LEGO Creator Expert NASA Space Shuttle Discovery (10283)

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In excess of 1,500 additional pieces means the designers have been able to include even more accurate detailing and authenticity than ever before, but it wasn’t easy – as the interview with LEGO designer Milan Madge contained within the manual attests to. Several design features of the Shuttle proved to be a real headache, such as the retractable landing gear, and the interview does a great job in explaining how the design team overcame these hurdles, as well as building anticipation for the model to come. These two sub-assemblies connect at a slight angle, which is achieved in a rather unique way. Hinge plates are used at one end, but in the middle a 2×3 plate with hole connects to a 1×2 jumper plate. This allows for the angle of the 2×3 plate with hole to be adjusted, facilitating its attachment to the main assembly at an offset angle. NASA Space Shuttle Discovery is certainly impressive – there’s no doubt about that. Both models look incredible with a high level of accuracy and authenticity, and it’s clear the designers have a lot of love for this subject material as both have been incredibly faithfully recreated. Having the option to display the smaller Hubble attached to or alongside the larger Discovery adds another layer to the display, and both have an air of importance to them thanks to the display stands and information plaques.

Separating the plaque from the display stand is certainly unusual, although this stand is rather short so limited space is available beneath the Space Shuttle. Of course, modifying the display stand to accommodate the plaque would be easy, if you prefer to keep them together. Accurate information about the Space Shuttle Discovery is provided on the plaque, fortunately, but I think showing the mission specification was unnecessary. In NASA style, I recorded some "lessons learned" from constructing this set. The first one is to have a very large surface. My available desk space was roughly 3 feet by 2 feet (1 meter by 0.6 meters); I'd recommend a little larger as organizing the pieces, manual and ever-growing shuttle got tougher as the hours continued. I made it in the end, but it was a tight squeeze as the final set is 8.5 inches (21 centimeters) high, 21 inches (54 cm) long and 13.5 inches (34 cm) wide.

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What remains to be seen is if more national space agencies (Roscosmos in particular) will warm up to Lego collaboration and if its something the can be sold to the public in the same volume as NASA sets can. Unless Lego wants to dive into Mercury and Gemini or Skylab it has already about ran the gamut of manned NASA programs, but Roscosmos offers up the possibility of the Soyuz and its ancestors as additional Lego sets to keep up this "space theme."

It’s probably because they used a pre-production version of this set in the video, and those details might have been changed by Lego between filming of the video and the public reveal.The outermost layer of white bodywork then covers the internal structure, creating beautifully smooth shapes which appear realistic. Additionally, the connected landing gear mechanism is ingeniously disguised inside the payload bay. This space is quite substantial but necessary for the telescope, hence the forward and rear landing gear are inconspicuously linked through the floor. While capturing the external shape was undoubtedly important, the most significant reason for developing these unique elements becomes apparent inside. These doors are remarkably thin which maximises the internal area, thereby allowing the Hubble Space Telescope to slot inside the payload bay! This satellite nestles inside perfectly, slotting between tabs which project from the walls and the floor. I mentioned at the outset that LEGO has produced many shuttles. In fact, in 2003, LEGO even produced a set based on this very mission: 7470 Space Shuttle Discovery-STS-31, which featured the shuttle launching Hubble. Sadly, that set remains on my wishlist rather than in my collection, but I do have a previous version of the shuttle and Hubble in a different scale, from the excellent 2017 set 21312 Women of NASA. These make a beautiful display together. Celebrate the wonders of space with the LEGO NASA Space Shuttle Discovery model building set for adults. This engaging challenge lets you build the Space Shuttle Discovery ship and the Hubble Space Telescope, launched on NASA’s STS-31 mission in 1990.