At SpaceRobotics.EU, we continue to expand our line of design and manufacturing of professional scale models of satellites, rockets, probes and spacecraft, developing models adapted to everything from small exhibition spaces to large halls, museums, universities, science centres, space agencies, companies and events.
One of our latest projects is dedicated to Galileo, the European satellite navigation system, for which we have developed different physical models at 1:4, 1:10 and 1:40 scales. All three represent the same type of spacecraft, but they have been designed for completely different applications: from a large installation suspended from the ceiling to a desktop model suitable for meetings, display cases or exhibitions.
The project demonstrates one of the fundamental principles behind our work at SpaceRobotics.EU: there is no single universal scale for a space model. Its size, materials, structure, level of detail and installation system must be designed according to where the model will be displayed, the distance from which it will be viewed and what we want to achieve with it.
Galileo: Making an Infrastructure We Use Every Day Visible
Galileo is Europe’s global satellite navigation system and one of the largest space infrastructures ever developed in Europe. Its satellites operate in medium Earth orbit, at an altitude of approximately 23,222 kilometres, transmitting navigation and timing signals that make it possible to determine positions with extremely high accuracy. Galileo currently provides services to billions of users, with applications ranging from mobile phones and transportation to agriculture, financial services, and search and rescue operations.
Although we are used to seeing satellites represented as small objects orbiting the Earth, their actual dimensions become far more impressive when translated into a physical space. First-generation Galileo satellites have a main body approximately 2.5 metres in size and reach a wingspan of around 14.7 metres with their solar arrays deployed, depending on the specific generation.
This is precisely why working at different scales allows us to highlight very different aspects of the same satellite.
Galileo 1:4: An Approximately 5-Metre Satellite Suspended Above Visitors
The most spectacular version we have developed is our 1:4 scale Galileo, specifically designed as a large installation suspended from the ceiling. With its solar arrays fully extended, the model reaches approximately 5 metres in length, turning the satellite into one of the most visually striking elements within the exhibition space.
At this scale, we are no longer simply working with a conventional model. The satellite becomes a piece of exhibition architecture, which means that its weight, load distribution, rigidity, materials, anchoring points, transportation, assembly and the different viewing angles from which visitors will experience it all need to be considered from the earliest stages of the design process.
To achieve this, at SpaceRobotics.EU we design the internal structure specifically for suspended installation, using lightweight materials and combining different manufacturing techniques to achieve the right balance between structural strength, visual accuracy, level of detail and weight.
One particularly interesting advantage of this type of installation is that visitors can observe the satellite from both the front and the rear. This makes it possible to appreciate elements that would normally remain hidden in a photograph or in a model mounted on a conventional display base, turning the exhibition space itself into part of the experience.
Galileo 1:10: Detail and Presence for Stands and Exhibitions
Not every space can accommodate a five-metre satellite. For this reason, we have also developed a 1:10 scale Galileo, specifically designed for trade show stands, exhibitions, science centres, universities and corporate spaces.
This scale offers a particularly effective balance between size and detail. The model retains enough visual presence to become a prominent feature within an exhibition, while being considerably easier to transport, install and reuse at different events.
At this scale, we can reproduce the geometry of the main satellite body, solar arrays, antennas and other characteristic elements in much greater detail, creating a model that works visually both from a distance and when visitors approach it for closer inspection.
The following video provides a closer look at the level of detail achieved in this version:
This model was developed for TU Wien, specifically for the university’s academic and scientific environment related to geoinformation. It is precisely in spaces like these that a scale model can go beyond being simply a decorative element and become a valuable tool for connecting research, engineering, satellite navigation and real-world applications.
Galileo 1:40: A Space Mission on Your Desk
At the other end of the scale is our 1:40 version, developed as a desktop model. This format allows Galileo to be represented in a much more compact size, making it ideal for display cases, offices, meeting rooms, presentations, institutional gifts, educational centres or private collections.
Reducing the size does not simply mean scaling down the same 3D file. Each scale requires us to review wall thicknesses, supports, connections and individual details to determine which elements can be physically reproduced and which need to be adapted to maintain both the structural strength and visual accuracy of the model.
In this way, the same space mission can become a five-metre installation for a large hall, an exhibition model for a stand, or a compact scale model designed to sit on a desk.
One Mission, Three Scales and Three Different Ways to Communicate It
The three Galileo models clearly demonstrate how we approach projects at SpaceRobotics.EU. Before manufacturing a scale model, we analyse its intended purpose, the available space, the distance from which it will be viewed, transportation and installation requirements, and the desired level of interaction and detail.
For large halls, museums, universities and science centres, we can develop satellite models at scales such as 1:2, 1:4 or 1:5, incorporating internal structures specifically engineered for floor-standing installations or suspension from the ceiling. For stands and temporary exhibitions, intermediate scales such as 1:10 provide an excellent combination of visual presence, detail and ease of transportation. For desktop displays, showcases or corporate applications, we can work at considerably smaller scales.
Depending on the objectives of each project, the models can also incorporate deployable panels, magnetically detachable components, lighting, electronics, motors, sensors, screens and interactive systems.
This flexibility allows the same space mission to be represented in completely different ways while preserving its identity and the key characteristics of the original spacecraft.
From a 3D Model to a Museum-Ready Installation
At SpaceRobotics.EU, we carry out much of the process required to transform a space mission into a physical exhibit in-house, including technical documentation and reference research, 3D modelling and adaptation, digital manufacturing, 3D printing, structural design, CNC manufacturing, assembly, painting, finishing, and the integration of electronic and interactive elements.
For large-scale models, the project also includes aspects that are essential for a professional installation, such as modular design for transportation, internal supporting structures, display bases, suspension systems and dedicated anchoring points. We have already applied this approach to other large-format projects, including our 1:4 scale Sentinel-1, also developed as an approximately five-metre installation designed to be suspended from the ceiling.
The final result can be a highly accurate visual reproduction, but we can also develop models specifically for educational purposes, allowing users to separate modules, reveal scientific instruments, explore internal structures or better understand how a space mission and its spacecraft actually work.
Space Models Designed Specifically for Each Environment
A satellite suspended above the entrance of a university creates a completely different experience from a model displayed at an exhibition stand or a smaller version placed on a meeting-room table. However, all three can originate from the same mission and the same technical research and design process.
Our Galileo models at 1:4, 1:10 and 1:40 scales are a clear example of this philosophy. They allow us to transform one of Europe’s most important space programmes into three physical exhibits designed for completely different requirements, ranging from a large-scale installation to a compact desktop reproduction.
At SpaceRobotics.EU, we can apply the same process to satellites, rockets, space probes, rovers, space stations and other spacecraft, working from industry documentation when available or developing the design from scratch using technical references. Each project can be customised in terms of scale, materials, finishes, structural design and interactivity to ensure that the final model integrates naturally into the environment where it will be displayed.
From a desktop model to a satellite several metres in size suspended above visitors, our goal is to transform space engineering into a physical experience that can be observed, studied and understood.
References
For the technical information about Galileo, we would primarily use official sources from the European Space Agency (ESA)
ESA – Galileo facts and figures
SpaceRobotics.EU – Creation of a Sentinel-1 Satellite Mockup 1:4