Review: 10341 NASA Artemis Space Launch System
Posted by CapnRex101,
21309 NASA Apollo Saturn V is often discussed among the most impressive modern LEGO sets and offers stunning detail. 10341 NASA Artemis Space Launch System looks similarly realistic in official images, containing the mobile launcher alongside the SLS rocket.
Dividing attention between the Artemis vehicle and its launch tower creates an opportunity for some interesting functions too, including accurate umbilicals, as well as the rocket's multiple sections. Furthermore, the model provides exceptional display value, given the complexity of the launch tower and the vibrancy of the SLS.
Summary
10341 NASA Artemis Space Launch System, 3,601 pieces.
£219.99 / $259.99 / €259.99 | 6.1p / 7.2c / 7.2c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
NASA Artemis Space Launch System looks fantastic on display, with great functions
- Stunning display model
- Brilliant standard of realism
- Effective and authentic functions
- Great attention to detail
- Some hard-to-apply stickers
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Box and Contents
The dark backdrop of 18+ branding suits 10341 NASA Artemis Space Launch System, with an attractive blue glow behind the model. Inside the box are one instruction manual, 27 numbered bags and also 27 stickers, coincidentally. The number of stickers has already provoked criticism, although I am more concerned by the difficulty in applying some of those stickers.
Reference
Source - NASA, via space.com
The Completed Model
When assembling this model, I was surprised to find that only the final six bags are devoted to the Space Launch System rocket, while the preceding 21 comprise the launch tower. However, this is necessary for realistic scaling and the pair form a remarkably balanced model for display. While the launch tower is considerably bigger, the SLS is more colourful and therefore attracts attention.
The scale of the launch tower is impressive as well, measuring 70cm in height. Similarly, the base is substantial and packed with accurate details, such as conduits mounted on the sides and tiny railings around the edge, represented by light bluish grey tap elements. The grey and dark tan colours are inevitably drab, but intricate texture avoids the base seeming bland.
While the front and back of the launch pad incorporate alternating bricks and plates with side rails, mounted sideways, the sides are constructed using 1x6x5 lattice panels. Their diagonal stanchions match the real launch pad and the 1x2 profile bricks are also accurately positioned, mirroring enclosed areas of the source material.
The lattice panels and gaps on the sides provide an opportunity for more detail too, including large pipes visible above and staircases, such as the one in the image below. These are very helpful in giving an impression of scale, although the instruction manual claims the real launch pad is fully enclosed and that gaps in the sides of the model are merely cutaways.
Another staircase is connected on the front, represented by a 1x4 gear rack, like those inside. Once again, this demonstrates the giant size of the launch tower beside people and I love the pearl silver 1x2 ingot at the top of the steps, forming a door. Moreover, the texture provided by the plates with side rails looks superb and further corresponds with the actual launch pad.
Dark bluish grey elements comprise the two tail service mast umbilicals, which supply liquid oxygen and hydrogen to the core stage of the SLS. Considering their rounded shape, I think these look good. The structures are properly angled and I like the visible studs, adding some texture to denote ladders.
These brackets also shroud an Easter egg inside each umbilical, as three 1x2 rounded plates form the distinctive stripes of Octan! Details like this are always welcome, especially since the rocket in 60351 Rocket Launch Centre was similarly fuelled by Octan. Additionally, viewing the umbilicals from this angle reveals the white taps depicting supply cables.
Various smaller umbilicals surround the launch stand, where the SLS is positioned prior to lift-off. The tiled surface around the launch stand is accurate as well, much like the eight support posts inside. As in reality, the rocket rests securely atop these posts, although this model also includes a cylindrical column to anchor the rocket, which is not present on the real structure.
The base of the launch tower is accurately angled, using Technic universal joints to create the desired shape. The cross braces also match the real tower, but there should be many smaller braces and railings, creating a visually denser structure. While those details would have been nice, I can understand focusing on the major features at this scale.
Among those major features are four pipes attached to the side of the tower. The attention to detail is apparent, as their parallel arrangement is accurate and I like how clips are integrated, so the pipes can follow the shape of the tower. Moreover, the braces on the back of the launch tower are cleverly angled in two directions, which is unusual among LEGO models.
2x2x10 lattice towers are used inside the launch tower, forming a series of external staircases on its lower levels. Again, this is a lovely detail, although my favourite in this section is actually the red conduit, which really stands out against the predominant grey. The same pipe is clearly visible on the real launch tower too.
Following the red pipe leads to some roller coaster track elements further up the tower, simply attached with brackets. These look slightly out of place and the longer track component on the right could be connected more firmly, although the changes in the cross brace pattern are taken directly from the actual tower, as expected.
