Regarding the production of the robot TARS in "Interstellar", director Nolan still requires no special effects. The design team used only eight weeks to enable TARS to finally move with the aid of the hydraulic system to trigger the accessory controller, just like playing a video game, using buttons to control the movements of the machine’s joints, and even the screen is real. TARS weighs 90 kilograms and is operated by stage actor Bill Owen.
Regarding the design of the spacecraft, the main creative team also hopes to be close to reality. Three types of spacecraft appeared in the film: Prowler, Landing, and Endurance. For this, the team studied a documentary on the International Space Station and visited a space technology company. They first produced the model with a 3D printer, and then asked a team of sculptors to make each part. Endurance ring-shaped mothership is composed of 12 compartments and rotates at 5 times per minute to generate 1G of gravity through centripetal force. Connected by airlock system and curved continuous floors, the 12 compartments have assumed different missions: four engine compartments, four permanent compartments, as well as living areas, cockpits, low-temperature chambers and medical laboratories. A landing module that will be placed on the surface of the new planet.
When building the spacecraft, the team used steel and polystyrene to make a model more than 10 meters long. It also designed a hydraulic landing gear, an airtight cabin, a waterproof layer, a freezing bed, and a hydraulic seat. Through a six-axis universal joint, the operator can precisely control its movement. Director Nolan asked the spacecraft to traverse the background board to capture the true appearance in a specific light environment. The ring-shaped mothership is made into a miniature model with a ratio of 1:15. During the shooting, the actors can see the exact same picture as the real space through the porthole, and the large and precise projection allows them to quickly plunge into the space situation.
