1.

Collect What You'll Need.
You'll need the free Adobe ® Acrobat Reader, white glue, scissors, and some other stuff. It's all listed here.

2.

Read All the Instructions.
Click on each of the headings on this page, and read through all of the instructions before you even think about starting. This will give you an overall idea of the magnitude of the project at hand, and how difficult or easy you think it will be for you. While reading, you might come up with ideas for planning to modify your version of the model to suit your own situation.

3.

About Team Building.
Will more than one person be working on construction? Here are some hints.

4.

Download and Print the Parts.
Click above for a page with information about the parts files, and the option of downloading them. After printing, thoroughly read each sheet. Notice the names of the parts. Read all the mini-instructions for folding and scoring. Sheets A, B, C, and D need to be printed on card stock, and Sheet E needs to be printed on lighter-weight, regular copy paper.

5.

Start with the Basement.

6.

Build the Alidade Structure.

7.

Build and Install the Main Reflector.

8.

Build and Install the Subreflector and Counterweight.

9.

Communicate with Interplanetary Spacecraft.