The arrangement of umbilicals and stabilising arms is realistic too. I particularly like the interim cryogenic propulsion stage umbilical near the top, which includes a few appropriate yellow and white elements, many of which are small to represent narrow pipes. In addition, the support arm actually serves to stabilise the rocket, connecting via a single stud on each side of the SLS.
Also, the red and light bluish grey tusk pieces denoting gathered electrical cables look superb, linking to the Orion service module. The vital Orion capsule, meanwhile, is served by the crew access arm, which makes further use of roller coaster track elements and is assembled upside down in part, creating the necessary shape to adjoin the Orion.
The various umbilicals are linked through a simple Technic mechanism, so retracting one also moves the others. Alternatively, you can control them using a Technic switch about halfway up the tower. This function works well and the stabiliser arms are similarly clever, as that structure drops automatically to the position shown below once detached from the core stage.
Both the stabiliser system and the crew access arm are isolated from the Technic mechanism and moved manually. With the access arm retracted, you can see the 2x2 turntable forming its hatch. This element looks great, although the instruction manual describes the turntable as new, which is dubious for a piece introduced in 2019. Notably, a couple more doors are found at the top of the tower, further conveying the scale and mirroring that at the bottom.
The proportions of the SLS are essentially perfect and you could definitely display the model alone, but I think it looks better when connected to the mobile launcher. The dark orange and white colours are appropriate and I like the orange highlights around the core stage, which the instruction manual explains are where the insulation foam is thinnest and turns brighter in the sun.
Comparisons have understandably been drawn between this vehicle and 21309 NASA Apollo Saturn V. As you can see, the 61cm SLS actually seems small alongside its 100cm precursor and their scales are nowhere near the same, as the Saturn V is 1:110, while the SLS is 1:160. They therefore look a bit odd when displayed together, but maybe LEGO will release a smaller version of the Saturn V.
Four pearl dark grey beehive elements represent the engine nozzles, matching 60351 Rocket Launch Centre, which includes a simpler version of the Artemis rocket. Their shape is ideal for the role and the thrusters are securely attached. Furthermore, the white tub pieces used for the engine shrouds on the solid rocket boosters look excellent, also shared with the City design.
The engine nozzles and launch stand are designed to slot snugly together, so the SLS remains upright even without any reinforcement from the arms on the tower. I miss smaller mechanical details around the engines from this model, relative to 21309 NASA Apollo Saturn V, although their absence is understandable at this scale.
Orange 6L bars comprise the liquid oxygen feed lines on the front and back of the core stage, topped with white 1x1 slopes where these pipes vanish inside the structure. The first of many stickers is applied on this side of the core stage, recreating a small chequerboard marking on the real vehicle.
This is the only feature differentiating the front and back of the core stage, although the solid rocket boosters show many other differences. While their front is covered with markings from Artemis I, used to trace the movement of the SLS during flight, the backs are accurately blank, other than occasional black stripes.
Several of the 3x3x2 cylinders comprising the boosters feature printed chequerboard patterns, but stickers are needed too. Some require particular care in application, such as the thin black bands positioned above the NASA branding in the image below. Also, the elongated chequered markings should be mirrored on the right booster.
Another stickered stripe wraps around the top of the left solid rocket booster and both include small stickers depicting the separation motors for the boosters. Such attention to detail is very impressive, although I worry about the durability of these stickers, as stickers applied to conical parts have a tendency to peel over time.
The rocket narrows as the core stage gives way to the Orion spacecraft. The 6x7x2 2/3 shells forming the conical adaptor were designed specifically for the vehicle in 60351 Rocket Launch Centre, so the shape is generally accurate, although the angled section was actually shortened slightly, compared with the real SLS, to accommodate minifigures inside the City model.
A few more stickers decorate the Orion spacecraft, including more chequerboard patterns, the American flag and logos for NASA and the European Space Agency. The actual Orion capsule, however, is printed. All the appropriate branding is displayed and I like the tiny hatch located on the side, which lines up near-perfectly with the crew access arm.
The solid rocket boosters are discarded two minutes after launch, once their fuel is spent. They are attached to the core stage using clips on this model, so can be separated easily to recreate the first phase of the spacecraft's journey. Also, I like the 2x2x1 Technic panels minimising gaps around the clips, which blend well with the boosters' cylindrical shape.
Once in low-Earth orbit, the core stage detaches from the Orion spacecraft. The dark orange elements forming the launch vehicle stage adaptor can thus be removed to reveal the interim cryogenic propulsion stage, which accelerates the vehicle to escape Earth's gravity. Given the small scale, I am impressed with the mechanical detail around the liquid hydrogen tank.
