voyager 1 3d print

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This .stl file was produced by scaling the original model and converting it directly to .stl format; it may not yet be ideal for printing. We welcome your feedback on your experience.

• Author/Origin : Brian Kumanchik, Christian Lopez. NASA/JPL-Caltech
• Relevant Mission : Voyager
• Date Added : April 1, 2012
• Keywords : 3D Model , Spacecraft , Satellite , Eyes on the Solar System
• GitHub Repository : Voyager
• Download jpl-vtad-Voyager.zip file - 5.3 MB
• Download Voyager_17.stl file - 1.02 MB 3D Model Viewer

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NASA Voyager Space Probe 3D Model

The Voyager program , introduced two remarkable interstellar probes, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, launched in 1977. These intrepid explorers were strategically timed to capitalize on the rare alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune for close flybys while gathering invaluable data.

These pioneering spacecraft have already unveiled profound insights. Close-ups of Jupiter unveiled its intricate cloud formations, tempestuous storms, and the volcanic activity on moon Io. Saturn’s enigmatic rings displayed unexpected features like braids, kinks, and spokes, accompanied by numerous “ringlets.”

Voyager 2 ventured to Uranus, discovering a robust magnetic field and ten additional moons. At Neptune, it revealed three rings, six new moons, a planetary magnetic field, and intricate auroras, making it the sole spacecraft to explore the ice giants Uranus and Neptune.

As of 2023, the Voyagers continue to operate, venturing beyond the heliosphere into the realm of interstellar space.

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Voyager 1 disc.

Published 2017-10-03T10:20:05+00:00

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This is a replica of the disc placed on the Voyager 1 Spacecraft in case it ever came in contact with aliens. 

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3D Printing & Space (Part 1): An Interstellar Voyager

Voyager 1 has left the solar system. An amazing feat considering it set off from Earth shortly after Elvis left the building for the final time. The technology of species Homo Sapien can now be considered of interstellar capacity. So, inevitably… here we go… Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of starship 3DPI. It’s continuing mission to increase the potentiality of human travel beyond our solar system unto actuality within the next 100 years. Or is that the mission of One Hundred Year Star Ship ? If you haven’t come across this project yet, it’s the only projectI would be so bold as to suggest going where you have not gone before: DARPA & co’s collective effort to achieve this very remit. 3D printing will be a significant part of the technologies that catalyze that progress.

By the end of this series (projected at five articles), we will be looking at mankind’s most forward looking technologies, such as The Quantum Vacuum Plasma thruster (‘Q-thruster’) which utilizes  quantum vacuum fluctuations  as its propellant, and  magnetohydrodynamics  (MHD) to predict the propellant’s behaviour. On the way there, we will examine the profit making potential of asteroid capture, look at space 3D printing projects such as Made In Space, Deep Space Industries and NASA’s Asteroid Capture project – the head of which team, I am graced to say, chats with myself online, I enjoy dropping a very busy man a line on the latest relevant developments of 3DP to their projects.

If you are a maker or small 3D printing business owner pondering the potentials of replicating the famed NASA purchase of MakerBot 3D printers , the world’s most advanced technological advancement agency’s Small Business Innovation Research (S.B.I.R.) and Small Business Technology Transfer (S.T.T.R.) programs are worth looking in to .

Analysis bares witness to the strategic element of the ‘Made In America’ opensource-hardware-to-patented-hardware and market potential regarding DARPA’s Manufacturing Experimentation and Outreach (MENTOR) program, the financing of 3D printing for schools in the US: Catalysation in education > applicability in Science Technology Engineering and Manufacturing (S.T.E.M.) based work-force catalysation of technological progress > inter-relational aspects regarding U.S. geo-strategy.

Voyager 1 , NASA’s first interplanetary, and now interstellar, probe has achieved this feat with technology including an 8-track tape recorder and computers operating with just 1/240,000 the memory of a ‘low spec’ iPhone. The probe departed Earth the year audiences first watched a certain movie’s opening sequence that included a star-ship so large it took  13 seconds to enter the frame in full.

