The space shuttle Discovery was the third of five reusable orbiters and carried out 39 launches and landings between 1984 and 2011 – the highest number of flights ever made by a spacecraft. Its most outstanding achievement was probably the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) on 25 April 1990, which was a real revolution for astronomy and astrophysics, but above all for our understanding of the age and extent of the universe. Space shuttles have the characteristics of a rocket (for vertical take-off) and a glider (for landing). At the beginning of the 21st century, they were the driving force behind the North American space programme and were crucial in the construction and maintenance of the International Space Station.

Now you can build this emblematic orbiter yourself and imagine taking part in its important mission to promote research and scientific knowledge, the launch of the Hubble telescope. The NASA Discovery space shuttle from Ugears is a truly remarkable triple model: orbiter, model stand and satellite. The space shuttle is a 1/96th scale model of Discovery, with two cargo bays that open to reveal the HST model, which is equipped with movable solar panels and aperture hatch. The front and rear cargo compartments of the space shuttle open independently to load or unload the telescope. Turn the wheel by the cabin in the direction of the arrow marked “Open” to open the front cargo hold. A similar wheel is available at the rear to open and close the rear cargo area. To deploy the telescope, position it in the robotic arm of the space shuttle and rotate the arm using the wheel on the underside of the orbiter.

The space shuttle’s stand was designed using tensegrity (stress integrity or floating compression), an elegant structural design that allows the model to float above the stand on thin fishing lines as if it were gliding freely through space. A ratchet mechanism on the stand allows you to adjust the tension of the strings. The pitch angle of the spacecraft can be manually adjusted up or down by simply pulling the tensioning cords, and the roll angle can be shifted to the left and right by moving the stand by hand or using the pawl mechanism. Other functional elements of this space shuttle model are the movable ailerons on the wings of the orbiter, the movable rudder and the retractable landing gear.

With your space shuttle you will receive an information board with important data about the Discovery and – with the authorisation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – stickers with the name of the orbiter, the NASA “worm logo” and the flag of the USA, which you can stick on the wings and sides of your orbiter to give it a completely authentic look.

The NASA Discovery triple model has an “Advanced” level of difficulty (for experienced modellers) and is sure to take pride of place on a shelf or table in your living room, bedroom or office. Like all Ugears models and wooden 3D puzzles, the Discovery can be assembled without glue or special tools by simply following the detailed and illustrated instructions in 11 languages (English, Ukrainian, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Japanese, Chinese and Korean). If a piece breaks while assembling your 3D puzzle, don’t worry. Just let our customer service team know. We will be happy to send you the required spare parts free of charge.

This elegant and ingenious model of a NASA spaceship will delight anyone who dreams of travelling far away, exploring space or making progress in scientific knowledge. The triple model NASA spaceship Discovery with the Hubble telescope and tensegrity stand is an ideal gift for all friends and family interested in the history of aviation and space travel, or for modellers looking for a real showpiece for their collection. Fly to the stars with Ugears!

– Model size: 33.5 x 22.5 x 29 cm
– Packaging size: 37.3 x 17 x 5 cm
– Number of components: 315
– Grade: Medium