Alternatively, it can be displayed separately from Discovery, as if orbiting in space on its all-important mission, documenting the stars and our universe. The telescope can be stowed in the payload bay ready to be connected to the RMS arm for deploy just as it was on mission STS-31. The same attention to detail has been applied to the Hubble Space Telescope, with its hinged mirror housing just like the actual telescope and new gold foil solar arrays as well as a realistic, reflective, metallic silver design. The payload bay itself contains the Ku-band antenna for communications, cameras for the crew to monitor operations within the bay, and the RMS arm ready to grapple and release Hubble to carry out its mission. Meanwhile the mid-deck contains the space shuttle’s storage lockers for necessities and mission equipment, space for the fifth crew member and the air lock to the payload bay. The crew cabin features the five seats in their correct placement for the astronauts on the STS-31 mission, complete with flight and robotic arm (Remote Manipulator System, or RMS), control panels. It’s not only the Space Shuttle’s exterior that is incredibly accurate, the interior from the upper flight deck down and through the mid-deck and out to the payload bay are sure to please both builders and space enthusiasts alike. The tail’s rudder serves as a speed brake to assist in landing control and rollout on the runway after touchdown. The flight control surfaces on the back edge of the wings and tail then are used to control roll, pitch and yaw as an airplane does. These are flanked on either side of the tail by smaller engines designed for in-orbit manoeuvres and for deorbit and re-entry into the atmosphere at the end of the mission. The doors also feature reflective stickers to mimic the cooling radiators found on the real shuttle orbiter.Īt the rear of Discovery is housed the three main engines used for launch into orbit. The LEGO NASA Space Shuttle Discovery is made up of 2,354 pieces and is amazingly detailed in true reflection of its full-size counterpart, complete with functional landing gear, and payload bay doors that open one after the other. Ever since, Hubble has shared wondrous images of deep space, leading to breakthroughs in astrophysics and space exploration. GO BEYOND WITH THE NEW LEGO® NASA SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY SETĢ2 nd March 2021: Launching today, the incredible new LEGO® NASA Space Shuttle Discovery set brings the wonder of space exploration back home! Ideal for adult builders, the new set is a detailed recreation of the STS-31 mission launched in April 1990 and saw the orbiter Discovery and its five crew members deploy the Hubble Space Telescope into the cosmos. Here’s the official press release from LEGO: It can also be displayed in conjunction with Discovery as it’s deployed from the cargo bay.

It joins other NASA-themed sets from recent years such as 21309 NASA Apollo Saturn V, 10266 NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander, 21312 Women of NASA, and 21321 International Space Station. Though there have been dozens of LEGO space shuttles over the past, the Discovery is the largest and most detailed set to date.

Watch for our full review of this set coming very soon, and check out the rest of the details below. The full interview can be viewed on /gobeyond. Kathy Sullivan, a former astronaut who served as a mission specialist on STS-31, to reveal the set and discuss the mission to launch Hubble, as well as talk about engaging children in STEM and space exploration. The new 18+ Creator Expert set will be available starting April 1, and will retail for US $199.99 | CAN $269.99 | UK £169.99. This 1990 mission launched the renowned Hubble Telescope, which is still in operation. 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery rings in at 2,354 pieces and features the iconic orbiter on its most famous mission, STS-31. 2021 marks the 40th anniversary of the first NASA Space Shuttle flight in 1981, and LEGO is marking the occasion by launching its biggest shuttle set yet.

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