Orion CEV
The Orion Program is the next manned spacecraft that NASA is currently developing. It is intended to replace the Space Shuttle, and will be the initial step to creating a spacecraft system that can take people to the International Space Station, the Moon, and Mars. It is supposed to be operational in the end of 2014 or beginning of 2015. This model was designed by Ton Noteboom and is based on the latest design iteration that was released.
The Orion is actually much bigger than the Apollo spacecraft. It's supposed to hold 4 people on a regular basis, and have provisions for a total of 6. Pretty slick, if you ask me. I think going back to a capsule system is probably the right call for space exploration right now. I imagine that you could have some components that can be reused, and if you constantly build new capsules you can incorporate improvements faster.
On the Road
This is a nice model. It went together really well, and the details are nice. I actually built this one while I was out on the road for work. I can pack up all the tools I need to build paper models in a folder and take my building kit with me where ever I go. It's pretty convenient. You can get this model at the
There is only one small problem with the model. The Command Module doesn't fit in the Service Module snugly, so it won't stay on unless the model is standing on it's engine. You could glue it, but I like to be able to take them apart for some reason. (I never actually do it, but it's cool to know I can. I guess.)
Back to the model. It's a great little model, and a pretty quick build. There's also an escape tower for the model that you can build. You can also find the Ares I rocket on the same site, but it's based on a slightly older design. I imagine a resourceful model maker could adapt the two however. I might to that in the near future, so stay tuned.