increasing the likelihood of success. Versatility will be Orion's trademark. It is being designed to fly to the moon, but could also be used to service the International Space Station in low-Earth orbit.

Well, it's interesting. Lockheed Martin gets Apollo 2.0? NASA opted to benefit from a design but technology approach similar to that used for the development of the U.S. Apollo and Russian Soyuz. The space agency will be developing 1960's old technology of rockets for the next 15 years?

NASA New Spaceships NASA New Spaceships NASA New Spaceships NASA New Spaceships

Photo credits: NASA / John Frassanito and Associates (NASA Constellation Program).

Link to flash animations, 3D models, and slideshows of NASA's new spaceship

Link to full resolution photos of NASA's new spaceship

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Beautiful space drawings by Russell Arasmith. These were used by NASA to illustrate the Apollo 9 Mission. The NASA description is given for each illustration below.

Russell Arasmith is an American illustrator. After graduating high school in 1945, he enlisted in the Army Air Force where he served as a radar operator. Upon leaving the service in 1946, he attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago for a year, leaving to work on The St. Joseph News Press two years later. In 1949, he took a job with the Kansas City Star in Kansas City, where he worked for 11 years before being offered a job at the Los Angeles Times.

Artist says: "I worked with The Times 32 years. I was Editorial Art Director for 17 years there. I did all the space drawings for the Times. Those drawings are the result of extensive briefings I attended at various space centers. All were done before the fact "on deadline" [on the same schedule with] the individual missions involved. The articles and my drawing were run in the Los Angeles Times on the day the actual event occurred. The Times Syndicate distributed the art work to 300 newspapers all over the world."

Russell Arasmith retired from the Los Angeles Times in 1992 and currently resides in Orange County, California.

Note: All artwork and images copyright © Russell Arasmith. Please do not use images without the permission.

Apollo 9 Art by Russell Arasmith

Command module and attached service module separates from third stage and four petal-like panels making up lunar module adapter section are ejected to export the lunar module. Command/service modules separate to distance of about 50 feet then turn around and return to dock nose first with lunar module.


Apollo 9 Art by Russell Arasmith

Legs of lunar module are extended and service rocket is burned for first time on mission. This drawing illustrates first service rocket burn on first day or any one of three service rocket burns on second day of the mission. Lunar module is still unoccupied at the time. The three crewmen remain in the command module.


Apollo 9 Art by Russell Arasmith

After two crewmen check out lunar lander, they power up vehicle for test of lunar module descent engine. This is throttle able rocket in lower stage of two stage moon landing vehicle that will be used on future landings missions to lower men to the moon’s surface.


Apollo 9 Art by Russell Arasmith

Astronaut Schweickart shown on space walk (EVA) between vehicles on forth day to demonstrate the lunar module crewmen could return to command module be tether line in case docking tunnel is blocked for some reason. He will use handrail up face of lunar module and handgrips on command module. Plan is for him to step into open hatch of command module (lower torso) then return to lunar module.


Apollo 9 Art by Russell Arasmith

On Fifth day, Lunar Module crew returns to lander (leaving Scott in command ship) and the two spacecraft are separated for manoeuvres. After tow vehicles are positioned as planned, the lunar module’s descent (lower) stage is jettisoned, leaving tow-man crew in upper or ascent stage. Drawing shows separation of two stages.


Apollo 9 Art by Russell Arasmith

Here the ascent stage engine is fired to place upper stage of landing vehicle on proper orbit fro rendezvous with command ship. Two spacecraft must rendezvous, dock, so lunar module crewmen can return to command craft for re-entry. Lunar module is designed only for space/lunar operations and cannot re-enter earth’s atmosphere without burning up.


Apollo 9 Art by Russell Arasmith

View through window of command module as lunar module manoeuvres through final sequence to complete docking operation. Lighted reticule on window will help Astronaut Scott check lineup of two vehicles by placing cross lines on target just to left of lunar module’s docking cone.