It’s worth noting that the probe has been classified as having left the solar system before – Voyager 1 has been detecting the interstellar magnetic field since July 27, 2012 – but today represents the first bold step with certitude of liberation from our solar system, a mere 18,800,000,000 km (11.7 billion miles or 125 Astronomical Units) from the now distant star that we call ‘The Sun.’

Karl Maxly, of Engineering.com, whose articles I tend to respect, posits an interesting angle at the time of writing regarding 3D printing,  von Neumann probes and the One Hundred Year Star Ship project today. It is logical: although I would speculate that this approach merely represents a number of the stronger paths regarding interstellar space travel.

One base applicability of the concept is to send self-replicating 3D printing nano-probes to other world’s to construct star-ships that contain resources mined from that world by other constructs of the probes, for the star-ship to then ship back to the home-world.

Actual projects using nano-sats are in place, such as project Tin Tin: an interstellar nano-sat mission to  Alpha Centauri .

‘Project Tin Tin is an effort to lay the foundations for cost-effective technology and engineering validation Cube-at missions, leading up to the first interstellar precursor mission to Alpha Centauri. The objective of Project Tin Tin is to motivate interstellar exploration by pushing the envelope of what is currently possible for deep space exploration.

The Project Tin Tin research team aims to design, model and pursue the launch of a set of nano-sat-sized spacecraft, or “Tins”, with technical and scientifically relevant objectives starting as early as 2015.

The mission objectives include:

1) Assessing current capabilities for near future interstellar precursor nano-sat missions;

2) The incremental space validation of enabling technologies in propulsion, power, communications, structures, fabrication, telemetry and sensors; and 

3) To launch the first interstellar spacecraft on route to Alpha Centauri, by the end of the decade.’

The reader may well, most understandably, find that upon the realization mankind is on the brink of genuinely considering terminology such as ‘homeworld’ as a pragmatic, technological and indeed industrial, reference takes a while to rationally and emotionally accept.

In the next part of this series I will be looking at specific applications of 3D printing of nanosats, the International Space Station, forthcoming also is an analysis of aerospace – and how 3D Systems (DDD) and Stratasys (SSYS)  are contributing, as well as examining how capturing an asteroid could be a catalyst for global economic and ecological maintenance. For example, asteroid 1997 RT, which has an estimated net worth of USD$6,210,000,000,000.

Shane Taylor

Shane Taylor, tinkerer & thinker, says the devices we devise evolve us - 3D printing is catalysing future equilibrium between technate & genome. He blogs & 3D prints at Dimensionext. He likes strange pizzas.

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Best space-themed 3D prints: Recreate iconic spacecraft and objects

Recreate famous space objects and NASA spacecraft using your 3D printer and these free print files.

1. Apollo 11 Lunar Module

2. space shuttle lift off, 3. astronaut footprint, 4. mars globe, 5. voyager golden record, 3d printing tips, recommended 3d printers.

3D printers have, surprisingly, been in existence since the eightie recently  that they’ve become affordable. And, while it’s not quite the same as having a replicator in your home, there’s a definite sci-fi feel to these machines. Feed in resin, a reel of PLA or some other compatible material, and you can watch your printer turn it into a 3D object that you can hold in your hand and, in some cases, actually put to work .

There’s even a 3D printer aboard the International Space Station and it makes sense that, in the future, space colonies may be able to just print what they need . So, if you’ve picked up a 3D printer, why not put it through its paces with some free space-themed prints? Sure, you may not be able to personally print your own rocket – yet – but you can liven up your home or workspace with some reminders of humanity’s journey into space.

All these prints (which are free for personal use) have been tested on a PLA printer though, since the model files are universal, they should work just as well, if not better, with a resin printer. They can also all be printed in one piece, meaning you can let your 3D printer do its magic and, once you’ve dealt with any supports or rough edges, you have a space-themed item you can put on your shelf or, if you’re adventurous enough, paint. Enjoy.

