History Analysis / StandardHumanSpaceship

This trope is probably going to be TruthInTelevision for military spacecraft in the near-future (with the earliest favoring the tinkertoy/habitrail/industrial plumbing aesthetic of the International Space Station), just because of the limits of our launching methods -- cylindrical rocket sections bolted together in space. Eventually, though, it may become a [[{{Zeerust}} relic of the near-present]] as space-based construction becomes easier. In space, there is no gravity or air resistance to design around, and due to the distances involved [[StealthInSpace and other factors]] visual camouflage probably won't be much use either. However, cylinders (and spheres) have advantages over more "boxy" shapes: they use less surface material for a given volume, and for pressurized sections such as habitats or propellant tanks, round shapes are better than having sharp corners (weak points for pressure vessels, the same reason why airplane windows are rounded and not square). Historically, armies put quite a bit of thought into looking good and only stopped when it became necessary to do so (the British Army switching to khaki uniforms after the Boer Wars, for example); given the chance, it's likely that [[BlingOfWar looking grand]] will be back on the agenda. The [[AwesomeButImpractical engineers will probably hate it]], but [[ExecutiveMeddling then again, they probably won't be controlling things]]. On the other hand, in this modern, cost-conscious world, the accountants might have a thing or two to say about [[http://www.somethingawful.com/d/news/gothic-space-bilge.php wasting money on decor]]...to say nothing of what happens when news gets back to the [[TheFederation Federation Parliament]]...will the voters ever have a ''fit'' when they hear about the gobs of cash being spent to paint their ships in gold for no reason other than "it looks pretty."[[note]]In theory one supposes that the idea of having military spacecraft is itself overly expensive, but interplanetary settlement at least is a realistic idea in the medium-to-long-term...and where there is economic activity, it's possible that someone is going to try to take it from you by force.[[/note]]

This trope is probably going to be TruthInTelevision for military spacecraft in the near-future (with the earliest favoring the tinkertoy/habitrail/industrial plumbing aesthetic of the International Space Station), just because of the limits of our launching methods -- cylindrical rocket sections bolted together in space. Eventually, though, it may become a [[{{Zeerust}} relic of the near-present]] as space-based construction becomes easier. In space, there is no gravity or air resistance to design around, and due to the distances involved [[StealthInSpace and other factors]] visual camouflage probably won't be much use either. The habitable sections of these spacecraft are not likely to be "boxy," due to sharp corners being weak points when there are high differences in pressure between the interior and exterior (the same reason why airplane windows are rounded and not square). Historically, armies put quite a bit of thought into looking good and only stopped when it became necessary to do so (the British Army switching to khaki uniforms after the Boer Wars, for example); given the chance, it's likely that [[BlingOfWar looking grand]] will be back on the agenda. The [[AwesomeButImpractical engineers will probably hate it]], but [[ExecutiveMeddling then again, they probably won't be controlling things]]. On the other hand, in this modern, cost-conscious world, the accountants might have a thing or two to say about [[http://www.somethingawful.com/d/news/gothic-space-bilge.php wasting money on decor]]...to say nothing of what happens when news gets back to the [[TheFederation Federation Parliament]]...will the voters ever have a ''fit'' when they hear about the gobs of cash being spent to paint their ships in gold for no reason other than "it looks pretty."[[note]]In theory one supposes that the idea of having military spacecraft is itself overly expensive, but interplanetary settlement at least is a realistic idea in the medium-to-long-term...and where there is economic activity, it's possible that someone is going to try to take it from you by force.[[/note]]

This trope is probably going to be TruthInTelevision for military spacecraft in the near-future (with the earliest favoring the tinkertoy/habitrail/industrial plumbing aesthetic of the International Space Station), just because of the limits of our launching methods -- cylindrical rocket sections bolted together in space. Eventually, though, it may become a [[{{Zeerust}} relic of the near-present]] as space-based construction becomes easier. In space, there is no gravity or air resistance to design around, and due to the distances involved [[StealthInSpace and other factors]] visual camouflage probably won't be much use either. Historically, armies put quite a bit of thought into looking good and only stopped when it became necessary to do so (the British Army switching to khaki uniforms after the Boer Wars, for example); given the chance, it's likely that [[BlingOfWar looking grand]] will be back on the agenda. The [[AwesomeButImpractical engineers will probably hate it]], but [[ExecutiveMeddling then again, they probably won't be controlling things]]. On the other hand, in this modern, cost-conscious world, the accountants might have a thing or two to say about [[http://www.somethingawful.com/d/news/gothic-space-bilge.php wasting money on decor]]...to say nothing of what happens when news gets back to the [[TheFederation Federation Parliament]]...will the voters ever have a ''fit'' when they hear about the gobs of cash being spent to paint their ships in gold for no reason other than "it looks pretty."[[note]]In theory one supposes that the idea of having military spacecraft is itself overly expensive, but interplanetary settlement at least is a realistic idea in the medium-to-long-term...and where there is economic activity, it's possible that someone is going to try to take it from you by force.[[/note]]

