you could have used billiboard(i think its called that, 2d based textures that stay in camera direction, like the arcane sanctuary things) based models.
Yeah, thi is realy High poly. Why you do not make rounds from image as is planets on Arcane Sancutary. You should also make simplier chain - this will be small fast moving missile, so it does not need to by so detailed. But good idea and I actualy need some model like that (so please make some optimalizations )