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Interplanetary Explorer

Tarek71

Tarek71

Commodore
Commodore
I just got Google SketchUp and still learning the elementary basics. Nevertheless I thought Id try my hand at a ship. Its an interplanetary explorer. I picture this making runs to the outer planets. The inspirations are the XCV-330 type and the ICAN-II spacecraft concept from Penn State:


http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e280/LiberalDemocrat71/ICAN-121a.jpg


Here is my own effort:

Ship001.jpg



We will say its "fusion-era" or thereabouts. Faster that previous generations of ships, so round trips are possible without sleeper units. Rotating habitat for gravity.

Nothing is aligned quite right yet, and I am just working out how to do things but any thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.
 
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T'Girl said:
The big hoop could be for a magnetic sail.
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I definetly want have something along that line incorporated in. The use of fields for protection against radiation certainly. But I would like to include something like this as a secondary propulsion or for braking, etc.
 
It's a fun programme- and you'll be amazed how much more complex you'll get as you gain experience. I'm looking forward to seeing where this ship goes...
 
Just keep doing what you're doing. The more you try to make you ship complex and interesting, the more you learn and the more you can apply to your next effort as well. Well done.
 
Tiberius said:
Looks nice. I'll have to try that program myself...
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Thank you! Yeah, its getting more fun as I go. The first hour or so, everything is a square or a circle, but then you figure out how to stretch and hollow things out, overlay them, etc.
 
BolianAdmiral said:
Very nice... I love the utilitarian simplicity of this design.
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Thank you. I was certainly impressed by how means-end practical the ICAN-II design was from Penn State. And I love minimalism, functionality and simplicity. I think you have to imagine that mass and fuel consumption are major factors and the resulting need to compress only whats really needed into the maximum available space.
 
Ship005.jpg



I thickened the boom. Bulked up the aft engineering section, and am in the process of making a communications array amidships. I am trying out different sizes and shapes for the dishes. Right now they are neither the same shape nor size, but they will be once I decide on one. Various other small tweaks as well. Still learning to use the measuring and other tools to help solve the many alignment issues.
 
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Patrickivan said:
It's a fun programme- and you'll be amazed how much more complex you'll get as you gain experience. I'm looking forward to seeing where this ship goes...
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It is! I like it. Within the trekverse, this would be a contemporary of, and possible competitor to, the DY-series spacecraft. But I might just as likely leave out and in its own separate universe. Needs alot more, but shes coming along. Havent named her yet either.
 
USS Javelin? HMS Pogo?

Coming along nicely so far, you seem to be getting the hang of the software a bit now. You might want to try and make the engine section a little less blocky now, it stands out a bit next to the rest of the ship.
 
Ship006.jpg



New aft section is cylindrical. Yeah, the older version was too blocky and oversized. This makes it look somewhat more like the ICAN-II, but thats ok. The flow of the ship seems to work better now.

More work on the communications array. I figured out how to make parabolic dishes with Sketchup, so that helped with that aspect. Have slimmed down the main crew modules on the habitat ring, and brought them into slightly better aligment. Still more to do on that front. Added a larger section amidships. The array will connect with that at some point.
 
The Axeman said:
USS Javelin? HMS Pogo?

Coming along nicely so far, you seem to be getting the hang of the software a bit now. You might want to try and make the engine section a little less blocky now, it stands out a bit next to the rest of the ship.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Agreed on the aft section. I think the cylinder with a tapered connection to the main boom works better. Its interesting that you mention HMS, since I am looking at ship name lists, and it always seemed to me that the British had by far the best names for ships.
 
Nice that it is a pure in-space craft - totally lacking the semi-aerodynamics of the most starships in Trekverse
 
tau136 said:
Nice that it is a pure in-space craft - totally lacking the semi-aerodynamics of the most starships in Trekverse
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Yeah, thats definetly part of the appeal for me. Im sure if this ever appeared in show or movie it would end up being tricked out, greebled and faux aero-dynamized. But since it isnt I can leave all that out. :)
 
Ship007.jpg


Ship008.jpg


Ship009.jpg


Redid the entire habitat ring, including a substantial increase in size. Havent added the modules back in yet. The bow has been redone, including a new, thicker hub section. May make the hub slimmer. The communications array has been made simpler. Aft engine section has been given a more engine looking rear. But thats just a stand-in shape now.

Im thinking of making the modules able to "swing" to the rear, so that the "floors" face aft. Its been pointed out to me that, while under thrust, the aft facing interiors would be the "floor". So the modules, perhaps on gimbals, could swivel so that internal "down" would be the same whether it was rotational "gravity" or thrust "gravity." I hadnt thought of that. More work needed.
 
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