"Star Wars" designer Ralph McQuarrie dead at 82 - CBS News : 'via Blog this' A phenomenal artist, illustrator and human being Ralph McQuarrie has passed away at the age of 82. Most notably remembered in the Sci-Fi community for his concept art for Star Wars, McQuarrie contributed his vision to many of the ground breaking science fiction classics of the 70's and 80's such as Battle Star Galactica, Back to the Future, E.T. and Close Encounters to name just a few. What many may not realize is that his work was not relegated to that of just Science Fiction but also Science Fact. During the Space Race McQuarrie worked with NASA on the Apollo Missions. "I was very happy to have contributed to the Apollo missions. I worked on paintings used in the animated films, to show the rocket streaking through the sky with flames jetting out, the stages and boosters dropping, altitude changes, and coverage behind the moon where TV transmission was blocked...
