Interstellar tells the story of four astronauts who must survive the journey through a wormhole to a distant solar system – and find a new home for humanity.

The spaceships in which they travel are a hugely important part of the story. And director Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Inception) and his effects team ensured they were as realistic as possible.

Instead of relying on computer graphics, the team built physical models and miniatures, using some of the design techniques to be found on real-life spacecraft. And the models – some of which were blown up during filming – were meticulously researched.

The spaceship Endurance, made up of 12 different modules, was designed according to the physical laws that would actually govern interstellar travel, says visual effects supervisor Ian Hunter. For instance, the Endurance rotates in order to be able to mimic the pull of gravity; Nolan made the ship 211ft (64m) across, which is the bare minimum required to generate the required force.

The crew even built a full-size model of the Ranger, the small, nimble craft used to explore planets, for filming in Iceland.

But, as Jack Stewart finds out, a lot of these beautiful, intricate models met with a messy end…

Interstellar is available now on DVD

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