Lego + NASA = WOW
March 2, 2011
- Category:
- Lego Creations
Lego is going further than any toy or hobby has ever gone before. When Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off the ground and headed for space, it will take with it a smaller version of itself done entirely in, you guessed it –Lego!
This event is planting the partnership of NASA and Lego in their campaign to spark children and adults alike in the STEM studies –science, technology, engineering, and mathematics –all the fields NASA embarks on in their daily lives.
This three-year campaign, entitled “Building and Exploring Our Future” is aimed at inspiring the young and old to be creatively think, systematize their reasoning skills, and explore and release their full potential to form their own future. “The partnership with NASA provides us a unique opportunity to fulfill our purpose, while expanding the imaginations of children around the world,” explained Stephan Turnipseed, Lego Educaton North America president. “A child who plays with Lego bricks today can become the NASA astronaut or engineer of tomorrow.”
With the aim of educating children in the said fields, Lego has set up plans of releasing NASA-themed sets in the market. Allowing children to play with such toys is not only fun, it is also giving them a good sense of how NASA engineers work by allowing them some hands-on experience. Leland Melvin, NASA’s associate administrator for education says, “Fun learning activities like these can help inspire kids to become the next generation of explorers.”
Space Shuttle Discovery and its Lego counterpart are bound for the International Space Station soon this year and it will be the Shuttle’s final flight scheduled this year. Children who are hoping to view the launch can also visit a special tent set up by Lego on NASA’s Causeway where they can participate in activities.
Also one more thing to look out for, is NASA’s plan on sending more Lego sets to the space station on Endeavor which astronauts will try to assemble while inside the space station, demonstrating the difficulties of working in zero gravity.
