(June 1977) - This painting shows an asteroid mining mission to an Earth-approaching asteroid. Asteroids contain many of the major elements which provide the basis for industry and life on Earth. A NASA-sponsored study on space manufacturing held at Ames Research Center (ARC) in summer of 1977 provided much of the technical basis for the painting. "Asteroid-1" is the central long structure and the propulsion unit is the long tubular structure enveloped by stiffening yard arms and guy wires. Solar cells running the length of the propulsion system convert the sunlight into electricity which is used to power the propulsion system. During the mission these solar arrays would be oriented toward the Sun to gather maximum power. In the left foreground is an asteroid mining unit, doing actual mining work. An orbital construction platform in permanent orbit provides power, supplies depot and work volume within which work proceeds. Artist concept by Denise Watt.

(February 1995) - After first visiting the Moon, this solar electric propulsion vehicle approaches the near-dormant nucleus of Comet Wilson-Harrington. The Diana mission, proposed by NASA Lewis Research Center (LRC), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), TRW, the University of California at Los Angeles, and other participants, will provide the first high-resolution compositional, gravitational, and visual mapping of the entire lunar surface. The spacecraft will then collect the same data during the first rendezvous with the heart of a comet. Artwork done for NASA by Pat Rawlings, of SAIC.

(1994) - Minutes before landing, the first Mars expedition crew's descent is abruptly slowed by the deployment of the spacecraft's main chutes. Their destination, the floor of Ganges Chasma, could hold the answers to questions about Mars' geological, hydrological, and even biological evolution. The crew descends to the planet's surface in the habitat they lived in during their six-month journey to Mars and will rendezvous on the surface with assets delivered nearly two years earlier. These assets have been declared operational and have already converted part of the Mars atmosphere into propellant and life support consumables for use by the crew prior to the crew leaving Earth. These images produced for NASA by Pat Rawlings

(March 14, 1983) - This artist's concept of lunar mining operations illustrates the production of liquid oxygen. Ilmenite, a fairly common oxygen rich component of lunar soil, is the material actually being mined here. At center, a robot front-end loader scoops out lunar soil, which is then dumped into sifters, the red containers, at center. There, the soil is sifted, the useable material then dumped into electrostatic separators which further discriminate between useable and unusable material. Material, which cannot be used for this process, is carried away on the tracks seen leading out from the facility where they are dumped for later use in other processes to recover valuable minerals and ores. Back at the facility, material is dumped into a 700 furnace that is heated by using hydrogen as a fuel. This process produces water, from which an electrolysis process is able to produce hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is recycled back into the process, while the oxygen is taken to the yellow buildings where it is converted into a liquid through a super cold cryogenic freezing process. The liquid oxygen is then piped to the modules at center right, transported to the container in the center background, and ultimately shipped to the orbiting way station via the lunar lander at the top background of this photo. At top center is a large berm shelter that houses workers at this site. This concept would have it consist of two discarded Shuttle external tanks, covered with lunar soil, which would provide 2,400 square feet of living space. This illustration is part of concept operation designed for JSC by Eagle Engineering of Houston. The artist was Pat Rawlings.

Lunar Orbiter Project: Artist's concept of the Lunar Orbiter spacecraft shows the vehicle in orbit about 25 miles from the moon. Solar panels and antennas extended, the craft is busy mapping the surface in preparation for the Apollo manned landings. 1964

On the way to the Jovian system, a nuclear thermal transfer vehicle refuels in a Mars-orbit near Martian moon Phobos, in this artist's rendering. This image produced for NASA by Pat Rawlings.

(January 1989) --- This is an artist's concept depicting a possible scene of astronauts walking on Mars during a dust storm. This painting was done by Paul DiMare.

(February 1995) --- (Artist's concept of possible exploration programs.) A nuclear thermal rocket fires upon arrival in the vicinity of Mars to insert the transfer vehicle into orbit. his artwork was done for NASA by Pat Rawlings.

(February 1995) --- (Artist's concept of possible exploration programs.) Approximately 200 kilometers above the Martian surface, a nuclear thermal propulsion transfer vehicle and the ascent stage of a two-stage Mars lander prepare to rendezvous. This artwork was done for NASA by Pat Rawlings.

(June 1977)--- This painting shows the beginning of a mission to an Earth-approaching asteroid. Asteroids contain many of the major elements which provide the basis for industry and life on Earth. Orbital sunrise greets the start of the suggested first such retrieval mission in this artist's concept by Denise Watt.