21st Century Spaceflight

In recent years, the space industry has undergone significant advancements, in terms of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and even inclusivity. This model is designed to reflect as much of that as possible. When you press the Big Red Button, the rocket launches, following a precise "gravity turn" towards orbit, a curve defined by advanced mathematics. The stages separate, and the first stage returns to the launch site as stage two continues to orbit, demonstrating the advanced engineering and technology of the modern space age, with reusable rockets making spaceflight cheaper than ever. In the background, the Moon, Mars, and the Big Dipper represent our past, present, and future scientific endeavors. On the right, you can see a female launch controller, representing those who have defied expectations to achieve careers in this field. The mechanism here is deceptively simple, only consisting of three levers. You can see how it works in the second video below: