Crossroads Elementary
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The Inquiry Zone Aerospace Research Center Space Shuttle
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The Inquiry Zone Space Shuttle
In preparation for our focus on aerospace studies in the Inquiry Zone, I enlisted a team of four students to help construct a 12 foot model of the space shuttle. We began with a line drawing showing front, side, and top views of the shuttle. I overlayed the drawing with a grid 8 squares wide. This enabled an easy scale up to our model size. The skeletal structure was built in my home and brought into school for finishing. View our picture gallery to see our story.


Image Gallery: Our Shuttle Story
Images showing construction of our space shuttle model.
Skeletal construction began in my garage. Building the wing units. The wings were made of 3/4 plywood frame sandwiched between a 1/4 plywood skin. Many screws held it together. All the screw holes were puttied and sanded smooth. The plywood was primed. The body skeleton was bolted onto the wing panels... ...from below as well as above. Built separately, the cockpit and nose was attached... ... again with many screws. A plastic skin was stretched onto the frame. Final paint was made. The team members each put a time capsule into the nose. The team members each put a time capsule into the nose. Lettering and logos were added. The finished shuttle was lifted to its resting place above the Inquiry Zone.