(Above) This artist’s concept shows a nuclear electric-propelled vehicle, about the size of a football field, firing banks of ion thrusters in order to circularize its orbit around Mars.

Assembled in Earth orbit, the transfer vehicle with its 10 megawatt power plant could transport 130 metric ton payloads to Mars in 6 1/2 months, and could repeat its circuit every 52 months.

This artwork was done for NASA by Patrick Rawlings.

(Above) This classic 1989 painting was done by Pat Rawlings for NASA. It features an American Astronaut proudly saluting the camera during an EVA, with the Moon and Mars majestically reflecting in the Astronaut’s visor.

(Above) This is an artist conception of the different types of machinery that will likely be needed in the future for Lunar Base construction and assembly.

This artwork was done by Pat Rawlings for NASA.

Routine 24-hour flights to the Moon could employ detachable crew modules atop nuclear thermal transfer vehicles.

By transferring the module from one propulsion element to the next, the passengers could complete their trip to the lunar surface without ever leaving the module.

This image was produced for NASA by Pat Rawlings and Bill Gleason.

(Above) Space Shuttle Discovery orbits above Earth in bottom-to-sun attitude, moments after TDRS-C’s release into space. TDRS-C is seen just below open payload bay (PLB). This artwork was done by Pat Rawlings for NASA.

(Above) This artist concept depicts NASA Astronauts constructing solar panels on the surface of Mars. The use of solar panels reduces the amount of fuel that must be brought to the surface and overall mission cost.

This painting was produced for NASA by Pat Rawlings.

On the way to the Jovian system, a massive nuclear thermal transfer vehicle picks up cargo and Mars orbit near Phobos. This steady-state system could provide a reliable foundation for the exploration and eventual colonization of the solar system. This artwork was done for NASA by Pat Rawlings.

(Above) Pushed by three 25,000-pound thrust nuclear thermal rocket engines, a NASA First Lunar Outpost piloted lander atop a 10-meter-diameter stage leaves Earth orbit for the Moon. This nuclear stage is the advanced technology base for eventual reusable lunar transfer vehicles and subsequent human voyages to Mars. This artwork was done for NASA by Pat Rawlings.

First Lunar Outpost was a NASA plan to return to the Moon after the collapse of the 1989 Space Exploration Initiative.