LEGO-style bricks are set to become part of an exciting and game-changing project to design (and soon build) launch pads and astronaut shelters on the Moon – how amazing is that?
Taking inspiration from the LEGO System in Play, scientists at the European Space Agency (ESA) have used a 4.5-billion-year-old meteorite to print LEGO-style bricks in 3D.
This is the type of thing that, if you’ve ever played with LEGO® as a kid, and imagined yourself on the International Space Station, travelling to the moon or doing literally ANYTHING space related, it’s got a particularly satisfying vibe to it.
LEGO® bricks are commonly associated with imaginative play, problem solving and the kind of architectural inspiration that leads to future greatness in our younger generations – and not just an expensive hobby.
So how cool is it that actual scientists will be harnessing the power of the simple LEGO® brick to build LEGO-INSPIRED BRICKS made out of SPACE DUST that will be used in practical situations ON THE MOON?!?! Tres cool.
And you’ll be able to physically see these ESA Space Bricks when they’re displayed in select LEGO shops – along with the and the LEGO House in Billund, Denmark – from 24th June (AKA right now, then) to 20th September 2024. More info about where you can see them below.
According to Daniel Meehan, Creative Lead at the LEGO Group, most Gen Alpha kids are really into space so will be behind this development:
We recently found out that space remains an area of huge curiosity with 87% of Gen Alpha kids interested in discovering new planets, stars and galaxies. With the ESA team using the LEGO System in Play to advance space travel, it shows kids the sky really is the limit when it comes to LEGO brick building, and we hope it encourages children to have a go at building their own space shelters!” There you have it. Creativity, play and science, combined together to create Space Bricks made of meteorite dust. The future is here, and it’s looking mighty playful.
The lego.com website has said the ESA Space Bricks will be on display in the following listed LEGO stores:
USA
- The LEGO Store, Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota
- The LEGO Store, Disney Springs, Florida
- The LEGO Store, Water Tower Place, Chicago
- The LEGO Store, Disneyland Resort, California
- The LEGO Store, 5th Avenue, New York
Canada
- The LEGO Store, West Edmonton
UK
- The LEGO Store, Leicester Square, London
Germany
- The LEGO Store, München Zentrum
- The LEGO Store, Cologne
Denmark
- The LEGO Store, Copenhagen
- LEGO House, Billund
Spain
- The LEGO Store, Barcelona
France
- The LEGO Store, Paris
Netherlands
- The LEGO Store, Amsterdam
Australia
- The LEGO Store, Sydney
And, if you don’t fancy making a trip to see them in person, you can still admire the photos and use that wicked imagination of yours to think about these being used in real life – knowing that very soon, they will be.
What do you think of these functional space dust LEGO-style bricks, and the news that comes with them? Astronauts back on the moon FTW? Comment below to start the conversation.
