With the releases of the LEGO Art The Milky Way (31212) & Icons NASA Artemis Space Launch System (10341), it is the perfect time to take a look at all the sets LEGO had produced in its 75 year history. This list includes all (mostly licensed) sets that are based on real space missions or vehicles. This list does NOT include sets that are inspired by space or NASA, only replicas of real things!
Small note: LEGO & NASA have a quite broad history with many iconic collaborations: Building a life-size Mars Rover model, a 10-week digital learning series for students to learn about the technology and careers behind the Artemis I mission, they send LEGO figures into literal space and much more. NASA collected all collaborations in an article that is highly recommended to read!
The Milky Way Galaxy
Set number: 31212
Release: 2024
Original Price: 199,99 €
Pieces: 3091
This is a rather unique LEGO set (and not NASA related, but still a real thing), as the final product will look like an art piece to hang on your walls rather than the traditional 3D models. The Milky Way consists of several thousands of small bricks and pieces in all shapes and colours. Inbetween this mosaique mix are also pieces that forn the Gaia Space Telescope, the red dwarf TRAPPIST-1 and the Crab Nebula. Additionally, there is a cute little sign that points towards the earth’s position with the text “You are here”
NASA Artemis Space Launch System
Set number: 10341
Release: 2024
Original Price: 259,99 €
Pieces: 3601
The Artemis Space Launch System looks quite similar to the real moon landing program. The set features a “multi-stage rocket with two solid-fuel boosters, an Orion capsule and a detailed mobile launch tower”. The launch system known as the Space Launch System (SLS) is designed to be the most powerful rocket ever built, capable of carrying astronauts and cargo to the Moon and beyond. The Artemis missions aim to return humans to the Moon by 2025 and further establish a sustainable lunar presence, and prepare for future crewed missions to Mars.
NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle – LRV
Set number: 42182
Release: August 2024
Original Price: 219,99 €
Pieces: 1913
This Lunar Rover is part of the LEGO TECHNIC brand. It features three equipment sets to be attached, a battery pack, communication system and tools to work on that lunar rock and carry it home successfully. It also includes a model of Big Muley, the largest sample returned from the Moon, and the instrument from the Lunar Traverse Gravimeter from Apollo 17.
NASA Mars Rover Perseverance
Set number: 42158
Release: 2023
Original Price: 94,99 €
Pieces: 1132
The NASA Mars Rover Perseverance set from the LEGO Technic series is a quite detailed replica of the real rover exploring Mars. This set includes features like the robotic arm and intricate scientific instruments, mirroring the actual rover’s design. It also came with an AR-App to learn about the NASA mission the real Rover is on.
International Space Station (ISS)
Set number: 21321
Release: 2020 (retired)
Original Price: 69,99 €
Pieces: 864
The 2020 ISS set came with a cute little satellite and Space Shuttle. A microfigure was included as well, waiting to be send on space walks. The ISS and LEGO have a nice history: In 2011, the Space Shuttle Endeavour mission STS-134 carried 13 Lego kits to the astronauts in the ISS for experiments for the Lego Bricks in Space program. They built models to see how they would react in microgravity. In 2023, Satoshi Furukawa even build a LEGO ISS model inside the ISS for a video series to engage and educate children about the work in space.
Set number: 7467
Release: 2003 (retired)
Original Price: ~15 €
Pieces: 162
In 2003, LEGO released a much smaller ISS set. It also features a super small Space Shuttle.
NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander
Set number: 10266
Release: 2019 (retired)
Original Price: 99,99 €
Pieces: 1087
The LEGO NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander set is a cute and realistic representation of the historic moon mission from 1969. It comes with a flag of the USA and two astronaut figures – and the ladder to replicate the iconing decend and first steps. Seems like Michael Collins was once again forgotten, but not on this blog!
Apollo Saturn V
Set number: 21309 / 92176
Release: 2017 / 2020 (retired)
Original Price: 119,99 €
Pieces: 1969
The iconic Apollo Saturn V set was so popular, LEGO decided to release it twice. First in 2017 with the number 21309 and once it got discontinued, they rereleased the set in 2020 with the number 92176 after popular demand. The sets were basically identical, with the only difference being that the original LEGO Ideas set had 26 grey 2×4 plates. The relaunched version only had 25 of these plates, number 26 got swapped out for a 2×4 plate with Technic holes. This change was only made so the Lunar Lander model that is included fits more tightly. The rocket is in a scale of 1:110, comes with three astronaut microfigures and the three rocket stages are detachable from each other.
