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In all probability, the 'plasma drive ring' will vanish now that I understand that ANSA has working artificial gravity technology. 

The small rectangles at the edges of the wing tips were reaction control thruster quads, and would have included dual recessed nozzles in top, side, and bottom.  I thought that the units might actually 'deploy' from the body, move out on small spars to where the front and rear would expose dual nozzles located in those areas as well, maybe even the assemblies would 'rotate'.  These are two very, very rough sketches for a ANSA 'scoutship' which I intend to scratchbuild.  In the fourth movie, we are told that 'scoutships' brought back the disease which killed the dogs and cats of the world, yet we never see these 'scoutships'.  This is my attempt to model such a vessel.   I also thought of a 'para-wing' or a crescent shaped air-foil stretching from one wing tip across the top to the other wing tip, similar to the 'weapon bar' on the Star Trek ship "Reliant" but certainly with no weapons attached!  And, perhaps, a smaller similar wing mounted underneath in an artfully designed counterpoint to the top mounted wing.

I see these vessels as being very fast, small interstellar explorer vessels, perhaps either the generation 'before' or the generation 'after' the Icarus.  Perhaps after Taylor's four seater, and the rest of the three seaters, these were even smaller two seaters.

 

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The two ovals at the rear are upright tail fins seen from a top down look.  In all probability, they will (if they are used) end up looking like the tail fins on the unused F-119 stealth fighter, slightly canted inwards toward each other, or possibly canted outwards to the same degree.  They may even extend somewhat below the fuselage below.  The black lines near the door are steps that are molded into the hull.  The door opens up and outwards, much like the door on a large commercial airliner.  Since the hull is angled, this means that when the astronauts step out, they have to duck slightly to avoid hitting their heads, though the door should make an excellent cover against rain from above.  I might add a 'traditional' round escape hatch forward, but my intention also was to have the front 'wedge' section be removable, or similar to the "Icarus" in that it was a completely self contained crew support module that could be jettisoned in emergency.

There might be a hatch between the module and the drive section (logically).  Hatches in the roof (similar to Virdon's craft) would, to me, be a better way of escaping the vehicle by using ejection seats.  Rocket powered ejection seats are not new, they were used on many high speed planes and even the SR-71.   That rectangle on one side is my attempt to redesign a form fitting, flattened NACA style duct that would draw air in over the top surface for directing to the (possible) atmospheric engines.  However, with the postulation of a working anti-gravity field and the technology to support it, chemical reaction engines become anarchic throwbacks.

Also, considering the need for viable physics and space for a suitable drive system, in hindsight, the hatch needs to be moved farther towards the front of the vessel.  I see the engines as taking up at least a third of the rear of this ship.  ANSA technology is good, but not that good.  At this time, IMHO, engines capable of developing interstellar distance crossing speeds will be large and bulky, even though they are cutting edge (at that time) in design.  It is just how things work out in real life and my designs will echo that.

Here are three preliminary sketches, the design of the 'command module' varies somewhat between sketches, the first and last sketch are the most advanced of the sketches and reflect the true final design of the Prometheus, or at least how it would have looked before I started this site.  Knowing now what I understand of ANSA space flight technology, some minor redesigns are in order, I believe.

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Although the scenes of a smashed, wrecked spaceship and stranded astronauts brings in powerful, basic emotions, for once I'd like to see an ANSA spacecraft make a controlled landing and not develop something wrong with it.   This plot device has been used so often, it's become quite cliché' in this genre.   Again, apparently, even though humans build these ships (and the ones in Tim Burton's movies), it is the apes who apparently can fly them the best with the least amount of crashes and the best safety records.  I'd like to see that change.   Perhaps in a new POTA movie?  A continuation of the original series, and not a sequel to the awful POTA movie by Tim Burton.

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