The image of Space Station Clarke created by Federico Melillo (Feguimel) is now available as a poster from Zazzle.

What will space infrastructure look like, once we start to develop cheap access to space via reusable launch vehicles? I applaud concepts like the REL Orbital Base Station, but they seem to be directed more towards "space agency" projects than "public space" -- a massive expansion of space tourism which would see hundreds or thousands of people travel to orbit each year. To that end, I've worked with the artist Federico Melillo ("Feguimel") on a piece of concept art -- the work shows an SSTO delivering tankers of water/polymer shielding fluid to a UK commercial manned station constructed from inflatable modules. The habitats rotate at a low speed to provide between 1/20th and 1/10th of Earth gravity, sufficient to mitigate the worst medical effects of microgravity exposure*. At the station nadir is a cluster of inflatable tanks for a propellant depot, supplying spacecraft flying to the Moon and beyond.

Comm: CLARKE SpaceStation by *feguimel on deviantART

Before you deluge me with detailed engineering criticisms, this is just a bit of fun right now. If you have ideas about what else Feguimel could draw, or if you're a space artist yourself, by all means let me know. I'd very much like to see more artists portraying an optimistic NewSpace future!

*: We don't actually know if that's valid yet. See previous post on the Variable Gravity Research Facility.

I believe strongly that UK public understanding of and support for commercial spaceflight will grow, if we can show them what an optimistic NewSpace-based future could look like.

I'm working with the artist Federico Melillo ("Feguimel") to develop some of my UK NewSpace concepts and hope to showcase more of his work in the future.

comm: Rocketeers' promo. by *feguimel on deviantART

The image above will be available on Rocketeers-branded T-shirts. Watch this (New)space!

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Alt.Space becomes Art.Space! This manga-styled poster, drawn by Glenn Andrean of Altiz-Studio depicts a young rocket engineer as she completes a successful flight test of a VTVL RLV. Copies of the poster in various sizes can be purchased from Zazzle.com. Other designs may be created if there is sufficient interest. Glenn is also available for commissions.

A print of this picture will be carried into space on board the Bigelow Aerospace Genesis II space station test module, as part of their "Fly Your Stuff" programme. I am grateful to Bigelow for the opportunity to launch the first manga art into space!

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UPDATE: ART IN SPACE! Here's a photo of the artwork taken on 9th July 2007, actually inside the Genesis-II module on orbit! Congratulations to the Bigelow team on a successful launch and deployment of their second prototype commercial space station module!