NASA NICER scale model

Here is a scale model of the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) instrument. It was designed over 4 Summers by Mechanical Engineering students working on the NICER team between 2013 and 2016.

A 10% scale "thing" file shows the stowed configuration of the instrument and how all of the individual pieces come together. All parts can be printed on a Makerbot Replicator sized printer (~6x6x8" build volume). The Tuned Mass Dampers (TMDs) and GPS antennas are located to the side. The deployed image identifies the locations of those components.

The individual .stl files are also included but are at 5% scale for larger printers (such as the Makerbot Z18).

Below is a description of NICER:

NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer, or NICER, mission is an International Space Station payload that is providing high-precision measurements of neutron stars – objects containing ultra-dense matter at the threshold of collapse into black holes.

NICER is also testi