Finally, the Orion spacecraft is released from its surrounding panels. The crewed vehicle tucks neatly inside this section of the rocket, with its solar panels folded. However, the 1x1 round tile with vertical bar underneath the service module cannot quite slot into the 2x2x2 cone, which is frustrating because it looks as though it should and this would hold Orion in place.
The launch abort system is attached to Orion through the middle of a 4x4 hollow cone. This is interesting because official images make it look like a standard 4x4 cone, complete with studs on top. I presume a standard cone would have been used, were it not for the Orion marginally protruding above the cylindrical panels, as shown above, hence the need for a hollow cone.
A blue antenna and red Technic pin are supplied to support the launch abort system with the Orion removed, which is helpful because this vehicle can be displayed separately. The black display stand looks nice and the solar panels can be properly arranged, unfolded and slightly angled. While the solar panels are relatively fragile, they look splendid.
In addition, the 2x2 truncated cone that represents the crew module is very detailed, featuring accurate windows, a small American flag and the NASA logo. A stickered plaque accompanies the model, which is a welcome inclusion, although I am not sure why a 6x6 tile was selected for the plaque, as it looks tiny beside the SLS and launcher. Also, I should mention the 's' missing from the displayed '98 meter' height.
Overall
Given the industrial nature of its subject, 10341 NASA Artemis Space Launch System works better for display than I had anticipated. The whole assembly looks incredibly realistic from a distance and also includes countless accurate details when examined more closely. I love the features demonstrating the scale in particular, as well as the realistic markings on the SLS.
Unfortunately, many of those markings are reliant on stickers. I can excuse some stickers, but several are tricky to apply and I am surprised the stripes around the boosters were not printed, in particular. Construction is quite repetitive too, although unavoidably so. Despite these issues, this model looks excellent and the price of £219.99, $259.99 or €259.99 provides fair value, in my opinion. NASA-inspired sets continue to impress!
145 likes
47 comments on this article
What made the Saturn V so special was the build, the finished look and the fact that it was all printed.
This only has one of the three and the lack of printed parts is a very big miss from Lego.
No pictures of the build?
This looks amazing, but I think it's a skip for me, it just looks like it wouldn't be as fun to build as some of the other sets I could get. Seeing it in person might change my mind.
Also, I'm starting to think typos on plaques are part of Lego's brand identity. Surely by this point they would have employed someone to proofread literally *anything*.
Considering how the SLS is continually sidelined or subbed out for the SpaceX Falcon 9 or ULA Vulcan, I don't think I'd want a set that's as likely to sit on my desk doing nothing as it is to consistently go to the moon.
It really does look like an amazing display piece but the true fun of any Lego set is the build experience, and without that then I'm struggling to get excited for this.
I feel like LEGO should have included one of the aliens from the City Space theme just to make people lose their minds.
This is a set I would want to love, but somehow I isn't quite working for me. The launch tower? Yes, absolutely great! But the rocket itself relies so heavily on stickers, which not only are apparently hard to apply, but also just don't look great. Lego should NEVER do white backed stickers on white bricks. And then those N AS A stickers.....
Also I've seen bits of the built, and rocket is lacking that intricate construction of the Saturn V. It all looked rather.....simple. That doesn't take anything away from the final result (well, minus the stuickers), but it just doesn't seem as fun to build.
But most of all, it's the whole Artemis thing itself that just doesn't do much to me. At least not yet. At best it's still just history in the making. But hey, feel free to ask me again after this thing has put some people on the moon....
@CapnRex101 said:
"They therefore look a bit odd when displayed together, but maybe LEGO will release a smaller version of the Saturn V."
...or a larger SLS :-D
Great review! Unfortunately, it has persuaded me that I need to scrape together two hundred quid...
No exclusive Clone Commander Armstrong? Easy pass! LegoHatesFans
Excellent set with a pretty decent price. The only trouble is, with a Lego Exclusive wishlist of £4787.81, I have to balance between sets that I like the most and those that might retire before I get a chance to get them! This does rate pretty highly though.
The stickers are killing the set, especially the ones on curved elements. There is no excuse for this and it just shows again the greed of management and how less they care about their customers.
This is one of those magnificent looking LEGO sets that I’ve just come to accept I’ll never get. LEGO making so many great sets these past few years has helped me get over my earlier, rampant FOMO.
Great review! I don't usually read reviews since looking at images of the set is enough for me to decide whether or not I get a set, but I really enjoyed the in-depth analysis. Also, the photo of the model with the sky in the background is very nicely done.
