"The Expanse" is a sci-fi TV series adapted from a book series of the same name, written by James S.A. Corey, a pen name for Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. The show is renowned for its captivating storyline, set in a future where humanity has expanded its presence across the Solar System, resulting in political tensions and conflicts involving Earth, Mars, and the Belt, which encompasses the asteroid belt and outer planets.
A pivotal technology in "The Expanse" is the Epstein Drive, a fictional propulsion system enabling spacecraft to maintain continuous high thrust and efficiency, facilitating rapid travel within the Solar System and beyond. This groundbreaking technology is named after its inventor, Solomon Epstein.
Solomon Epstein, a Belter, used the money he had saved from his earnings and bonuses to acquire the Epstein Yacht. This ship, nearly five years old at the time of purchase, had been idle in dry dock for over eight months after its previous owner, a junior vice president of a Luna-based conglomerate, passed away.
For Solomon, the yacht served as an ideal testbed. He employed it to experiment with a magnetic coil exhaust design, which he believed would significantly enhance propulsion efficiency. Using his own vessel, he successfully developed an improved fusion engine, eventually known as the Epstein Drive. Tragically, during a test flight, his experimental ship suffered a catastrophic failure, resulting in his untimely death. Nonetheless, his invention endured, becoming a fundamental component of space travel in the series, empowering humanity to exploit resources and establish colonies in the asteroid belt and outer planets.
The Epstein Yacht paper model was designed by David Lukens, with detailed assembly instructions and images. You'll need 11 color pages printed to build it.
Download and build your own Miniature Epstein Yacht Papercraft (by Dave).
Graphic: Paper Iconic
Photo: David Lukens