And if you want to pick up a printer to get in on the fun, our guide to the best 3D printers has you covered.

• Download from: MyMiniFactory
• Creator: Res Firma

The Apollo 11 lunar lander, officially dubbed Lunar Module Eagle, is the craft that touched down on the moon on July 20, 1969. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped out and, while third astronaut Michael Collins stayed in the module, he was far from lonely .

This download does include all the parts to build the module separately but there’s also a single file, “lem-complete.stl” that will allow you to print it in one go. It’s surprisingly accurate though, with all the aerials, dishes and the like there are several elements that may need support. 

So  you’ll need to tick the “generate support” support box in whatever 3D slicing application you’re using or, as we did, use Cura and choose “make overhang printable”. The trade off for us was that while we didn’t have to laboriously remove individual supports, we did lose the rocket engine as you may notice in the picture. 

• Download from: Cults3D (free registration required)
• Creator: XONOR13

This 3D model shows the now-retired space shuttle blasting off in a vast plume of smoke. Which space shuttle? Atlantis was the last space shuttle to see active service before the program was canceled, but the creator doesn’t specify. 

How accurate is it? The model features the external tank, the solid rocket boosters and the orbiter, though the latter is missing its tail fin, which was present on all the space shuttles. But it’s still an impressively dynamic model and once you’ve printed it (you’ll need to select the support option) it’ll be hard for anyone to miss.

• Creator: SERGIOINGLESE

This image of an astronaut’s footprint is utterly iconic and now you can have a model of it on your desk. It’s as accurate as it can be without someone going up to the moon and taking a 3D scan of the print which should, in theory, still be there. This and other similar models will have been created by extruding the photograph and carving it out to a reasonable depth. And, because there are no significant overhangs, you can print it out without the need for support.

The creator has mistakenly labeled it as one of Neil Armstrong’s footprints when it’s generally accepted to be Buzz Aldrin’s, though they’re not alone in this misconception. One popular piece of “evidence” that the moon landing was faked is that the footprint doesn’t match Armstrong’s suit boots . In fact, it matches neither astronaut’s suit because they both disposed of their overshoes before take-off. 

• Download from: Thingiverse  
• Creator: neurothing

It’ll likely be a few years before humanity lands on Mars but, thanks to the data sent back by multiple probes and a handful of rovers we know an awful lot about the red planet. There’s a wealth of topographical data and it’s this data that, after passing through a few hands, has been used to construct these two Mars globes.

The models aren’t, strictly, accurate; instead, the height of various features has been exaggerated to make it easier to pick out features. But that only makes them more engaging - the smaller globe, which we’ve printed, lets you pick out the Martian canyons (aka Valles Marineris ), Olympus Mons and more. The bigger globe is even more exaggerated and was designed so blind and partially sighted people could experience science – in this case, the topography of Mars – by touch.

Even if you don’t fall into that latter category, you’ll find yourself picking it up and just running your fingers over it, visions of Mars dancing through your head. The one drawback is that 3D printers aren’t amazing at printing globes. You’ll need to print it with supports, unless you slice it in half and print both halves separately and then glue them together. 

• Download from: Printables
• Creator: M4NU

Remember Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 ? Whether you were around for their 1977 launch or not, they’re still roaming through the cosmos, having left our solar system and headed off into interstellar space . Each carries a golden record (made of gold-plated copper) containing greetings, music and more, designed to be played by which if any, alien race finds it. 

Now you can 3D print your own copy, complete with the same symbols and pictures etched on the cover. True, it won’t play on a record player but the bigger you can print it, the easier it’ll be to make the etchings out. We printed ours using Cura’s Fine Detail settings but for the best results, follow the instructions on the golden record’s Printables page . 

We printed all of these models on an FDM printer using PLA (Polylactic Acid) as the material. You'll need slicing software to slice the files, but this should have come with your 3D printer. There are also other third-party slicers out there that you can use too. Once you've done that, you can get printing, though we do have a few tips below to help you avoid some common issues.

