The Inspirations Collection.

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Welcome to designbivouac’s inspiration collection.
Exploring design and innovation.

Over 30 years of collaboration, designbivouac has uncovered lasting insights. Inspirations is a curated collection of inspirational objects and ideas shaping a continuous journey of creative exploration.

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Visualization, Science Danny Stillion Visualization, Science Danny Stillion

Uplifting Transparency

The folks at hazegrayart have done a remarkable job of visualizing four famous rockets in a way that shows their fuel stages as being transparent.


The folks at Hazegrayart have done a remarkable job of visualizing four famous rockets in a way that shows their fuel stages as being transparent. This allows for a whole new perspective on staged launches and just what is happening with rocket systems we have seen in action over the decades of the space age.

The four launch sequences of different rockets are set against the audio track of the Apollo 11 launch. It is fantastic to see the varied quantities and fuel burn rates. Also instructive is the relatively coordinated timing of transitional states encountered by the spacecraft. Thanks for bringing some new clarity to how these remarkable systems work.


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Going Big with Sea Dragon

The Apollo program was appropriately scaled to match America’s grand ambitions for putting the first human being on the moon. But there was an alternative rocket proposed to the mighty Saturn V.


The NASA Sea Dragon concept represents a visionary and audacious approach to space launch systems that was proposed in the late 1960s but never realized. Designed by engineer Robert Truax, the Sea Dragon was envisioned as a colossal, single-stage-to-orbit rocket, among the largest ever conceived. What set the Sea Dragon apart was its unique launch method—submersion in the ocean.


This massive rocket would be constructed as a semi-submersible platform at sea, where it would be assembled and fueled and then floated to the launch site. The rocket's enormous payload capacity could have revolutionized space travel, potentially ferrying entire space stations or lunar habitats into orbit in a single launch. While the Sea Dragon concept was never built due to budget constraints and changing priorities, it remains a symbol of bold thinking in space exploration and the innovative ideas that have driven NASA's research and development efforts over the years.

Approach for launching Sea Dragon rocket at sea

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Defying Gravity

Some of humanity’s aspirations are timeless. Such is the desire to fly. As a result, the challenge is continually taken up by bright minds. As technology advances, our dreams of gracefully transcending the bounds of earth’s gravitation seem more achievable.


Some of humanity’s aspirations are timeless. Such is the desire to fly. As a result, the challenge is continually taken up by bright minds. As technology advances, our dreams of gracefully transcending the bounds of earth’s gravitation seem more achievable. Such is the case with Gravity, which produces one of the fastest jet packs supporting human flight today. It is inspiring to see dreams like this pursued. Not only because they make progress towards addressing our timeless fascination with flight, but they open up many practical applications.


One could imagine that Gravity’s system could empower firefighters to launch from one building to another. Trailing a cable, those trapped atop a burning skyscraper could take a safe zip-line ride. Once enough, additional thrust is assured with the system. Potential victims could just be plucked one by one from burning buildings or sinking ships. As the introduction of the helicopter back in the 1940s proved, beneficial applications abound for breakthrough VTOL technologies like these. I wish the team at Gravity all the best in their uplifting endeavors.


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Science, Notable Products, Storytelling, Aerospace Danny Stillion Science, Notable Products, Storytelling, Aerospace Danny Stillion

Moonrise Podcast is a World Apart

The Moonrise podcast series takes a unique look at what it took for NASA to reach the moon.

The bivouac just finished the podcast from the Washington Post entitled “Moonrise.” The series takes a unique look at what it took for NASA to reach the moon. Packed with beautiful insights about the American and Russian space programs, the podcast takes a heavily covered topic and empowers listeners to take the journey anew with a fresh perspective. Take the journey to the ultimate bivouac and download the podcast series today.


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Ground Control to Major Tom

Ever wonder what it was like to ride aboard a mighty Saturn V rocket? Well, with Reentry: An Orbital Simulator, you can now take on the role of a mission commander and master the procedures followed by those who pioneered spaceflight.

Reentry: An Orbital Simulator is a captivating and immersive video game that allows players to experience the intricate challenges of guiding a spacecraft through Earth's atmosphere and safely landing it. This simulator provides a realistic and educational environment where players can test their skills in controlling spacecraft during the crucial phase of reentry and landing.


The game places a strong emphasis on physics and accuracy, making it a valuable tool for both space enthusiasts and budding aerospace engineers. Players can gain insights into the complexities of reentry, orbital mechanics, and the precise timing required for a successful landing. Reentry: An Orbital Simulator not only offers a thrilling gaming experience but also serves as an engaging educational platform for understanding the intricacies of space travel and reentry.

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Futures, Notable Products, Science Danny Stillion Futures, Notable Products, Science Danny Stillion

The Audaciousness of Apollo

Still serving as an inspiration today for those hoping that the human race will someday venture beyond the orbit of our moon to other planets and beyond, the Apollo program is still unsurpassed in its scope and audaciousness.


Still serving as an inspiration today for those hoping that the human race will someday venture beyond the orbit of our moon to other planets and beyond, the Apollo program is still unsurpassed in its scope and audaciousness. From its inception and from the very moment that President John F. Kennedy declared that America should set out on the grand adventure of setting a man on the moon and safely returning him to earth, the program was marked by boldness.


Recently, the bivouac’s appreciation of the effort grew after acquiring and putting together just a Lego version of the rocket. The size of the astronauts in comparison to the rocket reminds one of just how daunting the program must have felt at times for the tens of thousands of citizens who contributed to the accomplishment. It is fantastic to see the challenge of space travel being taken up once again with the likes of Elon Musk's SpaceX group. Below is a nice clip showing various space vehicles rendered on pad 39-A for side-by-side comparison.


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