The Best LEGO® NASA Sets of the Past and Present (2024)

Since its formation in 1958, the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been uncovering the mysteries of outer space. From lunar landings to space telescopes to Mars research rovers, their missions have broadened our understanding of the universe beyond our Earth.

Over the years, the LEGO Group has recreated many pieces of NASA’s technology in LEGO® brick-built style. These LEGO NASA sets are not only fun to build and beautiful to look at, but also offer builders a hands-on way to explore the engineering and innovation that went into the real-world version.

Join us for a look at some of the best NASA-inspired LEGO sets from the past and present.

The LEGO® NASA Space Shuttle Discovery (10283) allows adult builders to celebrate the wonders of space. This set is a detailed model of the Space Shuttle Discovery and the Hubble Space Telescope, which was launched on NASA’s STS-31 mission in 1990.

This set is made up of over 2000 pieces and is packed with authentic features. Builders can open the payload bay to launch the Hubble Telescope, engage landing gear, and deploy a robotic arm. The co*ckpit opens to reveal the shuttle’s interior, including flight and mid-decks for 5 crew members. The Hubble Telescope features movable solar panels and an aperture door. With multiple included stands, NASA fans can choose whether they want to display the shuttle and telescope together or separately.

This isn’t the first time Discovery has been created in brick-built style. A previous LEGO version of the shuttle was released in July of 2003, retiring in December of 2004. While Space Shuttle Discovery (7470) is no longer available, you can still find the building instructions on LEGO.com!

On July 30, 2020, NASA sent the Perseverance rover (nicknamed “Percy”) to Mars. Perseverance and its companion helicopter Ingenuity were sent to explore the Jezero crater.

With the LEGO® Technic™ NASA Mars Rover Perseverance (42158) set, kids can create their very own model of the robotic rover and helicopter. The Perseverance model includes authentic details like 360° steering, a movable arm, and a fully articulated suspension. The set also comes with the educational LEGO Technic AR-App featuring an augmented reality experience that teaches kids more about the environment on Mars, the rover’s mission and robotics technology. This is a great set for kids who are passionate about space, but also science and technology.

Released in 2019, the LEGO® Creator Expert NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander (10266) set was developed in cooperation with NASA to mark the 50th anniversary of humanity’s first moon landing in 1969. Space fans could celebrate this historic event with this highly detailed replica of Apollo 11's Eagle lunar module plus a depiction of the lunar surface, complete with crater, footprints, and a U.S. flag. The set also included two astronaut minifigures with golden helmets so builders could stage their very own mini-lunar landing, complete with an Apollo 11 Lunar Lander nameplate to make the perfect display.

The set was retired in 2023 and is no longer available for purchase, but you can find the building instructions on LEGO.com!

In 2017, the LEGO Group released a 39-inch (100cm) high model of the NASA Apollo Saturn V. The Apollo Saturn V was the rocket used to launch the Apollo 11 lunar lander as well as the Skylab space station in 1973.

The LEGO® Ideas NASA Apollo Saturn V (21309) set featured many authentic details based on the real-life rocket. The set had 3 removable rocket stages, including the S-IVB third stage with a lunar lander and lunar orbiter. Builders could learn about the manned Apollo missions with the included booklet, and then recreate their own moon landings with the three astronaut microfigures. The model was retired in 2019 and is no longer available. You can find the building instructions here.

The set was released again in 2020 with a few minor construction changes as LEGO Ideas NASA Apollo Saturn V (92176). This version was retired in 2022. While it is no longer available, you can also find the building instructions for this model on LEGO.com.

The LEGO® Ideas Women of NASA (21312) set was a brick-built tribute to some of the groundbreaking women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Released in 2017, this set included three builds featuring 4 minifigures and their areas of expertise. One scene featured Nancy Grace Roman, the first Chief of Astronomy at NASA, next to a model of the Hubble Space Telescope. Another showed a recreation of the famous 1969 photograph showing computer scientist Margaret Hamilton next to the stacks of software code that was used in the Apollo 11 mission. The third showed astronauts Sally Ride and Mae Jemison next to a model of the Space Shuttle Challenger with three removable rocket stages.

This set was retired in 2018 and is no longer available, but you can check out the building instructions here.

LEGO® NASA sets allow us to learn about space and the technology that has helped us uncover the secrets of the cosmos. We wonder what lies ahead for future trips to space—and what LEGO sets they inspire!

Looking for more LEGO ideas? Discover vehicle sets for kids and adults and build realistic models with the LEGO Technic™ range. We also have sets to help young builders learn more about STEM and engineering.