LEGO and NASA give you an out-of-the world experience with this Mars Rover set

Posted on 28/03/2024 by Gaurav Sood

The LEGO Group and NASA have collaborated on some interesting sets in the past. Yes, the ace space agency pioneering some of the most ambitious space missions has lent its expertise to create the NASA Mars Rover Perseverance model priced at just $100. They’ve bettered the rover released in mid-2023 with this beefier version that’s not a replica of any existing rover, rather, a fictional two-seater space vehicle released as a part of the Technic line-up.

This gave the design team more freedom to explore the possibilities without being too logical, or go all out and make it too sci-fi. According to Aurélien Rouffiange the design manager, “When you look at this vehicle, we want you to say, ‘Okay, that can happen.’ That is where we wanted to set the limit.” The result is a stunning 1,599-piece LEGO set that’ll be a treat to put together and flash on your living room shelf or work desk.

Designer: LEGO Group

The six-wheeled rover comes with an expanding truck bed, dual working crane, living quarter and loads of scientific equipment and logistics canisters to complete the feel. If you want to take it for a spin on rugged terrain, the NASA team has engineered a working suspension on this one. Calling this a campervan for space adventurers won’t be an overstatement, it’s that extensive. The open living space inside has ample space for a treadmill and shower for two astronauts to survive. Gosh, it already feels like I’m penning down the design logs of a sci-fi series…

The realism and attention to detail are something purists will appreciate. Right from the crew containers to store trash, Mars rocks or science samples to water oxygen and hydrogen. There’s even a fuel cell generator to recharge the batteries. Aurélien reassures that Hydrogen will be the future of drivetrains and NASA wants kids to learn that at a very early age. To keep things close to reality, the wheels are inspired by the rocker-bogie suspension found on the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers in operation on the red planet. The tires are colored gray to make them look like metal, just like the real Rover tires.

Based on the NASA team’s input the wheelbase of the vehicle had to be kept a bit short to make it a convincing iteration for any alien planet exploration. So, the LEGO team made a contracting chassis that can be configured at will. Aurélien added, “You can still drive it around in this compact mode, but, of course, it is not meant for that.” On the lighter side, NASA wanted a toilet for sure and the design team had to include the space for it!

The post LEGO and NASA give you an out-of-the world experience with this Mars Rover set first appeared on Yanko Design.

LEGO and NASA collaborated to design this stunningly realistic and functional Perseverance Mars Rover replica

Posted on 24/05/2023 by Sarang Sheth

I’m not sure what’s more impressive – whether the fact that the Perseverance Rover mission cost NASA a whopping $1.08 billion dollars, or whether LEGO Technic managed to make a functional version of the rover with just 1,132 bricks, and a price tag of $99.99. Launched (not literally) in collaboration with NASA, the LEGO® Technic NASA Mars Rover Perseverance model measures a little over 12 inches long, and features 360° steering, a movable arm, and a fully articulated suspension system that lets the rover travel across uneven surfaces on all 6 wheels. Designed as a STEM toy to help children get excited about the prospect of space engineering and travel, the rover also comes with an AR experience that lets kids explore the rover and its red-planet home in full detail.

Designer: LEGO

Just like most LEGO Technic builds, the Mars Rover Perseverance model is a pretty well-detailed build, featuring precisely designed pieces that come together to make the rover’s intricate design. Standing at 9-inches tall, the Rover is adjustable, can move on any sort of terrain (making it perfect for playing around on a desk), and even comes with the miniature Ingenuity helicopter, which accompanied the rover to Mars.

“Working on this model has been both challenging and exciting” said Luke Cragin, Designer at the LEGO Group. “I’ve always felt passionate about space, and the design process let me explore my interest as I recreated the incredible engineering developed by the pioneering team at NASA. We hope the model’s features and functions will help introduce young space lovers to the world of engineering and encourage them to reach for the stars in the future.”

The brick-based rover model will also be accompanied by a holistic AR experience on the Technic app, where you’ll have the opportunity to explore fascinating and informative material that delves into the actual rover and its purpose on the red planet. “Through the app it’s also possible to pull an overview of the weather on Mars on demand or learn about the environment and the rover’s mission,” LEGO says. The LEGO® Technic NASA Mars Rover Perseverance model goes on sale starting June 1st, with a $99.99 price tag.

The post LEGO and NASA collaborated to design this stunningly realistic and functional Perseverance Mars Rover replica first appeared on Yanko Design.

Mars Rover Curiosity Keyboard Wrist Rest Is Out of This World

Posted on 01/12/2021 by hite

Space: according to Star Trek, is the final frontier. And I learned everything I know from watching Star Trek, most importantly of which is always keep someone in a red shirt between you and an enemy’s phaser. But how can we pay homage to our current space exploration? Enter this Curiosity Rover wrist rest available from Vietnam-based Moon Key. Wait – where are all the aliens?

