Post by glactus on Aug 6, 2011 2:04:30 GMT
the Moonraker
The Moonraker is a special spacecraft, designed in the 1920's but still used in space fiction graphics and space art today. It has vertical take off and landing of course, a beautiful shape and no-one knows what propulsion system is incorporated in it's design. But that doesn't matter, all we know is that it has sleek lines and fits gracefully onto any Lunar landscape.
Moonraker to the Moon
It is said that the German engineers were the first to draw the Moonraker shape and Werner Von Braun was inspired by it and used it's main body shape less the top fins in his V2 rocket design to bomb London in the last year of WW2.
Moonraker pad
The Moonraker has also been used in space fiction stories to land pioneers on Mars, on Asteroids and in journeys to the stars. The shape is also used by amateur rocket enthusiasts on their field days to show everyone just how beautiful their rocket really is, and they have every reason to smile.
Moonraker at the mining site
Looking at the Moonraker
Credits: Space art and text by Glactus
Telescope in avatar: Meade 16" LX 200 on equatorial pier
Astronomer in avatar: Glactus