As a child, one of my fondest memories was visiting the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Its remarkable exhibits, including moon rocks, early airplanes, and satellites, never failed to captivate me. However, three exhibits stood out above all: The legendary SR-71 Blackbird, the iconic Concorde, and the awe-inspiring Space Shuttle Discovery.
Luckily for me, the Smithsonian has started 3D scanning its exhibits and making the models available online for anyone to print. Today, I will have my own model of the Space Shuttle Discovery.
The Smithsonian has been digitizing its exhibits since 2020, and I recently discovered their extensive list of Air and Space models. It includes not only the Space Shuttle Discovery, but also the Apollo 11 command module, the Wright Flyer, the Bell X-1, and even Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 space suit. Want an astronaut on your desk? You can easily 3D print one for just a few cents in filament and a few hours of your time.
As a passionate advocate of 3D printing, I’m always thrilled to explore new possibilities with this amazing technology. With 3D printing becoming increasingly accessible, the future looks bright for DIY enthusiasts who enjoy creating their own little plastic treasures. So, fire up your printer and bring the wonder of the Space Shuttle Discovery to your desk. You know you want one.
