Lego in Space, among other things

[tl8]

A long post this time.

Lego World was held a few weeks ago now. Normally you see the new sets in more detail here but not this year. (Only the new police ones)

The release date for the space sets seems to be March 2011 now, but that could change.

Now to the real business. NASA and Lego have decided to have an educational program together. Press Release here (and below).
A quick summary:

• The new space shuttle (Not Shuttle Adventure) will be riding up with STS-133.
• There will be a Lego Tent for the launch of STS-133. Bonus points if you go and find the new sets and take a picture (or lots) of them.
• Lego Sets will be heading to the ISS with STS-134, no idea which ones yet.
• Education Material will be present in the new Space sets.
• Picture of the new space shuttle: (http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=48181&view=findpost&p=847944)

NASA Press release:

RELEASE                                                                :                                                           10-285 
 
  NASA And The LEGO Group Partner To Inspire Children To Build And Explore The Future        
 
CAPE  CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A LEGO space shuttle headed to orbit helps mark the  Tuesday signing of a Space Act Agreement between NASA and The LEGO Group  to spark children's interest in science, technology, engineering and  math (STEM). 
  
 To commemorate the beginning of this  partnership, the small LEGO shuttle will launch with the crew of the  space shuttle Discovery on its STS-133 mission, targeted to launch  Wednesday, Nov. 3, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 
  
 The partnership marks the beginning of a three-year agreement that will  use the inspiration of NASA's space exploration missions and the appeal  of the popular LEGO bricks to spur children's interest in STEM. The  theme of the partnership is "Building and Exploring Our Future." 
  
 The LEGO Group will release four NASA-inspired products in their LEGO  CITY line next year. The space-themed products will vary in terms of  complexity, engaging audiences from young children to adult LEGO fans.  Each product release will contain NASA-inspired education materials. 
  
 "Partnering with The LEGO Group is a perfect fit. We have taken the  excitement of NASA's missions and coupled that with kids' love of  creating things with the iconic LEGO bricks," said Leland Melvin, NASA's  associate administrator for Education. "These projects not only foster  creativity but also instill in the young builders a real sense of the  engineering and design principles that NASA uses every day. Fun learning  activities like these can help inspire kids to become the next  generation of explorers." 
  
 As part of the Space Act Agreement,  NASA will send special LEGO sets to the International Space Station  aboard shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission in February 2011. The sets  will be assembled by astronauts on-orbit and by children and student  groups across the country. The construction process and activities with  the sets will demonstrate the challenges faced when building things in  the microgravity environment of space. 
 
 "The LEGO Group's  purpose is to inspire children to think creatively, reason  systematically and release their potential to shape their own future,"  said Stephan Turnipseed, president of LEGO Education North America. "The  partnership with NASA provides us a unique opportunity to fulfill our  purpose while expanding the imaginations of children around the world. A  child who plays with LEGO bricks today can become the NASA astronaut or  engineer of tomorrow. " 
  
 As part of the NASA-The LEGO Group  partnership kick-off, a 40-feet by 70-feet activity tent will be set up  Wednesday at the shuttle launch viewing site on the NASA Causeway in  Cape Canaveral, Fla. Children of all ages will be invited to get  creative and build their vision of the future with LEGO bricks as they  await Discovery's launch. To see images of STS-133 prelaunch activities,  visit: 
  
 [CENTER][URL="http://www.legospace.com/"]http://www.LEGOspace.com[/URL]   [/CENTER]
  
 The site has galleries featuring images of prelaunch activities and  will add games and other activities leading up to the release of the  complete line of LEGO Space City games, activities and products on March  1. 
  
 NASA's Office of Education in Washington seeks  partnerships that help the agency promote student interest in STEM  studies and careers. For more information about NASA's partnership with  LEGO and other education programs, visit: 
  
 [CENTER][URL]http://www.nasa.gov/education[/URL]   [/CENTER]
  
[CENTER] -  end - [/CENTER]

 

[dougkeenan]

Thanks!

 

[Pyromaniac605]

Nice!

Darren

 

[IronRain]

Thanks