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Submitted: October 27, 2011
Image Size: 843 KB
Resolution: 1600×874

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Argosy:T minus 20 Hoursby *Drell-7

Digital Art / 3-Dimensional Art / Scenes / Futuristic & Sci-Fi

After Apollo 11 and Apollo 12, NASA used the momentum of those triumphs to launch their proposal to develop several pieces of hardware, the Nuclear Ferry or Primary Propulsion Module, which could provide regular transportation to Geosynchronous orbit and the Moon, and the Standard Mission Module, which could serve as a planetary surface base or orbital station. These, combined with a Science Mission Module specific for the destination, could be combined to form Project Argosy spacecraft, capable of missions to Mars, Venus, asteroids and comets. For these deep=space missions, the Argosy spacecraft would launch from Earth orbit, with two PPMs boosting the main craft into its transfer orbit, then separating, to decelerate themselves to return to Earth orbit for reuse. The lone remaining PPM would provide power and propulsion for the rest of the mission. In this way, a robust compatible collection of manned craft would be available for standard missions, in a flexible architecture to meet varieties of mission needs. I've attached the name Argosy, or treasure fleet, to the project.

Here, the nuclear boosters have been joined with the mission spacecraft, and final check outs and adjustments are proceeding in Earth orbit. In 20 hours, the window will open for the Mars launch.

Modeled in Lightwave 10. I already had the Nuclear Ferry modeled, and I'm still working on the Science Module and Standard Mission Module. Thanks for taking a look!

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*Taka67 Jun 26, 2012

If they only had done this.

*Drell-7 Jun 26, 2012 Professional General Artist

Well, someone may do it, someday...

~Jburns272 Nov 22, 2011 Hobbyist Traditional Artist

Excelent work as usual.
Both the art and the concept

~kedamono-mizudori Nov 8, 2011

Drell-7, I just showcased this illustration on my Real Spaceship Illustrations site. I really like your work and I will probably showcase more of your work in the future. Thanks for making Real Spaceships!

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*CUTANGUS Nov 4, 2011 Professional Digital Artist

Excellent work!
Are these the N.E.R.V.A. rocket engines, isn't it?

*Drell-7 Nov 5, 2011 Professional General Artist

Yes. Specifically, these are the NERVA 2 engine, producing 250,000 lbs of thrust.

~exocolumn Nov 3, 2011

Very nice!

*Drell-7 Nov 3, 2011 Professional General Artist

Thanks!

~MrAverage Nov 2, 2011 Professional Artist

Nice to see the Nuclear Energy Rocket Vehicle Application get a new lease on life! Unfortunately from what I've seen of the studies on NERVA it would have been far too expensive to build in orbit and too costly in fuel to launch it there. I'm a proponent of Zubrin's Mars Direct proposals. Still, NERVA is a really cool design.

--M

*Drell-7 Nov 3, 2011 Professional General Artist

NERVA wasn't too bad for weight. The stage was designed to lift on a "2 and a half" stage Saturn V, basically a first and second stage of a Saturn V, with 2 big Solid Rocket strap-ons. It would go up all ready fueled, in a ceramic heat shield, in case there was a launch accident, as was done for the RTGs that launched on the Apollo surface missions.

I admire Zubrin's proposals, and think they're really well thought out. They're a bit risky, but that's kind of inherent in any manned exploration of the solar system.

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Argosy:T minus 20 Hoursby *Drell-7

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