It sure is a very impressive model, though this May The Fourth was quite an expensive one for me, so I'll be waiting for a small discount. In the mean time it stays on my wanted list.
Unpopular opinion, but I appreciate the inclusion of stickers rather than all prints. The parts are more versatile that way to make my own creations.
I already felt the Saturn V build way too repetitive and its a lot less than this so it's a hard pass. Also stickers with this price tag and target audience is hard to accept.
It's cool but. Cha-ching!
With all the discussion of stickers, a photo of the sticker sheet would be helpful.
The end result looks good. I will probably pick it up at some point. Awaiting the Barad-dur and (rumored) Notre Dame reveals before I choose my next *big* purchase.
Much has been made of the stickers in use here, and the preference for printed pieces where possible. I understand the rationale of not printing every piece due to costs and keeping SKUs under control, but with the concern of precisely placing stickers and possible future peeling, this is probably a case where LEGO came down on the wrong side of the print-or-sticker decision. Time will tell how well the stickers hold up.
Ticks all the boxes for me!
Even if I may already be considering to adapt this to fit a small Saturn (or a space shuttle)... one day...
(not to fond of the artemis program... yet)
@CT8088 said:
"Unpopular opinion, but I appreciate the inclusion of stickers rather than all prints. The parts are more versatile that way to make my own creations."
I could somewhat understand that when we're talking about pieces that are hard to find undecorated. I mean, a few years ago when they came with Technic 42112, not only did I find it kinda baffling that they felt the need for a print on the drum (after all, printed technic pieces are quite rare and this set still had lots of stickers), but that piece was never again used so it only exists with that print.
But when we're talking very common pieces that are widely available without print, I fail to see the benefit of having (ugly) stickers. Aren't there cheaper ways to get the same pieces unprinted?
@MVives said:
"With all the discussion of stickers, a photo of the sticker sheet would be helpful."
Agreed, it's a good indication in a review of just how bad the 'sticker damage' of a set is, seeing the physical sheet.
@chrisaw said:
" @MVives said:
"With all the discussion of stickers, a photo of the sticker sheet would be helpful."
Agreed, it's a good indication in a review of just how bad the 'sticker damage' of a set is, seeing the physical sheet."
Or sheets! :o)
I cannot unsee those white wooden wash tubs.
Right, I've read the review again and had a visceral reaction to the thought of placing the stickers (I despise stickers for breaking up the flow of a build: putting bricks or plates or pins or beams together is a wonderful experience; the stress of correctly placing a sticker brings that flow down to earth with a hard thump).
Together with the fact that the building experience won't be as mind-blowing as the brilliant techniques inside Saturn V, this means that I can leave this on the shelf.
Thank you too to @yellowcastle for their wise words:
"This is one of those magnificent looking LEGO sets that I’ve just come to accept I’ll never get. LEGO making so many great sets these past few years has helped me get over my earlier, rampant FOMO."
This is gorgeous and exciting! Unfortunately, the sticker issues (placement and future peeling) temper that excitement. Nevertheless, I will get it.
The price on this isn't too bad. Yet, there are major sets coming. Is Lego providing any incentive to get this early, or can I wait?
Looks so much harder to display than Saturn V, which could lay down.
@bananaworld said:
[[
Right, I've read the review again and had a visceral reaction to the thought of placing the stickers (I despise stickers for breaking up the flow of a build: putting bricks or plates or pins or beams together is a wonderful experience; the stress of correctly placing a sticker brings that flow down to earth with a hard thump).
Together with the fact that the building experience won't be as mind-blowing as the brilliant techniques inside Saturn V, this means that I can leave this on the shelf.
Thank you too to @yellowcastle for their wise words:
[[This is one of those magnificent looking LEGO sets that I’ve just come to accept I’ll never get. LEGO making so many great sets these past few years has helped me get over my earlier, rampant FOMO.]]]]
Indeed. A display set that has that many stickers, won't fair well over time. Reading the review has lowered this done my already long list of desirable sets.
Things to whine about today…
[rolls die]
… …stickers! Today we will whine about stickers! Who had their marker on stickers? Please cash out up front and tip your waitstaff.
@andygott said:
"No exclusive Clone Commander Armstrong? Easy pass! LegoHatesFans"
@andygott said:
"Things to whine about today…
[rolls die]
… …stickers! Today we will whine about stickers! Who had their marker on stickers? Please cash out up front and tip your waitstaff."
@andygott said:
" @lego4elio said:
"but what about the helmet holes…"
Oh god, exactly this. Cue more MandR whine and cheese (and waistcapes!) videos. And now the helmet holes aren’t exclusive?! Lego hates fans!
