The Journey Begins Challenge (3D) Entry: Daniel Lovas

[Lovas]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/11196/11196_1143251738_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/11196/11196_1143251738_large.jpg)

It is year 2067. After one year of stay, waiting for the correct planetal interposition for return, The First Man (actually a woman!) to step on Mars, comrade Li Yanqui and the rest of her numerous crew are preparing for the long journey home. The illustrations depicts the moment when their starship Huo Xing Neau stops in the high Martian orbit near the moon of Phobos to pick up the remaining group of engineers and workers from the Phobos Station building site. Thanks to the low Phobos gravity, crew members fom the Phobos Station can reach the ship using their personal backpack propulsion units.

The viewpoint of the picture is situated at some 100-200 m above the Phobos surface and at some 50-70 m from the ship. It uses a sort of a "vertical panorama". In the lower part we can see deep down to the rugged and airless surface of Phobos with its close horizon and the Phobos station and there are some people in pressurized suits and with jet-bacpacks, leaving the station and flying upwards at various heights. Some of them are directed directly to the ship, while a few others took a slightly different direction of approach, in order to take some photographs before they leave for good. One amongst them is quite close to the illustration viewpoint, on the left, with a digital camera in his hands. In the upper part there will be the spaceship in the upper left and the enormous Mars disc in the upper background, over the star field.

Since in the outer space there's no air, the atmosphere effect can not be used to emphasize distance. So only humans in spacesuits at various distances will be used for that purpose. I intend to use all existing scientific data on Mars and Phobos in order to recreate the scene as much realistically as possible. That includes hi-res optical and radar (elevation) maps of Mars, images and other data on Phobos etc.

The Chinese spaceship concept is a story for itself. It shouldn't be too futuristic (it is only 2067 and not some 24th century so it should be designed more in the visual style of the current space technology, especially the current American, Russian and Chinese capsules. Since the journey to Mars and back takes some half to one year in each direction, there should be some kind of artificial gravity for the crew during the jorney, otherwise their muscles might stop functioning in spite of everyday excersize. The simplest method of achieving artificial "gravity" that todays technology offers is by using a rotating ring, so that the centrifugal force can be used to replace the missing gravity. So the crew will mainly reside and work in the rotating ring, while the central part of the ship will be used for short stays, engines, storage, hydroponics etc.

I hope I'll manage to finish the illustration the way I imagined it. Thanks in advance for all the remarks, advices and useful comments and of course, Thanks™ to the CGTalk Team for enabling us again to participate, create, comment, meet each other and otherwise enjoy another creative challenge of the kind!

[Lovas]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/11196/11196_1143303709_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/11196/11196_1143303709_large.jpg)

I used a rather big texture for the planet - I managed to find one with approximately over 11000 pixels in width. (please don't ask me where, since I don't have the link anymore... also thank you for not asking me to send it to you or to put it on a FTP as it is huge). So hopefully the planet will stay fine-detailed even on the final, 300 DPI render. A radio elevation map of the same size is used for the bumps, as real displacement is not neccessary at this distance from the planet. A single, Distant type light is used for simulating the Sun. Starfield is the Stars shader, applied as a luminance texture on a huge sphere. Should I make the stars more dense and more visible?
Even though the Mars atmosphere is thin, it is there and visible from the orbit, especially on the night edge of the planet. I'll add it by using a volumetric, visible not-emitting light with some special settings.

Now I have got some time between two larger commercial projects. I'll use it to finish a tutorial for the 3D Attack magazine and to start working on the spaceship (I've got already some sketches) for this project.

[elgrozni]

Good luck with this one :thumbsup:

[se7enthcin]

interesting and indeed. Good luck! :wavey:

[Lovas]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/11196/11196_1143385879_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/11196/11196_1143385879_large.jpg)

First sketches for the Chinese starship. Trying to design a functional and slightly futuristic concept for a starship for Mars while staying within the realms of design of current space technology.

I do most of the "sketching" in my head though - I don't like to show off with some "quasi-sketches" that some concept designers like to spend hours or even days in order to impress their clients (some of them, who can not draw very well even make full 3D models first and then render them using a sketch renderer and present them as "sketches" - come on, whom are you going to bluff but yourself?).