Also, some of these designs actually make some sense. For example, after the first two missions UsefulNotes/{{NASA}} decided to leave the external tank of the Space Shuttle un-painted because of the extra weight that pretty white veneer added (to give you an idea, the paint on a 747 jetliner weighs hundreds of pounds), not to mention the fact that it all burned up when it fell into the atmosphere anyway. For deep probes our designs are pretty non-blocky only because they are not meant for any kind of combat. Wings may be used on craft [[SpacePlane intended to work in atmosphere as well]] (like [[Series/BattlestarGalacticaReimagined BSGs]] Vipers), even though it wouldn't probably be very practical to make a dual-purpose craft like that given the hugely different conditions, especially when considering the different atmospheres and gravities of alien worlds. Unpainted metal or reflective exteriors may also be justified if the ship is intended to fly near stars: this would reflect the light assist the ship in [[SpaceIsCold staying cool,]] similar to the way that skyscrapers in the southern USA and other hot places tend to be designed with reflective glass exteriors.

Also, some of these designs actually make some sense. For example, after the first two missions {{NASA}} decided to leave the external tank of the Space Shuttle un-painted because of the extra weight that pretty white veneer added (to give you an idea, the paint on a 747 jetliner weighs hundreds of pounds), not to mention the fact that it all burned up when it fell into the atmosphere anyway. For deep probes our designs are pretty non-blocky only because they are not meant for any kind of combat. Wings may be used on craft [[SpacePlane intended to work in atmosphere as well]] (like [[Series/BattlestarGalacticaReimagined BSGs]] Vipers), even though it wouldn't probably be very practical to make a dual-purpose craft like that given the hugely different conditions, especially when considering the different atmospheres and gravities of alien worlds. Unpainted metal or reflective exteriors may also be justified if the ship is intended to fly near stars: this would reflect the light assist the ship in [[SpaceIsCold staying cool,]] similar to the way that skyscrapers in the southern USA and other hot places tend to be designed with reflective glass exteriors.

This trope is probably going to be TruthInTelevision for military spacecraft in the near-future (with the earliest favoring the tinkertoy/habitrail/industrial plumbing aesthetic of the International Space Station), just because of the limits of our launching methods -- cylindrical rocket sections bolted together in space. Eventually, though, it may become a [[{{Zeerust}} relic of the near-present]] as space-based construction becomes easier. In space, there is no gravity or air resistance to design around, and due to the distances involved [[StealthInSpace and other factors]] visual camouflage probably won't be much use either. Historically, armies put quite a bit of thought into looking good and only stopped when it became necessary to do so (the British Army switching to khaki uniforms after the Boer Wars, for example); given the chance, it's likely that [[BlingOfWar looking grand]] will be back on the agenda. The [[AwesomeButImpractical engineers will probably hate it]], but [[ExecutiveMeddling then again, they probably won't be controlling things]]. On the other hand, in this modern, cost-conscious world, the accountants might have a thing or two to say about [[http://www.somethingawful.com/d/news/gothic-space-bilge.php wasting money on decor]]...to say nothing of what happens when news gets back to the [[TheFederation Federation Parliament]]...will the voters ever have a ''fit'' when they hear about the gobs of cash being spent to paint their ships in gold for no reason other than "it looks pretty."

This trope is probably going to be TruthInTelevision for military spacecraft in the near-future (with the earliest favoring the tinkertoy/habitrail/industrial plumbing aesthetic of the International Space Station), just because of the limits of our launching methods -- cylindrical rocket sections bolted together in space. Eventually, though, it may become a [[{{Zeerust}} relic of the near-present]] as space-based construction becomes easier. In space, there is no gravity or air resistance to design around, and due to the distances involved [[StealthInSpace and other factors]] visual camouflage probably won't be much use either. Historically, armies put quite a bit of thought into looking good and only stopped when it became necessary to do so (the British Army switching to khaki uniforms after the Boer Wars, for example); given the chance, it's likely that [[BlingOfWar looking grand]] will be back on the agenda. The [[AwesomeButImpractical engineers will probably hate it]], but [[ExecutiveMeddling then again, they probably won't be controlling things]]. On the other hand, in this modern, cost-conscious world, the accountants might have a thing or two to say about [[http://www.somethingawful.com/d/news/gothic-space-bilge.php wasting money on decor]]...to say nothing of what happens when news gets back to the [[TheFederation Federation Parliament]]...will the voters ever have a ''fit'' when they hear about the gobs of cash being spent to paint their ships in gold for no reason other than "it looks pretty." However, if you think about it, a cost-conscious civilization will never launch big spaceships in the first place; a military space race is a thing of prestige and power, not of money and penny-pinching, and the RealLife space race was started by the very not money-minded Soviet Union.