Educational Brief
Cassini Spacecraft 1/37 Scale Model
Educational Product
Educators
& Students
Grade 9
thru Adult
Learn by Building a Highly Detailed 1/37 Scale Model of the
Cassini Spacecraft
The Cassini Spacecraft is the largest interplanetary robot ever flown. Launched October
15, 1997, Cassini’s mission is to orbit Saturn, deliver the Huygens Probe to Titan’s
atmosphere, and spend at least four years studying Saturn’s atmosphere, magnetosphere,
icy satellites, its largest satellite Titan, and of course its ring system. Too massive to fly
directly to Saturn, Cassini orbits the Sun twice, flying by Venus and Earth, to gather the
momentum for its trip to the outer solar system. Jupiter provides the final boost to Saturn.
You can keep up with Cassini’s flight, and learn more about the mission, and about Saturn
and Titan, by visiting the Cassini Web Site. This model is also available there, to download
directly, as well as a much simpler model version at 1/40 scale:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cassini
The Cassini 1/37 Scale Model is made by following the assembly instructions, cutting
out the printed parts, folding and gluing. The project requires several hours, and a good deal
of patience. By building the model, you’ll learn all about the Cassini Spacecraft, in an
effective, enjoyable way.
One model can be assembled by several people as a group activity. Numbered assembly
instruction steps marked “•” can be accomplished at the same time, so more than one person
can work together. Or one person working alone may do one “•” step while waiting for glue to
dry on another “•” step. If more than one person is working, each person should explain what
was learned about the spacecraft during their work, to the rest of the group.
The following pages contain everything you’ll need to build your Cassini Model.
