Impressive 1:5 scale model of the 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter handmade by master craftsman and model maker Isao Hirai of Hawthorne’s Scale Model Company. Commissioned for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2002, the orbiter, which is constructed of metal, composite materials, and gold Kapton foil, approximately measures 32˝ x 47˝ x 15˝, with the boom structure extending to an additional 55˝ in height, and the solar array itself measuring 16.5˝ x 44.5˝. The model, which features notable instruments like the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), the Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS), the Neutron Spectrometer (NS), and the Mars Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE), is presented on a 16˝ x 16.5˝ x 1.75˝ base, the underside of which bears the Scale Model Co. label. In fine condition, with the lid to the GRS missing, and the model’s extensive boom bent at its middle section; the boom, which was designed to be removable for display and shipping purposes, is presently detached and will need to be re-adhered with the proper binding agent.
A brilliantly made replica of the historic 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter. Developed by NASA and contracted out to Lockheed Martin, the orbiter was designed to use spectrometers and a thermal imager to detect evidence of past or present water and ice, as well as study the planet's geology and radiation environment. The mission, which was named as a tribute to Arthur C. Clarke, evoking the name of his and Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, was a rousing success across several fronts.
Of major scientific interest were the Odyssey's detection of large amounts of hydrogen, a sign that there must be ice lying within a meter of the planet's surface, and its subsequent mapping of the distribution of water below the shallow surface. Moreover, having launched on April 7, 2001, the Odyssey’s mission broke the record for the longest-serving spacecraft at Mars, with 3,340 days of operation. As of now, the 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter is still operational and remains in orbit around Mars. It continues to serve its exploratory mission and function as a critical communication relay for other spacecraft on Mars, including the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers.
Originates from the collection of craftsman and model maker Isao Hirai.
