Mack Crawford
@mackinspace.bsky.social
Artist, aerospace nerd, software engineer
A Turtle Orbital Transfer Vehicle in high-Earth orbit
February 6, 2026 at 4:20 AM
A Turtle Orbital Transfer Vehicle in high-Earth orbit
A Turtle Orbital Transfer Vehicle docks to Delta Station after returning from lunar orbit, alongside a Space Shuttle orbiter
February 2, 2026 at 10:21 PM
A Turtle Orbital Transfer Vehicle docks to Delta Station after returning from lunar orbit, alongside a Space Shuttle orbiter
The two main proposals for the Personnel Launch System: JSC/Rockwell's HL-20, and Boeing's biconic capsule
January 31, 2026 at 1:29 AM
The two main proposals for the Personnel Launch System: JSC/Rockwell's HL-20, and Boeing's biconic capsule
Ascent of Boeing's Advanced Launch System carrying the biconic Personnel Launch System. PLS can be carried by either the 1.5 or 2 stage ALS, depending on whether or not a comanifested payload is carried
January 29, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Ascent of Boeing's Advanced Launch System carrying the biconic Personnel Launch System. PLS can be carried by either the 1.5 or 2 stage ALS, depending on whether or not a comanifested payload is carried
Boeing's biconic Personnel Launch System docks at a nadir port of Space Station Freedom
January 17, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Boeing's biconic Personnel Launch System docks at a nadir port of Space Station Freedom
For the first time ever, NASA is preparing for a medical evacuation of an ISS crew. Sure would be nice if there was a Crew Return Vehicle designed specifically for evacuations, with a low-g reentry and land-landing to reduce risk to injured or ill crewmembers
January 11, 2026 at 10:05 PM
For the first time ever, NASA is preparing for a medical evacuation of an ISS crew. Sure would be nice if there was a Crew Return Vehicle designed specifically for evacuations, with a low-g reentry and land-landing to reduce risk to injured or ill crewmembers
After completing its deorbit burn, Boeing's Personnel Launch System detaches its expendable service module. Though expended, the SM is very simple; just structures, radiators, and 3 pressure-fed engines. All RCS, power, GNC, and ECLSS hardware remains in the reusable capsule
December 28, 2025 at 9:18 PM
After completing its deorbit burn, Boeing's Personnel Launch System detaches its expendable service module. Though expended, the SM is very simple; just structures, radiators, and 3 pressure-fed engines. All RCS, power, GNC, and ECLSS hardware remains in the reusable capsule
McDonnell Douglas's MURP (Manned Upper-stage Reusable Payload) separates from the Chrysler SERV (Single-stage Earth-orbital Reusable Vehicle), tugging a station module behind it
(References for MURP are relatively limited, so don't rely on this as authoritative)
(References for MURP are relatively limited, so don't rely on this as authoritative)
December 13, 2025 at 6:04 PM
McDonnell Douglas's MURP (Manned Upper-stage Reusable Payload) separates from the Chrysler SERV (Single-stage Earth-orbital Reusable Vehicle), tugging a station module behind it
(References for MURP are relatively limited, so don't rely on this as authoritative)
(References for MURP are relatively limited, so don't rely on this as authoritative)
I think this is all of the Shuttle-derived launch vehicles I've modeled (I now have so many rocket models I have to make separate rocket garden pictures divided by category, can't fit all in one picture)
Which is your favorite, and why is it the 2009 Sidemount HLV?
Which is your favorite, and why is it the 2009 Sidemount HLV?
November 29, 2025 at 1:59 AM
I think this is all of the Shuttle-derived launch vehicles I've modeled (I now have so many rocket models I have to make separate rocket garden pictures divided by category, can't fit all in one picture)
Which is your favorite, and why is it the 2009 Sidemount HLV?
Which is your favorite, and why is it the 2009 Sidemount HLV?
