Apollo 3D: Command Module and Service Module Block 2 Staff Pick
- June 08, 2012
- 1,057 Downloads
- 7 Likes
- Blender 2.6x
- Render: Blender Internal
- Creator: mesapilgrim
- License: CC-BY
Description:
The Apollo Command Module (CM) and Service Module (SM) carried American astronauts to the moon on 7 mission (Apollo 11 to 17) from July 1969 to December 1972. I thought the best way to appreciate and understand their accomplishment was to build an accurate model showing the design. A free Apollo model might inspire some kids to take on space engineering (and Blender) too :)
This is a departure from the standard Blender modeling approach of "only model what shows up in the rendering", and uses Blender as more of a Computer Aided Design (CAD) tool. I found that Blender works great for precision CAD as well as the hundred other ways folks use it. This Apollo 3D model shows dimensionally accurate CM hull layers, interior and exterior features at scale 10 inches = 1 Blender unit. Major components of the SM, as well as the Boost Protection Cover (BPC) and Launch Escape System (LES) are included as well. Primary references were the "NASA Apollo CM News Reference" (314 pages), and the "Apollo Operations Handbook, Block II Spacecraft" (978 pages). Also very helpful were Scott Lowther's excellent technical references (on Up-Ship.com), and David Weeks technical drawings (on realspacemodels.com). Finally, thanks to Mr. David Christensen and the Apollo/Saturn Archive at the University of Alabama, Huntsville for source material on the Apollo CM interior.
I hope to continue refining the models with complete interior, exterior and layers, accurate to +/- 0.5 inch, accurate color and material finish. Any partners would be welcome. I'm also working on other Apollo program component models in my free time. Thanks for your interest and any feedback.
Comments:
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Hlynkacg
Written March 01, 2013Thank you for posting this.
While the blend is entirely unsuitable for my purposes, real-time rendering for simulation, the overall mesh and material specs have been an invaluable reference.
Kind regards, Greg Hlynka
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mesapilgrim
Written March 04, 2013You're welcome, folks. I took a bunch of closeup photos at the Kennedy Space Center museum and hope to do an update this spring.
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astorza
Written February 11, 2022ah, space age, a great model to learn a lot about Blender. Thanks you so much!
Love your work- please keep it up!