Skip Navigation: Avoid going through Home page links and jump straight to content
Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA California Institute of Technology Jet Propulsion Laboratory Earth Solar System Stars & Galaxies JPL Technology
NASA Logo - Jet Propulsion Laboratory + View the NASA Portal SEARCH STARDUST
Top Navigation
Overview Mission Science Technology Newsroom Classroom Gallery Links STARDUST Main Menu
Home Sitemap Search Feedback Educators Kids and Parents Informal Education Comet Resources Partners Left Menu

* 2. ASSEMBLE THE SPACECRAFT BUS.

View the whole assembled model
See illustration of the completed Spacecraft Bus at the bottom of this page

  • Cut out the part marked REAR from Parts Sheet 2. Cut out the three parts marked MID, and the FRONT Whipple Shield. These five pieces will stack to become the Main Whipple Shield.

  • Cut out one long thin rectangle labelled Shield Spacers from Parts Sheet 2.

  • Cut the Shield Spacer at each of its seven black lines, to make eight small rectangles. Bend each tiny rectangle in half to form an L-shape.

  • Glue two small L-shaped spacers edgewise to the L-shaped lines on the Whipple shield marked REAR. Completed main Whipple
shield (One way to do this is to pick up the spacer with long-nose pliers and dip its edge into glue.) When dry, glue a Whipple Shield marked MID down on top of the spacers, aligning its printed square with the printed square below it. Repeat this step, stacking up all five Whipple Shield panels, separated by L-shaped spacers. The top panel, the Front Whipple shield has no L-shaped lines.

  • Cut out the + Y PANEL from Parts Sheet 2. Score the line connecting the FLAP at each end, and fold the two FLAPs back 90 degrees. Cut out the - Y PANEL, then score and fold its flaps back.

  • Cut out the - X PANEL from Parts Sheet 2. Glue the REAR FLAPs of the Y PANELs to its non-printed side as shown in the black & white image below of the Spacecraft Bus Assembly in progress.

    Spacecraft Bus assembly

  • Cut out the -Z PANEL from Parts Sheet 2. Glue it to the bottom of the Bus Assembly. The BOTTOM will be the side BELOW the letters SRC on the - X PANEL in place. Printing faces outward (downward), and the narrow end, with printed louvers, faces rearward toward the - X PANEL. Tabs marked X fold down for gluing inside.

    Spacecraft Bus assembly

  • Apply glue to the two FRONT FLAPs on the Spacecraft Bus assembly, and set them against the non-printed side of the Main Whipple Shield. Center the bus within the shield, oriented with the shield's central hump pointing upward as in the illustration.

  • Cut out the + Z PANEL from Parts Sheet 2. Glue it to the top of the Spacecraft Bus Assembly. The printing faces outward (upward). The end with two square markings (Sun Sensors) face rearward, toward the - X PANEL in place. Tabs marked X fold down for gluing inside.

Hey, the Spacecraft Bus is done!




Completed Spacecraft Bus
| GO ON TO THE NEXT STEP |

| INSTRUCTIONS FIRST PAGE |



Last Updated: November 26, 2003
bottom.jpg  
transparent.gif
Privacy FAQ Contact Us Sitemap Credits Bottom Navigation Bar
FIRST GOV   NASA Home Page Webmaster: Ron Baalke