IDW #98: Mission to Mars - Orbital Station

[yoitisi]

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t291/yoitisi/IDW_Banner_Final_Revised-1.jpg

Topic: Mission to Mars - Orbital Station

Background: Something a bit more scientific than usual in this round. With more and more countries able to launch satellites, goods and people into space, a new race for the stars is about to start. One major challenge for science is to put a human on the planet Mars, and maybe even to set up a base on the red planet.

One important part of this mission to Mars will be an station in orbit around the planet. This station will have several functions: staying in contact with the earth, provide a platform to recieve supplies from earth, launch goods and people to the surface of the planet and the launching of crafts to return to earth.

This round will need some proper research, as it needs a more scientific base than usual. We're talking near future earth based science here. There are numerous 'artist impressions' of what a possible mission to Mars will look like, so take your inspiration from there I'd say. Read up on some popular theories on how to get there etc. It doesn't have to be rocket-science, but I expect some intelligence in the design this time ;)

Here's a link for inspiration: Human Exploration Mission Scenario - The Case for Mars II, 1984 (http://spot.colorado.edu/~marscase/cfm/cfm84/cfm84plan.html)

Also, I'm thinking of making this a theme we might build upon in future rounds since there are multiple objects and things to design for this mission to Mars, so expect more to come. Doing all your research now might aid you in the future rounds too :)



Brief:
1. Design and draw an Orbital Station for the mission to Mars.
2. Do your research!
3. That's it... now draw!

Deadline: Tuesday, April 14

639952

[dubble]

http://spot.colorado.edu/~marscase/cfm/cfm84/19_earthreturn_0.jpg

this look a little iffy to anyone else?

[Bagg]

We are talking about robotic pinocchio... right?
oh wait, That is so wrong i'm going away to wash my eyes out with bleach :(

[Max Challie]

Oh, I should wash my eyes out with bleach too! Then I can pretend I was one of those def-mutes! :)

[daestwen]

Oh, I should wash my eyes out with bleach too! Then I can pretend I was one of those def-mutes! :)

... does... not... compute...

[Dragonspit]

I understand that the entry should be designed for near future space. I have done a little research ( I used to work at the Cape years ago to). what I am wondering is, is my sketch here, to much in the future. I would like to think that, if we were to make an adventurous undertaking, it would get thought pretty thorough. the renderings we see, are usually simply objects, strewn together, and although that is the reality of time and money, I thought I would take it a step further and bigger scale. but concerned to much so. would like an opinion before spending time working up a concept, even if I get the time. well, now that my pay has been cut 35% and I have every other Friday off, well, maybe Ill more time now.

anyway, looking for opinions.

[RoboBobo]

^Hey dragon, I like this sketch dude you should render this out some.

[Dragonspit]

^Hey dragon, I like this sketch dude you should render this out some.

Think Ill do just that. Lord knows if I will have time later so thought I would just continue on. Got a lot done though. not quite finished, but dont know if I will get much more done so thought I would post this now.

Man, I cant remember when I had this much to myself in a day. anyway, i tweaked without waiting,,,inpatient, only due to time restrictions. So I ll keep an eye open for suggestions replies.

[scorge]

Wow, kind of quiet around here. Oh well, I'd like to do some IDW for a change. Been a while since I picked up the markers and pens. Felt goooooooood.

Dragonspit: I guess the one thing to keep in mind is that usually this sort of undertaking (going to other planets or building space stations) usually involves vehicles that are comprised of many different parts, each having a specific purpose. And as you mentioned along with what I've seen after looking at the ISS and other things such as satellites and rovers nothing is ever neatly wrapped in a tidy package. I guess as long as you showed the inner workings some, you could probably get away with a more futuristic design. Anyway, the rendering is coming along nicely, now you just have to work on the mechanics.

Here's my first ideations. I started sketching ships that would actually go to Mars, then realized I am officially a dumbass and reread the brief. So, I've included both. Sorry it's so large.
Comments welcomed as always.

[devilminer]

Here's mine. This time i didn't go into any detail, just the design in general. Give me feedback so I can modify it if need be. This was a fun project!

-Miguel
current art site (http://www.devilminer.com)

[Rabies]

Dragonspit
Well the background looks like cardboard. If your willing to use premade brushes, and if its not seen as a crime here on CA, theres some good star brushes here: http://rabieshund.deviantart.com/art/Rabies-Star-Brushset-19527557
No i didnt make them, he just happens to use rabies as a name aswell :P
Otherwise nice concept

Scorge
Awesome notes, i loved the idea of a greenhouse on the shuttles. Nuclear power suits the theme aswell, since you could just dump the waste in space.
I would use the first concept from left, seems the most realistic.

mlopezrt
well it looks nice, but maybe a bit too futuristic.

[Dragonspit]

[QUOTE=Rabies;2214394]Dragonspit
Well the background looks like cardboard. If your willing to use premade brushes, and if its not seen as a crime here on CA, theres some good star brushes here: http://rabieshund.deviantart.com/art/Rabies-Star-Brushset-19527557
No i didnt make them, he just happens to use rabies as a name aswell :P
Otherwise nice concept

Thanks for notes. No, folks use just about anything here to create almost anything. its an almost anything goes for concepts. exception may be using simple photos manips, or to much 3d work and not enough additional work. but other than that.....wide open as far as I understand.

Thanks for the link. I have created a couple of brushes for some things but in general, I just use the basic brushes, and sometimes photo's or multiple photo's, or misc jpegs of textures.

I also thought soorge's layout is well planned out..and the greenhouses were the first thing I noticed that I liked as well.

