...This is an odd one. Its a spaceplane that has a thruster in its belly so that while in orbit, the thrust provides partial gravity. The Aft Thruster has a parabolic mirror because this plane is a species of LightCraft. Hope you enjoy.
"Star Turtle" WIP
...This is an odd one. Its a spaceplane that has a thruster in its belly so that while in orbit, the thrust provides partial gravity. The Aft Thruster has a parabolic mirror because this plane is a species of LightCraft. Hope you enjoy.
In space...no one can hear you whine...
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That is an odd design. I'm not a physicist, but to generate gravity by that means, the ship would have to be in a decaying orbit, continuously falling closer to Earth, and the thruster would have to operate constantly to push the ship up against that fall, thus generating palpable gravity for the astronauts. So the thruster would have to be very fuel efficient and reliable.
Still a really neat idea though, and a very nice drawing.
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Assuming I stick with fantasy cartography, I'd like to become a World Builder, laying out not only a realistic topography, but also the geopolitical boundaries and at least rough descriptions of the countries and societies.
In general using thrust to create "gravity" via inertia requires constant thrust at a significant force. You'll need insane amounts of reaction mass over time. Still, for a slightly "weird" sci-fi setting, this is indeed a nice design. Are you gonna draw deck plans, too?
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Funny you should ask...This is the finished habitat area, where the crew will spend most of their time. The other section will be posted as well. I put the dorsal bow section underneath for scale reference. The circular area in the center full of light is a sealed chamber for the spaceplane's AI Flight Commander.Originally Posted by bartmoss
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Maps are DONE!
...This little beauty will go on sale at the first of next month thanks to the good offices of RPGNow.com. For now, Enjoy!
In space...no one can hear you whine...
Help me make more maps!
A thruster with a high specific impulse would eliminate the need for excessive reaction mass. Perhaps a significantly-advanced ion engine. If you use sufficiently little reaction mass per unit time, it can be replenished by taking in some interplanetary medium.
I am a geology nerd.
Well I'm no physicist, nor much of an artist either, but I think it's a neat design.
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...Thanks for all the imput, folks!
The thruster isn't really that efficient, it's just convenient to have the spacecraft's decks and fittings optimized for burns, especially since it doesn't matter the rest of the time in free-fall. The image below shows the spacecraft with its docking ring extended, which is strong enough to support the ship at the end of a rotating spindle. That way, centrifugal force can impart gravity, and the decks are properly oriented no matter what mode the aerospacecraft is in. This may sound funny, but it makes sense in the context of the setting.
In space...no one can hear you whine...
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This looks marvelous RocketDad, nice job!
Cheers,
-Arsheesh
Another fine piece here, pops. Good stuff.
If the radiance of a thousand suns was to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the Mighty One...I am become Death, the Shatterer of worlds.
-J. Robert Oppenheimer (father of the atom bomb) alluding to The Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 11, Verse 32)
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