Apollo 9 Art by Russell Arasmith

After docking, Lunar Module crew will return to command module and the lunar module ascent stage will be separated from the command module for a long duration burn that will place it (unmanned) in a high elliptical orbit. Then, for rest of mission, day 6 through day 10, the pace will be more leisurely, and Apollo’s service rocket will be burned several more times, including a de-orbit burn to initiate re-entry, as shown in drawing.


Apollo 9 Art by Russell Arasmith

Interior view of McDivitt, left, at standing station in LM, watching Schweickart back slowly out of forward hatch to begin space walk of about two hours. Schweickart wears backpack life-support system. The cable restraints hold McDivitt in position.

Link: Apollo 9 Art by Russell Arasmith (Apollo Mission Control Photo Plus).

Gallery: Russell Arasmith Space Art Gallery (Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama).

Friday, September 15, 2006

Space ColoniesTechnology and engineering discussion of possible space colonies designs. Space colonies, spaceships, design and technology for living in space, etc.

Sources:

NASA and SSI of O'Neill Bernal Sphere design

NASA Stanford Torus design

NASA and SSI of Island Three paired cylinder design

A few illustrations - not the NASA ones

Starships and Space Colonies

Below are a few examples. You can click on images for a much larger version.

Stanford Torus


The Stanford Torus was the principal design considered by the 1975 NASA Summer Study, which was conducted in conjunction with Stanford University (and published as Space Settlements: A Design Study, NASA Publication SP-413). It consists of a torus or donut-shaped ring that is one mile in diameter, rotates once per minute to provide Earth-normal gravity on the inside of the outer ring, and which can house 10,000 people.

Space Colonies - Stanford TorusStanford Torus external view. The overhead mirror brings sunlight into the colony through a series of louvred mirrors on the inner ring. Painting by Don Davis courtesy of NASA.

Space Colonies - Stanford TorusStanford Torus cutaway view. The rotation of the torus provides Earth-normal gravity on the inside. Painting by Rick Guidice courtesy of NASA.

Space Colonies - Stanford TorusStanford Torus interior. It seems unlikely that early colonies will have a population density this low. Painting by Don Davis courtesy of NASA.

Space Colonies - Stanford TorusStanford Torus agriculture, conducted on multiple tiers for efficient use of space. Agriculture in space can be very productive because of the controlled environment. Painting courtesy of NASA.

Space Colonies - Stanford TorusStanford Torus construction. Depicted is the final stages of installation of the radiation shielding. Painting by Don Davis courtesy of NASA.

Source: Stanford Torus

Bernal Sphere


The Bernal Sphere design is very similar to that used in the science fiction series Babylon 5, although the original Bernal Sphere design is much smaller, only 1 mile in circumference, and can house 10,000 people.

Space Colonies - Bernal SphereBernal Sphere external view. It was later learned that the mirrors won't work properly in this configuration and will need to be redesigned. Painting by Rick Guidice courtesy of NASA.

Space Colonies - Bernal SphereBernal Sphere cutaway view. The sphere rotates twice per minute to provide Earth-normal gravity on the inside. Painting by Rick Guidice courtesy of NASA.

Space Colonies - Bernal SphereBernal Sphere agricultural rings seen in cross-section. Farming occurs in the upper layers, and animal husbandry in the lower layers where gravity is a little stronger. Painting by Rick Guidice courtesy of NASA.

Space Colonies - Bernal SphereBernal Sphere interior, complete with California-style wine and cheese party, and human powered flight in the lower-gravity area near the axis. Painting by Rick Guidice courtesy of NASA.

Space Colonies - Bernal SphereBernal Sphere hub still in the construction phase, with shielding and mirrors being installed. Painting by Don Davis courtesy of NASA.

