Solar Survey Vessel Lightwave3d

First image by GrahamTG
This model was inspired by Rendezvous with Rama, a 1973 science fiction novel by British writer Arthur C. Clarke. but could be used as any other future space vessel, 100-plus years from now when humanity is travelling around the solar system in spacecraft. When I read the book first I liked to imagine its design and I drew inspiration from several sources, there are some details in the novel regarding the Endeavour, but not as many to have a clear vision, so I drew inspiration from Gerry Anderson "Into Infinity" aka The Day After Tomorrow is a 1975  Lightship Altares.

Set in the 2130s, the story involves a 50-by-20-kilometre (31 by 12 mi) cylindrical alien starship that enters the Solar System the alien craft, under the command of  Commander Norton, the Endeavour, is the only ship close enough to do so. The crew navigates through a triple airlock system and descends one of three identical staircases. Inside Rama, they discover two plains stretching across the interior circumference, divided by a frozen body of water called the Cylindrical Sea. They identify several city-sized clusters of geometric structures, which they named after major cities on Earth. The United Planets follow their progress closely, and scientists are assembled to form a Rama Committee that considers theories and advises Commander Norton.

As Endeavour can touch down on Rama, I have given it some landing abilities but I think it should only land on Space Platforms or in a gravity well no greater than Earth's Moon a landing on Mars or Earth is impossible for this design.

In the novel, it is mentioned that the crew use a centrifuge to keep fit, so I added a visible centrifuge ring used while the ship is not under power, while the Endeavour is under power, (using an Ion Engine) aft is down, aft wall become ships decks, I picked Ion power as it can move a ship 10 time faster than chemical rockets, but Ion lacks rapid acceleration, so I have added 8 powerful chemical thrusters for rapid acceleration and deceleration by turning the ship around on its axis.
There are also forward thrusters for deceleration but these are not as powerful, used more for smaller manoeuvrers or deceleration after using the Ion Drive.  

There are other ships named in the novel, I have included these in the file, they are the SSV Endeavour, SSV Beagle, SSV Calypso and the SSV Challenger. The only texture is in the control room, you can just about see through the forward window

Lightwave3d model of a space vessel inspired by Arthur C. Clarke, The Rendezvous with Rama is a 1973 science fiction novel. Set in the 2130s, the story involves a 50-by-20-kilometre (31 by 12 mi) cylindrical alien starship that enters the Solar System the alien craft, under the command of  Commander Norton, the Endeavour, is the only ship close enough to do so. This is my interpretation of the design