Author Topic: SEP Nested Ion Drive Ship (Read 37712 times)

tea monster · « **on:** 03/23/2015 08:25 am »

Here is a project I'm working on where I'm trying to create a solar electric spacecraft model.

Initially I'm going to create an unmanned Mars probe, but once I work on getting a proper Bigelow module created and a lander, the fun will really start!

The concepts and ideas were brought up in this thread and this one.

Originally I came up with a concept with radial solar panels, but after some discussion on the forum, it turned out they probably wouldn't work. So I then proceeded to a more conventional 'wing' style set of solar panels. The solars are thin-film as described in thread two and are supported with an extensible mast.

The engines are 3x nested Hall thrusters as described in the first thread.

tea monster · « **Reply #1 on:** 03/25/2015 11:06 pm »

Got the Bigelow module coming along. Textures are still placeholders.

tea monster · « **Reply #2 on:** 04/01/2015 03:54 pm »

Syrtis Major, here we come!

tea monster · « **Reply #3 on:** 05/05/2015 07:24 pm »

Got some progress. Got the logistics/docking module roughed out. It has 4 ports on it. The idea is that you could dock either a couple of landers on the crewed version or you could send out some habs on a cargo run. That leaves a port or two free for an Orion or Dragon to bring the crew up. Only the Hab is properly textured yet.

The little gold thing above the hab is a probe.

Yes, I've got to make a lander yet.

I've borrowed the engine block and the panels from the ion probe and re-purposed them as a SEP propulsion module. The solar panels are 8 double-length megaROSAs which should kick out over 200 kw.

tea monster · « **Reply #4 on:** 05/10/2015 04:44 pm »

I've gone retro and modelled the old Mars Excursion Module for my lander.

redliox · « **Reply #5 on:** 05/11/2015 09:03 am »

Extremely impressive modeling to say the least! Have you ever rendered requests?

tea monster · « **Reply #6 on:** 05/12/2015 09:27 am »

I don't do requests, but I do commissions. PM me if you are interested.

tea monster · « **Reply #7 on:** 05/16/2015 09:21 pm »

Got some more texturing done on the ship. Also started fine detailing. Added a second comms mast. Got some more realistic lighting in there.

Still got to texture the MEM.

tea monster · « **Reply #8 on:** 07/17/2015 03:58 pm »

This one is pretty complete now. I've properly textured the thing and added comms dishes and sorted out the landers. I've also added radiators to the SEP module as well.

I took some of the images off of NASA's website and rendered my own Mars globe in octane, and I'm loving the results.

If anyone is interested, I've put the model up on TurboSquid.

Mars Ion Drive Ship: http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/maya-manned-mars-ion-drive/944674

and

Bigelow Hab Module: http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/bigelow-aerospace-b330-space-x/923754