Sketch is just a sketch and has got only one purpose. I rather try to impress with the final illustration instead of wasting my time on oh-so-popular "sketch-bluffing"... This opinion about sketch-bluffing is strictly IMHO, of course. Everyone should present their work as it suits her/him best.

[Lovas]

elgrozni :thumbsup: thanks for your good wishes. Glad to see you drop by here!

se7enthcin, thank you as well.

[Womgoose]

Sketch is just a sketch and has got only one purpose. I rather try to impress with the final illustration instead of wasting my time on oh-so-popular "sketch-bluffing"... This opinion about sketch-bluffing is strictly IMHO, of course. Everyone should present their work as it suits her/him best.

I for one prefer sketches to precise line work.
The flow of the lines and the 'working out scribbles' give the image a new dimension and passion.

Oh and I really like your blueprint style sketches btw.

EDIT: Removed image from quote

[Lovas]

I for one prefer sketches to precise line work.
The flow of the lines and the 'working out scribbles' give the image a new dimension and passion.

Oh and I really like your blueprint style sketches btw.

EDIT: Removed image from quote

Thank you, Womgoose. Glad you like it, but I hope you'll like the final illustration even more:)

As I said, the above opinion of mine regarding purpose of sketches is just my personal opinion - the world would be a boring place if all the people shared one single opinion :)

[Womgoose]

Thank you, Womgoose. Glad you like it, but I hope you'll like the final illustration even more:)

As I said, the above opinion of mine regarding purpose of sketches is just my personal opinion - the world would be a boring place if all the people shared one single opinion :)

Just had a peek at your portfolio.
If the final image is like those I will love it! :)
Stunning work...

[Geci]

the concept looks cool :thumbsup:

I just had to subscribe :D

[Lovas]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/11196/11196_1143475378_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/11196/11196_1143475378_large.jpg)

Modeling the basic shape of the spaceship...

[twistedpoly]

hey there...i love the concept and i already bookmarked this thread :)

can't wait for another updates

good luck on this one

[Lovas]

Geci & sIc,

Thank you - I'm glad to see you both in this thread. Good luck 2u2!

[Lovas]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/11196/11196_1143579870_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/11196/11196_1143579870_large.jpg)

Added details to the spaceship. It is not exactly the final model (the rear exhaust pipes are mising plus I'd probably add some minor details).

Anyway I think that the model, as it is, is ready for The Turntabling™ as well, before going to texturing. I've already prepared a special, "turntable" animation file and I will fire the renderer up later, when I go to bed.

[Womgoose]

Great work so far, can't wait to see more :D

[Lovas]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/11196/11196_1143817350_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/11196/11196_1143817350_large.jpg)

This is the textured model of the ship - some less important details will be added later. Now it is time to start to work on the surface of the moon (Phobos)...

[Geci]

so far so good... I really like the ship :thumbsup:

[sandidolsak]

me likes too, maybe a word on solar cells, they are soo small that i doubt there would be any use of them :)
good luck with the rest...

[Womgoose]

Great work Daniel.
I love the aspect ratio of the image, it suits it really well and frames the station nicely.
This is going to look great.

[Lovas]

Thank you for the comments, Woomgoose, ]angelus[ and Geci. The comment regarding solar cells is a very good one, so I'll try to explain further: the purpose of the solar cells is only to serve as backup, emergency power sources. The main power source is a fusion (NOT fission, i.e todays "nuclear") reactor in the back of the ship.

I dare to predict that in the "sixties" we'll already have first usable fusion reactors available on the industrial level, i.e. of the correct size to fit in a starship of the kind. A fusion reactor produces energy from hydrogen (converting it to helium), instead of using fission of toxic, heavy metals like uranium or plutonium. It has uncomparable higher efficiency, compared to today's fission reactors and is much friendlier to the environment. The only reason that we don't use them widely already is that scientists have yet to find a material, that is capable of withstanding enormous temperatures of the plasma inside the reactor (to build reactor walls out of it, obviously...). In this imaginary event of the Chinese expedition their fusion reactor uses strong magnetic fields to prevent the contact between the hot plasma and the reactor housing.