Make sure that your slicer's default printing temperature is set to a number within your PLA reel's temperature range; it varies between manufacturers and materials. 

If in doubt, slow down your print speed and try again. Don't go ludicrously slow though, or you'll be waiting for ages, and super-slow speeds can actually create their own issues if your printer's cooling fan isn't up to the job.

Finally, to make the most of your prints, sand down any rough edges once it's finished. Our models are pictured fresh off the printing bed but if you put in a little more effort you can make them look even better.

These models are all fairly simple to print with a resin printer too, but you'll need to support them yourselves. Most slicing software has an auto-support function that should do a decent job for you, though you may need to add a few extra custom supports if your first print fails.

Below you can find the best deals on our top recommended 3D printers, whether you're looking for an FDM or resin printer.

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Chris is a freelance journalist who, aside from covering games and gaming-related tech, has a taste for horror, sci-fi and the post-apocalyptic. As well as Space.com, you can find his work at The Escapist, GameSpew (where he’s the morning news writer) and more. You can follow him on Twitter @MarmaladeBus .

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DIY – Spacecraft Models

James Webb Space Telescope

Paper Models

Building paper models of spacecraft is a fun and interactive way to learn more about NASA's missions. Models are available for easy, moderate and more challenging skill sets. Each model has assembly instructions and printable parts; assembly requires printing, cutting, folding and gluing. Grab some scissors, glue and card stock and build your own spacecraft paper model!

• Dawn: cutout model plans (PDF)
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We finally know why NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft stopped communicating — scientists are working on a fix

N ASA engineers have discovered the cause of a communications breakdown between Earth and the interstellar explorer Voyager 1. It would appear that a small portion of corrupted memory exists in one of the spacecraft's computers. 

The glitch caused Voyager 1 to send unreadable data back to Earth, and is found in the NASA spacecraft's flight data subsystem (FDS). That's the system responsible for packaging the probe's science and engineering data before the telemetry modulation unit (TMU) and radio transmitter send it back to mission control. 

The source of the issue began to reveal itself when Voyager 1 operators sent the spacecraft a "poke" on March 3, 2024. This was intended to prompt FDS to send a full memory readout back to Earth.

The readout confirmed to the NASA team that about 3% of the FDS memory had been corrupted, and that this was preventing the computer from carrying out its normal operations.

Related: NASA finds clue while solving Voyager 1's communication breakdown case

Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 became the first human-made object to leave the solar system and enter interstellar space in 2012. Voyager 2 followed its spacecraft sibling out of the solar system in 2018, and is still operational and communicating well with  Earth.

After 11 years of interstellar exploration, in Nov. 2023, Voyager 1's binary code — the computer language it uses to communicate with Earth — stopped making sense. Its 0's and 1's didn't mean anything anymore.

"Effectively, the call between the spacecraft and the Earth was still connected, but Voyager's 'voice' was replaced with a monotonous dial tone," Voyager 1's engineering team previously  told Space.com .

The team strongly suspects this glitch is the result of a single chip that's responsible for storing part of the affected portion of the FDS memory ceasing to work.

Currently, however, NASA can’t say for sure what exactly caused that particular issue. The chip could have been struck by a high-speed energetic particle from space or, after 46 years serving Voyager 1, it may simply have worn out.

Voyager 1 currently sits around 15 billion miles (24 billion kilometers) from Earth, which means it takes 22.5 hours to receive a radio signal from it — and another 22.5 hours for the spacecraft to receive a response via the Deep Space Network's antennas. Solving this communication issue is thus no mean feat.

Yet, NASA scientists and engineers are optimistic they can find a way to help FDS operate normally, even without the unusable memory hardware.

Solving this issue could take weeks or even months, according to NASA — but if it is resolved, Voyager 1 should be able to resume returning science data about what lies outside the solar system.