NASA's First Lunar Outpost at lunar morning. The pressurized element is derived from Space Station Freedom's laboratory/habitat modules. In the distance, a set of deployable experiment packages have been set up for astronomical and geological observations
November 22, 2025 at 8:21 PM
NASA's First Lunar Outpost at lunar morning. The pressurized element is derived from Space Station Freedom's laboratory/habitat modules. In the distance, a set of deployable experiment packages have been set up for astronomical and geological observations
Blue's new deployable heat shield seems very useful for something like this
Crew Dragon transfers passengers to a Cygnus-derived transit habitat on Cislunar Transporter, to be delivered to a waiting lander in lunar orbit
November 20, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Blue's new deployable heat shield seems very useful for something like this
Space Transfer Concepts and Analyses for Exploration Missions (STCAEM): A Boeing Mars mission concept from the 1990s. Two broad variants were proposed, with either chemical propulsion and aerocapture or nuclear-thermal propulsion
November 16, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Space Transfer Concepts and Analyses for Exploration Missions (STCAEM): A Boeing Mars mission concept from the 1990s. Two broad variants were proposed, with either chemical propulsion and aerocapture or nuclear-thermal propulsion
My full set of renders of Delta Clipper: Launch, payload deployment, station servicing, and reentry
November 11, 2025 at 2:05 AM
My full set of renders of Delta Clipper: Launch, payload deployment, station servicing, and reentry
The X-20 Dyna-Soar reentering Earth's atmosphere
July 29, 2025 at 1:47 AM
The X-20 Dyna-Soar reentering Earth's atmosphere
Crew Dragon transfers passengers to a Cygnus-derived transit habitat on Cislunar Transporter, to be delivered to a waiting lander in lunar orbit
July 27, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Crew Dragon transfers passengers to a Cygnus-derived transit habitat on Cislunar Transporter, to be delivered to a waiting lander in lunar orbit
The "Mission-B" Cygnus, for use on the remaining CRS2 Cygnus flights. Mostly differentiated visually by a 4th PCM segment, but there are lots of subsystem changes as well to support longer-duration flights, reduce cost, and support more complex applications beyond simple cargo
June 23, 2025 at 9:51 PM
The "Mission-B" Cygnus, for use on the remaining CRS2 Cygnus flights. Mostly differentiated visually by a 4th PCM segment, but there are lots of subsystem changes as well to support longer-duration flights, reduce cost, and support more complex applications beyond simple cargo
Blue Moon Mk2 being maneuvered and refueled by the Cislunar Transporter
May 26, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Blue Moon Mk2 being maneuvered and refueled by the Cislunar Transporter
Sadly, Dyna-Soar and MOL could have never met in orbit: X-20 was canceled the same day the MOL program began. I still think of them as siblings though
April 5, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Sadly, Dyna-Soar and MOL could have never met in orbit: X-20 was canceled the same day the MOL program began. I still think of them as siblings though
For an early crewed lunar flyby, a follow-on to Gemini-Agena was proposed where a modified Gemini would dock to a pair of Transtages, which would boost it to TLI
April 1, 2025 at 2:34 AM
For an early crewed lunar flyby, a follow-on to Gemini-Agena was proposed where a modified Gemini would dock to a pair of Transtages, which would boost it to TLI
An operational derivative of the X-20 docked to a wet workshop built around an S-IV stage
Not much published on the station, but likely served a similar role to MOL
Not much published on the station, but likely served a similar role to MOL
March 27, 2025 at 11:53 PM
An operational derivative of the X-20 docked to a wet workshop built around an S-IV stage
Not much published on the station, but likely served a similar role to MOL
Not much published on the station, but likely served a similar role to MOL
By request, Orion docked directly to Blue Moon. This would be a possible scenario either if Gateway is canceled, or in event of a failure on the lander requiring Orion to retrieve the crew
Any other missions/vehicles people want to see?
Any other missions/vehicles people want to see?
March 16, 2025 at 4:38 PM
By request, Orion docked directly to Blue Moon. This would be a possible scenario either if Gateway is canceled, or in event of a failure on the lander requiring Orion to retrieve the crew
Any other missions/vehicles people want to see?
Any other missions/vehicles people want to see?
Size comparison of the FLO piloted lander vs Altair, Blue Moon, and (outdated model) Starship HLS. Its not outrageously huge overall, but it is a much taller ladder than I'd want to climb down
March 12, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Size comparison of the FLO piloted lander vs Altair, Blue Moon, and (outdated model) Starship HLS. Its not outrageously huge overall, but it is a much taller ladder than I'd want to climb down
Following separation from the J-2S-powered second stage, Comet's nuclear-thermal third stage jettisons its aerodynamic insulation panels (similar to early Centaurs prior to Atlas II) and begins a coast phase prior to translunar injection
March 7, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Following separation from the J-2S-powered second stage, Comet's nuclear-thermal third stage jettisons its aerodynamic insulation panels (similar to early Centaurs prior to Atlas II) and begins a coast phase prior to translunar injection
"The former USSR has a cheap booster for heavy-lift rockets"
"We'll take your whole stock"
One of the launch vehicle options for First Lunar Outpost was the Saturn V-derived base option but with up to 8 Energia strapon boosters
"We'll take your whole stock"
One of the launch vehicle options for First Lunar Outpost was the Saturn V-derived base option but with up to 8 Energia strapon boosters
March 5, 2025 at 4:35 AM
"The former USSR has a cheap booster for heavy-lift rockets"
"We'll take your whole stock"
One of the launch vehicle options for First Lunar Outpost was the Saturn V-derived base option but with up to 8 Energia strapon boosters
"We'll take your whole stock"
One of the launch vehicle options for First Lunar Outpost was the Saturn V-derived base option but with up to 8 Energia strapon boosters