Saturday, January 25, 2025

Lovell city on the Moon in "The Expanse" TV series - concept art by Lee Fitzgerald

After the bombardment of Earth Lovell City on Luna (the Moon) became the de facto capital of United Nations, one of the three competing powers in universe of The Expanse TV series - a political sci-fi drama set a few centuries in the future where humans have colonized the entire Solar system. Luna functions as a way station between Earth and the rest of the Solar system, and its spaceport at Lovell City serves as a natural meeting place between residents of the inner planets and Belters. Due to its lower gravity, Luna is the only body in the inner system that Belters can easily visit. UN citizens living on Luna are generally wealthier than most of their counterparts on Earth.
Here is a collection of concept art for the Lovell city by Canadian designer Lee Fitzgerald:
Lovell city on the Moon - concept art for 'The Expanse' TV series by Lee Fitzgerald

Lovell city on the Moon - concept art for 'The Expanse' TV series by Lee Fitzgerald

Lovell city on the Moon - concept art for 'The Expanse' TV series by Lee Fitzgerald

Lovell city on the Moon - concept art for 'The Expanse' TV series by Lee Fitzgerald

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

SpaceX Starship flight test 7 - infographic by Tony Bela

The 7th integrated flight test of SpaceX's Starship rocket is targeted to launch on Thursday, January 16 from Starbase, Boca Chica, Texas. It will be the 1st flight test of a new generation (block 2) Starship with significant upgrades and an attempt of Starship’s 1st payload deployment test. The 60-minute launch window will open at 4:00 p.m. CT.

Here is an infographic of the upcoming flight test by Australian space illustrator Tony Bela:

SpaceX Starship flight test 7 - infographic by Tony Bela

SpaceX: "A block of planned upgrades to the Starship upper stage will debut on this flight test, bringing major improvements to reliability and performance. The vehicle’s forward flaps have been reduced in size and shifted towards the vehicle tip and away from the heat shield, significantly reducing their exposure to reentry heating while simplifying the underlying mechanisms and protective tiling. While in space, Starship will deploy 10 Starlink simulators, similar in size and weight to next-generation Starlink satellites as the first exercise of a satellite deploy mission. The Starlink simulators will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship, with splashdown targeted in the Indian Ocean. The Super Heavy booster will utilize flight proven hardware for the first time, reusing a Raptor engine from the booster launched and returned on Starship’s fifth flight test. Hardware upgrades to the launch and catch tower will increase reliability for booster catch."