NASA Orion Spacecraft

The Orion spacecraft is a human-rated spacecraft that will be taking humans back to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era. The Orion can accommodate 4 crew members for up to 21 days in their mission to the moon and back. Artemis II, launching in late 2025 will take humans around the moon. Artemis III and beyond will be landing humans on the moon for the first time since 1972 during Apollo 17.

Having worked on the Orion spacecraft as a test engineer for the past few years, I have had the privilege to watch it develop from a shell to a complex space vehicle capable of carrying humans to the moon. Being a collector of space Lego models, my up close experience with Orion led to a desperate need to add an Orion model to my collection. The fact that it does not yet exist just inspired me to use my knowledge of the vessel to design the Orion model myself. 

In an effort to stay true to the original spacecraft, I incorporated details into the model such as the umbilical that provides power and commodities to the crew during their mission, the propellant tanks located on top of the service module underneath the crew module, the reaction control thrusters on the service module, and the windows and side hatch on the crew module. These intimate details are part of what makes this model special to me and I hope to others as well.

Building Lego has always reminded me of the engineering process as a whole. You tend to get lost in the details as you follow the procedure, step-by-step, until you are almost shocked by the intricacy of the final product of your creation. While designing the Orion model I hoped I could incorporate some of that feeling for others to experience and enjoy as they bring the future of spacecraft into their homes.

So I present to you my version of the Orion spacecraft, designed by a rocket scientist for you to enjoy. I hope that you get as inspired as I did when working on Orion, and I want to allow everyone that opportunity to feel what I feel when I work on something so amazing.