As I said, the solar cells are meant only as backup power sources, for the cases when the reactor is shut down for maintenance or repair. They may look small even for that purpose, but don't forget two things: 1) we're talking the sixty years from now. I guess solar technology would make same advances in 60 years from now as well, at least when it comes to the pure efficency. And 2) the starship is much larger than todays space vehicles. It might not be obvious now, but it will become clerarer when humans in spacesuits are added to the scene, some of them quite close to the ship.

I've already started working on creating the surface of Phobos underneath and also doing some sketches for the concept of the station on the surface of the Phobos, that will be visible from above. I'll be back soon with the latest update...

[sandidolsak]

huh, now that is an explanation, well i could go on saying that if solar cells will be perfected the ship could operate on them only, but that is not your concept hehe, and i see u have everything planed out ;)
so.. looking forward to seeing more

[bkeiser3d]

I''ve modeled a lot of space stuff in the past and it always looks better when it is dirty or has a feeling of age to it. Try not to make it so clean, Good job overall, this is just a suggestion.

[Lovas]

@ ]angelus[:

hehe that's why I said your remark regarding the size of the cells made sense! Even if somebody managed to construct a solar cell with 90%-98% efficiency (highly unlikely to happen in the next 60 years, though), we could hardly imagine a solar-only ship. If you want to know why, read on:

Mars orbit is approximately twice as far from the sun as that of Earth. That means roughly 4 times less light energy (i.e. only ~250W/m2). The Asteroid Belt, for example, is four times as far, and that means only 1/16th of the light is available (slightly over 60W/m2). So, the hypothetical future, "end-development" solar cells with 98% efficiency would produce less energy per sq. meter when they'd reach the Asteroid Belt, than today's cells are capable of producing now on Earth :) . And even at the Mars distance, a very large surface of such cells would be needed in order to cover all of the energy needs of a ship (including propulsion etc.) with numerous human crew.
Nevertheless - a solar cell with some 50-60% efficiency is something that is very realistic to expect in the next half a century (today the solar cell efficiency is between 5% and 20% with 30% figures reached with some lab (research) concepts. Such cells with the surface area approximately as shown on my concept (some 1000 m2 of panels alltogether) should suffice to cover basic energy needs of a ship with a human crew (not propulsion i.e. changing speed etc.) for a shorter period of time - for example while repairing reactor etc. (Don't forget that they can not be all in optimum position all the time so they'd be able to capture cca 1/3rd of the available energy, i.e the effective, continuous output would be some 100W/m2 or some 100kW for all of them)


@ bkeiser3d:

Thank you for your suggestion. I agree with you - the surface of the ship is too clean - as if the ship was constructed a couple of days ago - and it is thus not very convincing for the purpose of the story. After a couple of years in space a lot of specific "dirt" and other ireggularities should accumulate. I'll definitely do some ageing of the surface textures when the time comes for detailed texturing.

[Lovas]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/11196/11196_1145489141_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/11196/11196_1145489141_large.jpg)

Added the surface of the Phobos in the lower part of the picture. The modeling and texturing is based on photographs of the real thing.

The next step involves adding the space station deep down on the surface...

[burpy]

Looking good so far! To me the moon's surface looks a bit strange with those large folds/bumps evenly spaced along the edge, maybe you could change that a bit? It might look better if the light was more "glowy" or dramatic on the space station itself.

Keep up the good work!:)

[Lovas]

Nope! http://www.3delavnica.com/@images/interface/smiles/13.gifhttp://www.3delavnica.com/@images/interface/smiles/13.gifhttp://www.3delavnica.com/@images/interface/smiles/13.gif

I got an unexpected, but urgent viz project and thus didn't manage to finish the final image in time for the deadline. I'll keep on working on it nevertheless... And publish it in the ordinary work sections of the forum when ready.

Good luck to all of you who managed to finish it - it was great participating as usual - and see you all next time.

[CGTalk Moderation]

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.