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Build your own International Space Station

By , 17 August 2012

A paper model of a space station.Get ready to build your own paper model of the International Space Station (ISS).

You will need

What to do

Follow the instructions you have downloaded and you will have your very own model of the International Space Station! You can also play the video below to see the steps involved.

What’s happening?

The International Space Station is the largest and most complicated spacecraft ever built. It is being constructed by a collaboration of one hundred thousand people, hundreds of companies, and sixteen nations spread over four continents.

The space station is in a low Earth orbit and can be seen from Earth with the unaided eye. It orbits at an altitude of about 350 kilometres above the Earth and travels at an average speed of 27 700 kilometres per hour, orbiting the Earth 16 times a day!

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47 comments

  1. But what if u cant download the paper thing

      Reply
    1. The ISS link is above where it says “You will need” and then click International Space Station paper model.

        Reply
  2. Did you just use regular paper, or cardstock?

      Reply
    1. Hi Rena,
      I’m not sure what we used – this activity is originally from 2009. However, given the shininess in the video, it might have been photo paper. If using card, I’d make it quite thin – you need to make some pretty tight rolls to make the cylindrical modules.

      Sorry I couldn’t help more,
      David

        Reply
    2. Cardstock is preferred. You can use 165 gm (90 lb of weight) cardstock. The model on the video is the actual printout that was included in the CSIRO magazine as a pullout template. You can use glossy cardstock, too.

        Reply
      1. Thank you, Alfonso! This is going to be a fun entry event for my PBLU on Astronomy! -Rena

          Reply
        1. You’re welcome, Rena. Have fun!

            Reply
  3. Hey!
    I was wondering is i can make it with regular paper?

      Reply
    1. I was wondering *IF* I can make it with regular paper?

        Reply
      1. Hi,
        You can use regular paper but card stock is preferred. With regular paper the model will be to weak, too flimsy.

          Reply
        1. would it still work tho?

            Reply
          1. Yes.

              
    2. Hi Phoebe,
      Yup, you can use regular paper if you want. You will have to be a bit more careful though!

        Reply
  4. How big is the model?

      Reply
    1. It’s 11.5 in by 8 in (inches)

        Reply
  5. i like it

      Reply
  6. Can you use Elmers glue?

      Reply
    1. Hi Nandan,
      Elmers glue (or any other PVA based glue) will definitely hold, but it might take a while to dry. Just be careful and you’ll be okay.

      Good luck!

        Reply
    2. Yes, Elmer’s glue can be used.

        Reply
  7. My husband isn’t super keen on Christmas and is a very science/astronomy based kinda guy… to get him feeling in the Christmas spirit I’m going to print this out tomorrow eve and make it with him to put on top of our Christmas tree. Compromise at its best 😉

      Reply
  8. The video does not show where and how to glue the last component, the Airlock “O”, to the model. It does not show which way to orient the tabs or whether to bend them.

      Reply
    1. The sticking out lumps are part of the airlock and not tabs for gluing:
      https://www.nasa.gov/images/content/554263main_s134e009307_hires.jpg
      The airlock goes on the Unity module – you can find the right spot by matching the symbols.
      This might help with orientation:
      https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_assembly_7a.html

        Reply
      1. Patrick,
        I can send you a photo of the model showing the area in detail. Contact me at
        axmpssm@gmail.com so I can send you the photo.

          Reply
        1. Hi Alphonso. Can you send me a photo of the model as well. Send it to piquita@gmail.com.

            Reply
  9. This is not helping me at all I cant even print it out properly can u help?

      Reply
    1. Hi there,
      Do you live somewhere in the Americas? these print outs are designed for A4 sized paper, which is slightly taller and thinner than the letter sized paper used in the US, Canada and Mexico.
      You could try printing the images slightly smaller to fit on the page, or go to a print shop and ask them for help.

      Hope this helps,
      David

        Reply
  10. What is the scale of this model?

      Reply
    1. Hi Will,
      I did a quick back-of-the-envelope calculation… The truss that holds the solar panels and radiators is a bit over 300 mm long in the model. In real life, it’s a hair over 100 metres long. So I’d guess the scale is about 300:1, give or take.

      Cheers,
      David

        Reply
      1. Wow, thanks for the speedy reply David! I was hoping to use this for a science project at school, thanks.

          Reply
  11. oof just print it at office works guys 😛

      Reply
  12. 😛

    😛
    😀
    🙂

      Reply
  13. guys if you do what i said you will be having an ez go at it ;-; ._. .-.

      Reply
  14. tq … very useful =)

      Reply
  15. What is the time frame that it takes to build this?

      Reply
    1. Hi Naomi,
      It’s not super quick, but not super long. Maybe an hour or two? You need to make quite a few little bits.

      You can watch the video to get an idea of how many steps are involved.

        Reply
  16. can you also use tape to stick it down?

      Reply
    1. You can!

      Before you start, test your paper and tape on a bit of the printout that you don’t need. It’s important that the tape sticks firmly and doesn’t take the ink off the top of your paper!

        Reply
  17. This is a great project, but why is the background that is essentially trash such a dark color? This is a huge waste of ink when printing.

    All flash, no practicality…

      Reply
  18. How to make a paper space shuttle.

      Reply
    1. Hi a,
      The designer of this model has a website with several other spaceship models. I’m pretty sure there’s a space shuttle there.

      http://www.axmpaperspacescalemodels.com/

        Reply
  19. How can I make it without the printouts

      Reply
  20. I guess you can eyeball it, but printing out the pieces is really the only way to do this activity. If you don’t have a printer, you might be able to print it at your local library? or if you go to school, you could ask a teacher or librarian to help you print it out.

      Reply
  21. I’m putting together your model for a school Library display to go along with this years NSS book, Give me Space. It is going together very well and I have found that using a large texta has helped with the rounded parts of the model.
    Looking forward to hanging it up. Thank You.

      Reply
  22. Un très grand merci pour mes élèves !!!
    Thank you very much !

      Reply
  23. I use normal paper on large rocket models

      Reply
  24. can we print the thing for the ISS and then trace it with cardstock and then glue it on together and then assemble it

      Reply
    1. Yes, you can. I think it would be best with a lighter weight cardstock to prevent it from getting too thick.

        Reply

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