Building the TESS Spacecraft

Building the TESS Spacecraft

A couple of years ago I built and painted a model of the Kepler spacecraft. That was fun, but I looked for a bigger and better challenge. So I decided to produce a GIANT model of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).

NASA Goddard have kindly supplied the files needed to 3D print a model of TESS. However, these are for a rather small print. What we're aiming for is a model that justifies having it's OWN GUEST INVESTIGATOR PROGRAM!! I investigated the largest print sizes I could reasonably produce on the 3D printers I have access to and scaled the models in the files accordingly. Here are the modified .stl files that essentially double the print size:
Cone

Body

Antennas

Solar array

Okay, let's get started! Click on any of the pictures below to see the larger version.

This is the TESS image I used as my reference for the final color palette.

Here are the 3D prints after all the support material has been removed. Six pieces in total.

I first primed all six pieces with a matt black primer spray. After that, I used a metallic gold spray to paint the solar arrays and a metallic silver spray for the other pieces. When spraying the cone, I covered the camera hoods as those will eventually be painted black.

Now the fun begins! I used a dark blue paint (Citadel Kantor Blue) to paint each cell on the solar array panels. This process takes hours, but is enormously satisfying if you suffer from crippling OCD like I do. I used a gunmetal silver (Citadel Leadbelcher) to brush-paint the large antenna. I hand-brushed the camera hoods black (Citadel Abaddon Black), along with the base-mount for the cameras. Finally, I use a dark brown metallic color (Citadel Warplock Bronze) to paint the camera lenses which created a nice lens effect.

Time for the assembly! This shows the cone, body, and three antennas all glued into position. In my experience, gel super-glue works best for PLA-type 3D printed material.

Word of warning, once you paint pieces that are intended to fit into other parts of the model, you might find that you can no longer make them fit. I used strip sand paper to sand down the attachments on the solar array panels until they could be easily inserted into the sides of the speccraft.

The final step is sealing. I used a gloss acrylic sealer that can be purchased at most hobby stores. Your TESS model is now ready to start observing Sector 1.

The pictures don't do this thing justice, but it is very large! Total wing-span is 20 inches!

Now you just have to find a place to mount it. I haven't decided on that yet. Maybe in Earth orbit?

And yes, I know that the orientation I have for the solar arrays implies that my TESS is pointing more or less at the sun. We're all about aesthetics here!

Speaking of aesthetics, there are unsurprisingly few pictures of the back-side of TESS, so I had to use some guess work here. The 3D printed details came out great though!

A Tyrannosaurus Rex for scale.

So that's it! Now when someone asks about your TESS model, you can state that it actually IS TESS and it was a fake that was launched. It's large enough that it may take them a few moments to figure out if you're serious or not. Try it!

	This is the TESS image I used as my reference for the final color palette.
	Here are the 3D prints after all the support material has been removed. Six pieces in total.
	I first primed all six pieces with a matt black primer spray. After that, I used a metallic gold spray to paint the solar arrays and a metallic silver spray for the other pieces. When spraying the cone, I covered the camera hoods as those will eventually be painted black.
	Now the fun begins! I used a dark blue paint (Citadel Kantor Blue) to paint each cell on the solar array panels. This process takes hours, but is enormously satisfying if you suffer from crippling OCD like I do. I used a gunmetal silver (Citadel Leadbelcher) to brush-paint the large antenna. I hand-brushed the camera hoods black (Citadel Abaddon Black), along with the base-mount for the cameras. Finally, I use a dark brown metallic color (Citadel Warplock Bronze) to paint the camera lenses which created a nice lens effect.
	Time for the assembly! This shows the cone, body, and three antennas all glued into position. In my experience, gel super-glue works best for PLA-type 3D printed material.
	Word of warning, once you paint pieces that are intended to fit into other parts of the model, you might find that you can no longer make them fit. I used strip sand paper to sand down the attachments on the solar array panels until they could be easily inserted into the sides of the speccraft.
	The final step is sealing. I used a gloss acrylic sealer that can be purchased at most hobby stores. Your TESS model is now ready to start observing Sector 1.
	The pictures don't do this thing justice, but it is very large! Total wing-span is 20 inches!
	Now you just have to find a place to mount it. I haven't decided on that yet. Maybe in Earth orbit?
	And yes, I know that the orientation I have for the solar arrays implies that my TESS is pointing more or less at the sun. We're all about aesthetics here!
	Speaking of aesthetics, there are unsurprisingly few pictures of the back-side of TESS, so I had to use some guess work here. The 3D printed details came out great though!
	A Tyrannosaurus Rex for scale.