Women at NASA
Set number: 21312
Release: 2017 (retired)
Original Price: 24,99 €
Pieces: 231
And now my absolute favourite set. The LEGO Women of NASA set celebrates the contributions of four pioneering women in space exploration. Nancy Grace Roman, known as the “Mother of Hubble,” helped develop the Hubble Space Telescope; Margaret Hamilton led the development of the onboard flight software for the Apollo missions; Sally Ride became the first American woman in space; and Mae Jemison was the first African American woman to travel to space.
Mars Exploration Rover
Set number: 7471
Release: 2003 (retired)
Original Price: ~90 €
Pieces: 870
The LEGO Discovery 7471 Mars Exploration Rover set was based on NASA’s real-life Mars Exploration Rover (MER) missions, specifically inspired by the Spirit and Opportunity rovers. These robotic explorers were launched by NASA in 2003 with the goal of studying the Martian surface and geology, searching for signs of past water activity, and assessing the planet’s potential for habitability.
NASA Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover
Set number: 21104
Release: 2014 (retired)
Original Price: ~30 €
Pieces: 295
The LEGO Ideas 21104 NASA Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover is based on NASA’s real Mars Rover Curiosity, which landed on the Martian surface in 2012. Both the LEGO model and the real rover share key features such as the six-wheel design, articulated robotic arm, and mast-mounted cameras for scientific exploration.
NASA Space Shuttle Discovery
Set number: 10283
Release: 2021
Original Price: 199,99 €
Pieces: 2354
LEGO released several sets featuring the Space Shuttle in some shape or form, so here is a special section for all of them. The set 10283 includes a detachable Hubble telescope, you can open the cockpit, deploy a robot arm and some more gimmicks. It is part of the LEGO Icons series, which are models from aircraft, world buildings or sculptures, more targeted to adults due to the building techniques being more complex.
Set number: 60080
Release: 2015 (retired)
Original Price: 94,99 €
Pieces: 586
This LEGO City 60080 Spaceport set was not marketed as official Space Shuttle set and is not branded as a replica, so we will keep this brief, but look at the material and decide for yourself whether you want this in your collection!
Set number: 8480
Release: 1996 (retired)
Original Price: ~ 160 € (?)
Pieces: 1366
This 1996 LEGO Technic 8480 Space Shuttle is quite intricate, with a retractable landing gear, movable cockpit windows, and detailed engine components. It also featured a battery system for the lights and moveable parts. If you order this old model, be aware that the cables are most likely damages due to their age and think about potentially needing to order replacement cables!
Set number: 7470
Release: 2003(retired)
Original Price: ~ 50 €
Pieces: 828
Another one! The LEGO Discovery 7470 Space Shuttle Discovery-STS-31 was released in 2003 and even comes with a small Hubble model.
Set number: 31066
Release: 2017(retired)
Original Price: 29,99 €
Pieces: 285
You want more Space Shuttles? The LEGO Creator 31066 Space Shuttle Explorer is a versatile build that allows to create three different models: the Space Shuttle Explorer, a futuristic Moon Base Rover, and a Space Station.
Set number: 31134
Release: 2023
Original Price: 9,99 €
Pieces: 144
This Space Shuttle 31134 | Creator 3-in-1 is tiny but practical. You can turn it into a Space Shuttle, an astronaut or a little spaceship.
Set number: 3367
Release: 2011
Original Price: ~29,99 €
Pieces: 231
Oh wow a Space Shuttle set with a mini satellite and astronaut!
Set number: 1682
Release: 1990
Original Price: (?)
Pieces: 392
This Space Shuttle (1682) set is a Space Shuttle, but old! And the whole landing area with cute mini figures.
Set number: 6339
Release: 1995
Original Price: ~60 € (?)
Pieces: 564
Space Shuttle Launch (6339) is quite similar, the Space Shuttle and the launching areas and minifigures.
Set number: 10231
Release: 2011
Original Price: ~95 €
Pieces: 1230
The 10231: Shuttle Expedition features a…Space Shuttle.
M16 Nebula 
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