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Hidden Figures Friendship 7 Capsule Lithophane Night Light

Hidden Figures Friendship 7 Capsule Lithophane Night Light, design preview, hero tilt

Design preview. Rendered from the file, not a photo.

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What it does

  • Reveals portraits of NASA mathematicians when backlit, hidden figures emerge
  • Honors Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson & Katherine Johnson in 3D relief
  • Three model versions: one-piece, two-piece exterior, or interior engraved
  • Perfect conversation piece celebrating Black History & women in STEM
  • Remix-friendly design for educators, makers & space history fans

This 3D printed home decor piece brings the story of Hidden Figures to life in your space. The Friendship 7 capsule model features bas-relief portraits of NASA mathematicians Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and Katherine Johnson, three African-American women whose calculations helped launch America's first orbital spaceflight. At first glance, it's a recognizable space capsule. But when you light it from within, the hidden figures reveal themselves in stunning detail.

Choose from three versions to suit your project: a single-piece model with exterior portraits, a two-piece version with exterior detail, or a two-piece design with interior engraving for enhanced lithophane effect. The backlit portrait appearance depends on your print scale, filament choice, and light source, so a little experimentation unlocks the best results. It works beautifully as a nightlight, desk lamp accent, or classroom teaching tool.

This design symbolizes the invisible but vital contributions these women made to the early space program, a story worth illuminating in every sense. Whether you're a space history enthusiast, educator, or maker looking for a meaningful project, this model delivers both function and inspiration.

6.8k downloads in the maker community. That is interest in the design on the site it came from, not our sales.

What you get

  • This design prints as one piece.
  • Nothing else to print or buy for this to work.

What it is made of

Designs like this print well in PLA. Compare the materials.

Printed plastic is strong for its size, but it is not metal. We have not load tested this design, so we do not publish a weight rating. Keep it out of a hot car and away from open flame.

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Who made this design

Designed by DesignMakeTeach. We did not draw it.

Shared under Creative Commons, credit required. See the original design