"Spacecraft for Hive, Queen and Country" Topic

HQC is hard science, Victorian Science Fiction: What would a spaceship designed by Brunel, White, Ericson or Dupuy de Lôme look like?

We think maybe something like this!

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Space frame structures based on period civil engineering, Ferris Wheel like cars rotated to produce artificial gravity. Large radiators to either capture or remove energy. Nods to Disney's Cygnus and Doug Trumbull's Valley Force as well as the works of Brunel and Eiffel.

Please help us reach our goals and put out some of the best hard science VSF on the market!

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I think, considering that I was quick to criticise when I saw the first renders, that I should be equally quick to compliment.

The ship in the first link is a big step in the right direction, and the design influences you mention are certainly more worthy of being pursued than the 'smoke stack and gears' school of steampunk 'design'.

I still think there's a long way to go, personally. The girder-work is a good concept, but I'd love to see some of Eiffel's elegant curves, and I think the trapezoidal radiators (I think they're radiators?) look a bit TIE fighter.

But, it's a great design direction, and I look forward to seeing more!

How do they get to orbit in your setting?

Looking at your Kickstarter post, I'd bring back the full wheels, with multiple spokes like a ferris wheel – good place to add texture (which is what's really going to give you a steampunk feel, I think).

Getting into orbit is by rockets. Chemical rockets initially but soon rockets using "aerolyth" which produce far greater thrust. These allow economical travel from a planetary surface to high orbit. The vessel in the picture is for long haul high orbit to high orbit flight