Available for $99, the wrist rest comes in five different widths to accommodate any keyboard and features a hand-painted Curiosity Rover cruising along the rocky surface of the red planet. I’m tempted to buy one, knowing full well it’s going to be hard to get any work done while constantly getting lost daydreaming about space exploration and making rocket ship noises at my desk.

As far as preventing wrist strain, there’s no question it beats my current wrist rest, which is none at all. Unfortunately, the strain causes my hands to cramp and requires me to take regular breaks from typing. Plus, my keyboard is missing keys, and I have to copy and paste certain characters from a notepad document I keep open on my desktop. Honestly, I should probably buy a book on productivity. You know, something to rest my coffee on.

This Cybertruck-inspired Tesla Modular rover was designed for exploration missions on Mars!

Posted on 23/02/2021 by Gaurav Sood

Humans’ desire to set foot on another planet – even make it their home is not distant as visionaries like Elon Musk are headstrong about their goal of colonizing Mars in the next few decades. More than a pipedream, the foundation has been laid by NASA’s unmanned missions to the red planet – the freshest one being the landing of the Mars Perseverance rover. While rovers scout the planet’s surface for signs of water and other intricate details for future missions, here on planet earth, imaginative designers are letting loose their creative bits to show us what the future could be like.

This bug-like rover that looks like the big daddy of the compact Mars rovers that we have seen over the years is, in fact, a waste disposal vehicle for the harsh terrain of the red planet. Called the D25 Modular Rover, the design comes to the courtesy of Joshua Kotter, who has reimagined the shape and function of a vehicle to make it look like its tailormade for the jarred landscape and severe weather conditions of Mars. The three-part vehicle is made of the modular platform chassis that’s electrically driven, has a cabin crew module, and the main waste disposal module. While the first and second are a given surety on the vehicle, the waste disposal module can be swapped with other customizable modules depending on the need.

Joshua gives the modular rover a very upbeat character that’s bold with the NASA, Tesla, and SpaceX branding. The Cybertruck-like sharp aesthetic is apparent in the rover as it is made to scale abrasive terrain commonly found on the planet. The module could also be readied for any reconnaissance missions should an alien species decide to have the first rights on the planet. Who knows what the uncertain future holds for humanity as we are bound to encounter other life forms in the galaxy and our universe eventually. The D25 Modular Rover looks prepared for that eventuality!

Designer: Joshua Kotter

Second failure of ExoMars parachute test throws schedule in jeopardy

Posted on 13/08/2019 by Engadget RSS Feed

A joint mission between the European and Russian space agencies to deliver a rover to Mars is facing another setback. The European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed that parachutes for the ExoMars lander mission failed a second test that was conducted las...

Help NASA name its Mars 2020 rover

Posted on 25/06/2019 by Engadget RSS Feed

NASA's Mars 2020 rover is beginning to take shape. Earlier this month, crews installed some of its legs and six of its wheels. Now, the vehicle needs a name, and for that, NASA is turning to students. Beginning in fall 2019, NASA will run a nationwid...

Dad Builds Working Mars Rover for His Son

Posted on 05/04/2019 by Conner Flynn

I know that plenty of parents would like to send their kids to Mars, and if you’re gonna do that, do it right. Build them a rover to ride around in. Hell, just build them one to ride around on Earth. That’s what cool dads do. And Kris Temmerman is a cool dad.

I know this, because he built this awesome Mars rover for his son. The Rover steered via a wired controller by Kris as he walks close by, and has six articulated wheels, each with its own motor drive for tackling uneven terrain. To be honest it looks like a really fun off-road vehicle. I wouldn’t mind riding around in this thing if we could up the size, speed, and give it some Bigfoot ties and a killer paint job. You can check out videos of this thing in action, and the build process below:

I bet this is what it looks like as the real deal is tooling around on Mars, except there’s a small alien riding it instead of a child; probably doing donuts and stuff, kicking up red dust. But you’ll never see that because our government doesn’t want us to know. But I do, and I will not be silenced.

[via Laughing Squid via Geekologie]

A lawsuit almost stalled NASA’s Cassini mission

Posted on 13/09/2017 by Engadget RSS Feed

Captain Scott Kelly wasn't kidding when he famously quipped that "space is hard". Even getting to the launch pad can prove to be a daunting challenge. Take the Cassini mission to study Saturn, for example. Despite an investment of $3.4 billion and ne...

How NASA’s future robots will explore frozen worlds

Posted on 03/04/2017 by Engadget RSS Feed

Delivering a rover to the surface of a distant icy world like Jupiter's moons Europa and Titan is only half the challenge. Once on the surface, the robotic explorers will have to contend with intense space radiation, plunging temperatures that drop t...

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