The Apollo CSM with white paint.
Skylab Apollo CSM. For Skylab, the Apollo CSM went through a number of changes. The most obvious change was the use of white thermal control paint on the side of the spacecraft that would face the sun while docked to the station.
www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-ma...
Smithsonian Magazine.
The Evolution of Space Art
From the first imaginings of other worlds to todayβs realistic planet-scapes.
Helen Sharman became the 1st British person, 1st Western European woman, 1st privately funded woman in space, & 1st woman to visit the Mir space station, in May 1991. Definitely an awesome woman. #InternationalWomensDay
Iβve been working on a digital portrait of Beaker. I think Iβve captured his unique chaos. Created using Adobe Fresco. #DigitalArt #Muppets
A Star Wars "B Wing" first seen in the movie Star Wars Return of the Jedi. Pictured against a blue background of stars and asteroids. A second ship is in tha background in the top right.
B-Wings (again, I make no apologies) I love these ships ever since they made their appearence in ROTJ. #Lightwave3d render of @howieeday.bsky.social 's model.
On International Women's Day (IWD), celebrating all female space explorers, including Helen Sharman and her bold, gutsy, and record breaking journey to the Mir Space Station in May 1991. We were lucky enough to talk to Helen in the July and September issues of "Odyssey" last year; a real privilege.
ππ¦π«π°πͺπ€π¦ πͺπ― π΅π©π¦ ππ’π³π΅π©
Peter Elsonβs stunning paintings for Kim Stanley Robinsonβs ππ’π³π΄ trilogy depict a planet transformed by terraforming. But in the march issue of ππ₯πΊπ΄π΄π¦πΊ, we ask whether it is planet Earth that is now most in need of terraforming.
Celebrating the British Interplanetary Society's library on #WorldBookDay2026 - home to thousands of books on space and astronomy and a collection of signed Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter first editions. A literary treasure trove in the heart of London. #Odyssey #arts #culture #books
My acrylic on stretched canvas artwork entitled Barren Rock, Living Light. From my Astronomy Portfolio.
Book cover for JOHN CARTER OF MARS by Edgar Rice Burroughs, published by Del Rey Books
Cover illustration for the book by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Del Rey) 3/3
www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/jo...
Delighted to share that The Sentient Ones has been selected for the British Interplanetary Societyβs library. Huge thanks to Nub News Stoke for the lovely writeβup. Feeling very honoured today.
#TheSentientOnes #AI
stoke.nub.news/news/local-n...
Two small space fighters fly between the glowing habitat rings of a massive space station in orbit above a green planet. The station features rotating ring structures, solar panels, and bright blue lights, with the planetβs cratered surface filling the background.
Theyβd catch hell from the Air Boss, but every rookie ran the station rings once, skimming solar arrays and darting between the habitats. An old #Lightwave3d render from a few years back. I'll have to dig out the scene and revisit it. #Scifi #ScifiArt
An abstract painting of a spaceship approaching an ancient alien artifact in deep space
Another of my livestream favorites, Exploring an Alien Artifact. Painted with casein on illustration board, the artifact was inspired by the Berzerker stories by Fred Saberhagen.
The explorers in this scene have no idea what they are about to discover
A tall, cylindrical spacecraft with a flat disc on top orbits a bright blue planet while a sun or star rises over the horizon in the background. Manchu, Les Chants de la Terre Lointaine
Which of his sci-fi novels would Arthur C. Clarke have liked to see adapted for the cinema?
"There are several others are optioned to people working on them. The one I would like to see most is The Songs of Distant Earth, which is my own favourite novel." (2000)
Early lunar lander design.
vauxhallhistory.org/the-space-ar...
A lovely article on the Space Art of R A Smith.
If you are under 25 here's your chance to join a Society that's been advocating for the exploration of space since 1933. Join us in our ongoing journey "from imagination to reality." And receive our digital arts and culture magazine "Odyssey" for free!
This is me with David Sillito (BBC Arts Correspondent), before the pandemic, with my work behind me. David Dillito had just filmed an interview with me which was aired throughout BBC News.
Thank you!
Many thanks.
Does anyone know who the artist is who did this classic book cover please?
We were proud to feature this image on the cover of the September 2025 issue of Odyssey.
βOdysseyβ remembers Robert Duvall (1931-2026), and the roles he played in THX 1138, Deep Impact, Countdown, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. #Odyssey
February 20th is the 30th anniversary of the MIR space station, with the launch of its core module by the Soviet Union in 1986. The station operated until its controlled reentry in March 2001. This is a digital painting of MIR in orbit, from my Aerospace Portfolio. Created using Adobe Fresco. #space
Flood Waters Down: climate collapse and a world drowning not just in water, but in its own arrogance, greed, and by the uncaring AI built to save it. Keep your head above water if you can β the future is here!
Out 9th April by @simpsonclive.bsky.social
#FloodWatersDown @cliftop.bsky.social
Had a great chat with Nicky Campbell on BBC Radio 5 Live this morning about AI β the hopes, the fears, and the strange places itβs taking us.
Itβs very much the territory of my novel #TheSentientOnes so it was a pleasure to jump into the discussion.
Replay should be on BBC Sounds later today.
Great discussion today on Nicky Campbellβs Radio 5 Live phone in about AI and autonomy.
Good to hear Brendan Nugent discussing his new book βThe Sentient Onesβ as one of the callers.
#Booksky #AI #novel
Lovely to meet with Kayleigh today at The Travelling Bookshop on Sleaford Market and hand over an advance review copy of my forthcoming novel #FloodWatersDown.
Advance review copies now available to interested media - DM me for details.
#Booksky #ClimateFiction #ScienceFiction #BookSky
A comet streaks across the Martian sky over a distant city and descending past a massive rectangular horned arch. Mountains run along the horizon like irregular plates jutting from its spine. The familiar red-orange of Martian regolith is broken by deep blue canals that wind through the landscape. In the immediate foreground, a trio of domed towers, each unique, dwarf tall slender pyramids clustered just beyond. Set above all that to the foreground right, a raised pool reflects the sky in a gray-blue gradient. A pair of bronze skinned humans sit next to it on an ivory overhang dotted with amber beads. The surface is elegantly patterned ending in a lace-like edging. One man holds an ornate mask over his face, casting a distinctly alien gaze at the viewer. In contrast, his companion cups his mask in his hand, exposing slightly elongated features in profile, as he gazes up at the contrail that crosses the sky.
DESCENT (1989)
Acrylic on Canvas - 28β x48β
When I was asked to do a new cover for Ray Bradbury's classic THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES, I reread it and found I was deeply moved by the sense of inevitable tragedy that permeates the first half of the book. 1/4
#art #booksky
Love it!
From my Star Trek Portfolio - a digital portrait of Enterprise. Created using Adobe Fresco.