[Dragonspit]

[QUOTE=Rabies;2214394]Dragonspit
Well the background looks like cardboard. If your willing to use premade brushes, and if its not seen as a crime here on CA, theres some good star brushes here: http://rabieshund.deviantart.com/art/Rabies-Star-Brushset-19527557
No i didnt make them, he just happens to use rabies as a name aswell :P
Otherwise nice concept

Thanks for notes. No, folks use just about anything here to create almost anything. its an almost anything goes for concepts. exception may be using simple photos manips, or to much 3d work and not enough additional work. but other than that.....wide open as far as I understand.

Thanks for the link. I have created a couple of brushes for some things but in general, I just use the basic brushes, and sometimes photo's or multiple photo's, or misc jpegs of textures.

I also thought scorge's layout is well planned out..and the greenhouses were the first thing I noticed that I liked as well.

[Rabies]

Okay heres mine, and since the final date is tommorow, ill probably color this, and use it. I noticed alot of the things i used looked alot like the stuff you guys drew, but i came up with it myself. Allso i'd probably add a couple more greenhouses. Comments and critique is welcome ;)

[Majenkus]

@scorge - I really like the expanded spheres things (the sphere that are cut in half). Are they supposed to expand and contract?

I noticed alot of the things i used looked alot like the stuff you guys drew, but i came up with it myself.

@Rabies - When I think of man made things in orbit I think of basic geometry and nobody owns the sphere or cylinder . . . yet. So don't worry about it.

[devilminer]

The essentials for living include a water treatment and recycling plant, communication cabin, agricultural habitats throughout the eastern-most walls, solar panels, satellite scope utilizers, and a shuttle dock. I wanna live there.

-Miguel (http://www.devilminer.com)

[yoitisi]

Finals thread is up: IDW #98: Mission to Mars - Orbital Station - Finals thread (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=2215509)

I'll leave the round open for at least another 24 hours, since I'm a little late with putting it up :)

[scorge]

@scorge - I really like the expanded spheres things (the sphere that are cut in half). Are they supposed to expand and contract?

Thanks Majenkus. I've always thought that nothing makes a space station work better than a couple of random primitive shapes. The original idea was to have the spheres act as shields for the sensitive communications arrays for both Earth and Mars. I didn't really plan on having them expand and contract but that's a pretty good idea. Awesome entry you have there. Very believable.
I've posted the final if you want to see how they turned out. Changed a few things and did my best not to make it too futuristic, but it's always damn hard not to smooth everything out. Great topic btw Yoitisi. Loved the challenge. Looking forward to what's next.

[Majenkus]

The final looks good. Nice job on the material. What do you think about the labels in the drawing? I think for something like this, that may be helpful because it can be hard to distinguish the function of each component just by looking at it. This helps: spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/assembly/component_view.pdf

[devilminer]

Wow these entries are very good! Some of these look like 3d models...if so, which program did you use? Did you place them in photoshop to add the colors of these are fully rendered?

Scorge: beautiful rendering. Like Majenkus mentioned with the text, also consider fonts. You can try dafont.com and go crazy installing as much as you want. It makes a big difference with the overall piece.

Majenkus: I envy you!

Bagg: I like your realistic descriptions. Nice job on the panels! Very striking.
Hallo: I wish i could see some details within that awesome sillhouette. It has really good negative space going on. Nice job
Rabies: I like your direction with it, especially the description..very creative. I hope to see more of your stuff as your progress to stardom! Don't give up.
Dragonspit: I don't know who it was that suggested you try working the background some more. Try adding dimension to it to bring out the station by either darkening it or use less saturated colors.

Mine: sucks, now that I see these! I obviously need to work on my realism factor. I'd appreciate any feedback to do better in the next challenge!

[Dragonspit]

Dragonspit: I don't know who it was that suggested you try working the background some more. Try adding dimension to it to bring out the station by either darkening it or use less saturated colors.


Agree. I knew I would run out of time, and so I focused on the unit pic itself. I do realize working the background could help this, also knew most likely woudnt get to it, why I posted so early. just keep learning I say. Even had to do the write up and final post from work just to get in on time.

yeah, lots o good entries.

[yoitisi]

Hey everyone, I'm terribly sorry for the delay. Life's got in the way so far, and will be for another day I'm afraid :(

There's some nice entries this round though, so I think I'll use the Mission to Mars topic at least once more in another round. There's plenty of topics I can think of for it.

Edit: Oh and I moved devilminer's post from the finals thread. I would've deleted it but since it contained sincere crits I decided to just move it. No posts without art in the finals thread before the poll is up please :)

[Dragonspit]

No posts without art in the finals thread before the poll is up please :)

Oops sorry dude, missed that as well. and yeah, life does that, its usually why you only see me sporadically. 2 kids, bzy folks.

[Majenkus]

Majenkus: I envy you!

It's the toupee isn't it. Folks dig the all natural hair wig. ;)

@devilminer - Hey mate, I like yours. It's organic, weird, and a little creepy (like a cocoon or larva). The shuttle doesn't fit the style though. If the engineers bothered to make such a sweet space station, they would probably scrap the 80's shuttle and launch a pimp ride.

[Bagg]

Cheers Devilminer :)
I thought originaly with this topic we'd see some very similar designs but not at all there is a huge variety.
I have to agree with Majenkus, your designs really cool made me think of command and conquer where you have the good faction (allies) and the evil faction (nod) and yours being the evil faction :)

EDIT: Oh and too answer your question I used Photoshop all the way from sketch to final render :)

[yoitisi]

About time I closed this round I guess :P Poll will be up in a bit!

Edit: Poll is up, check it out and vote here: IDW #98: Mission to Mars - Orbital Station - Voting (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=155462)