Orion 606 C.E.V.

ABOUT THE DESIGN

ABOUT THE KIT

In the early years of the 21st Century, it became painfully obvious that the Space Shuttle's days were numbered. The tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003 accelerated the search for a practical, low-cost replacement for the vulnerable and hugely expensive space-plane, which had been designed in the mid-1970s.

In August 2006, NASA officially announced that Lockheed-Martin would be the prime contractor for the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), code-named "Orion." As space-watchers had long expected, the Orion vehicle would be "Apollo on steroids," a capsule- based system with mostly disposable components, save for the Command Module, which could be used on multiple missions. The craft was intended to carry four to six crew members and serve as the primary vehicle for a variety of manned missions ranging from low-earth shuttle flights to the International Space Station to eventual trips to the Moon and, ultimately, to Mars.

In spring 2007, Lockheed-Martin released plans for a modified CEV, dubbed the 606, which was distinguished by its dramatically smaller Service Module designed to minimize the vehicle's mass.

Orion is expected to make its maiden flight in the year 2010.

The Orion 606 CEV, released in August 2007, formally replaced the original Northrop-Grumman CEV kit Fantastic Plastic released in spring 2006. A wholly new pattern, the project was actually revamped in mid-production when Lockheed-Martin changed its original, more traditional Apollo-like design to this more truncated version in spring 2007.

Many ideas were exchanged on how to best depict the wafer-thin solar panels that are the signature part of this spacecraft. Although photo-etched brass was discussed, we ultimately decided that metallic decals on thin, 0.015" styrene provided the most practical, economical solution.

This model is currently available for purchase in the Fantastic Plastic Virtual Museum Store. For more information, CLICK HERE.

Original Box Art


	SCALE: 1/72
	INITIAL RELEASE: 2007
	MEDIUM: Resin/Styrene
	RARITY: (2)
	LENGTH: 5"

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