Space Colonies - Bernal SphereBernal Sphere low-gravity recreation area at dusk, protected by netting. Gravity becomes lower as you approach the center, and at the very top are the zero-gravity honeymoon suites. Painting by Don Davis courtesy of L5 News and National Space Society.

Source: Bernal Sphere

O'Neill Cylinder


The O'Neill Cylinder, designed by Princeton physicist Gerard K. O'Neill, is considerably larger than the other two designs, and is referred to as an "Island 3" or 3rd-generation space colony. The configuration consists of a pair of cylinders, each 20 miles long and 4 miles in diameter. Each cylinder has three land areas alternating with three windows, and three mirrors that open and close to form a day-night cycle inside. The total land area inside a pair of cylinders is about 500 square miles and can house several million people. The cylinders are always in pairs which rotate in opposite directions, cancelling out any gyroscopic effect that would otherwise make it difficult to keep them aimed toward the sun.

Space Colonies - O Neill CylinderO'Neill Cylinder exterior. The modules on the large ring structure around the endcap are used for agriculture. Each module could have differing environments ideal for a particular set of food items. Painting by Rick Guidice courtesy of NASA.

Space Colonies - O Neill CylinderO'Neill Cylinder interior provides a 20-mile vista. Children born here would think it totally normal to have "upside down" land areas overhead. Painting by Rick Guidice courtesy of NASA.

Space Colonies - O Neill CylinderA dramatic side view of an O'Neill Cylinder showing a cloud level forming at an altitude of 3000 feet. Painting copyright by Don Davis courtesy of the artist.

Space Colonies - O Neill CylinderO'Neill Cylinder endcap. The artist's inspiration came after O'Neill suggested to him that the view of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge from Sausalito would provide an excellent scale reference for a later model cylindrical colony. Painting by Don Davis courtesy of NASA.

Space Colonies - O Neill CylinderO'Neill Cylinder vista with ruddy hues caused by a fairly rare solar eclipse. The cylinders are large enough to have weather, which could even be made to change with the seasons, perhaps depending on a colonist vote. Painting by Don Davis courtesy of NASA.

Source: O'Neill Cylinder
Thursday, September 14, 2006

Artist says: "Space art," sometimes called "Astronomical Art," has a long and respectable history. Artists have been creating imaginative works showing conceptual and fanciful spacecraft, strange new worlds and awesome galactic vistas since long before the first primitive artificial satellites were boosted into earth orbit. Until the advent of the computer, space artists relied on traditional media, such as oil paints on canvas or acrylics on illustration board, to show us their visions. Today’s powerful desktop computers provide an optional medium. The images on this Digital Space Art website show some of the capabilities of affordable three-dimensional (3D) modeling and rendering software as used to create photo-realistic images of space subjects. The hardware models in these images — spacecraft, booster rockets, interplanetary probes, and so on — are realistic extrapolations of designs not so very different from vehicles that actually flew. You won’t find any physically unlikely "fantasy" spacecraft here. Most of these images feature the hardware in a prominent role-they’re not just extraterrestrial scenery.

Here just a few of the works that available for viewing on his website.

Note: All artwork and images copyright © Terry L. Sunday. Please do not use images without the permission of the artist.

Terry Sunday Digital Space Art Terry Sunday Digital Space Art Terry Sunday Digital Space Art

Link: Terry L. Sunday Digital Space Art

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Mechanix Illustrated. June, 1959.

Earthmen who land on the moon will need a special lunar vehicle for exploration. The vehicle must be self-sustaining and capable of traversing both the smooth, dust-paved crater beds and climbing the steep rocky passes of their mountainous rims...

An original MI design by Frank Tinsley.

How We Will Explore The Moon How We Will Explore The Moon How We Will Explore The Moon How We Will Explore The Moon How We Will Explore The Moon How We Will Explore The Moon

Link: How We Will Explore The Moon

Sunday, September 10, 2006


Illustrated history: Space Stations and Manned Spaceflight in the 1980s and 1990s