(But what about her emails!?
Anyone? Anyone…? I digress…)"
@andygott said:
" @Reventon said:
"Very dissapointed there’s no lamp post in this one. Easy pass."
Very disappointed the rock wall has no waistcape.
Easy pass"
Have you considered just taking a break from LEGO?
Much smaller than I thought it be!!
@yellowcastle said:
" @andygott said:
"No exclusive Clone Commander Armstrong? Easy pass! LegoHatesFans"
@andygott said:
"Things to whine about today…
[rolls die]
… …stickers! Today we will whine about stickers! Who had their marker on stickers? Please cash out up front and tip your waitstaff."
@andygott said:
" @lego4elio said:
"but what about the helmet holes…"
Oh god, exactly this. Cue more MandR whine and cheese (and waistcapes!) videos. And now the helmet holes aren’t exclusive?! Lego hates fans!
(But what about her emails!?
Anyone? Anyone…? I digress…)"
@andygott said:
" @Reventon said:
"Very dissapointed there’s no lamp post in this one. Easy pass."
Very disappointed the rock wall has no waistcape.
Easy pass"
Have you considered just taking a break from LEGO?"
Rent free in your head, huh? I’m flattered. And I love that you’re keeping it all collected together somewhere! I haven’t had a chance to do that. But will be helpful when I finally get around to publishing the book!
@andygott said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @andygott said:
"No exclusive Clone Commander Armstrong? Easy pass! LegoHatesFans"
@andygott said:
"Things to whine about today…
[rolls die]
… …stickers! Today we will whine about stickers! Who had their marker on stickers? Please cash out up front and tip your waitstaff."
@andygott said:
" @lego4elio said:
"but what about the helmet holes…"
Oh god, exactly this. Cue more MandR whine and cheese (and waistcapes!) videos. And now the helmet holes aren’t exclusive?! Lego hates fans!
(But what about her emails!?
Anyone? Anyone…? I digress…)"
@andygott said:
" @Reventon said:
"Very dissapointed there’s no lamp post in this one. Easy pass."
Very disappointed the rock wall has no waistcape.
Easy pass"
Have you considered just taking a break from LEGO?"
Rent free in your head, huh? I’m flattered. And I love that you’re keeping it all collected together somewhere! I haven’t had a chance to do that. But will be helpful when I finally get around to publishing the book! "
Stay classy, San Diego.
This is really a tough one. It looks awesome, no doubt about that. It looks tiny next to the Saturn V and I assume even worse next to the Space Shuttle (lets not even think about the Lunar Module), but I can understand that as well, no one could afford to buy a set like this on the same scale as those. But heres the real issue with this set. The Saturn V took Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the moon while the Lunar Module landed them there. The Space Shuttle was the NASA program that I grew up with as a kid, and it built the ISS (perhaps this might be a similar scale). The SLS on the other hand is what? What did it accomplish? Have we landed on the moon with it? No. Has it taken us to Mars? No. Will it? Maybe.
Look, when we land on the moon Lego will make 100 sets to commemorate it, and they will make 1000 sets when we get to Mars. I'll be waiting for those sets to come out when those events happen.
Like others have said, this is a set I want to love, and I’ve wished Lego would tackle it at a scale bigger than the city sets. However, from the first photos this has always been a set that would depend on the build experience, and I’m taking from the review it’s a set aimed at technical accuracy and display rather than build experience (something that Saturn V did so well).
I can’t complain, plenty of things on my wish list and it’s always a relief to remove something!
I was excited when this set first leaked until I realised it was to a different scale to the Saturn V. I would have been happier to pay the heftier price tag if it were 1:110 scale. It seems a missed opportunity not to make a launch tower that can be modified to the Saturn V or even the Shuttle. I think I’ll save my money for a launch umbilical tower and crawler MOC for the Saturn V.
@yellowcastle said:
" @andygott said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @andygott said:
"No exclusive Clone Commander Armstrong? Easy pass! LegoHatesFans"
@andygott said:
"Things to whine about today…
[rolls die]
… …stickers! Today we will whine about stickers! Who had their marker on stickers? Please cash out up front and tip your waitstaff."
@andygott said:
" @lego4elio said:
"but what about the helmet holes…"
Oh god, exactly this. Cue more MandR whine and cheese (and waistcapes!) videos. And now the helmet holes aren’t exclusive?! Lego hates fans!
(But what about her emails!?
Anyone? Anyone…? I digress…)"
@andygott said:
" @Reventon said:
"Very dissapointed there’s no lamp post in this one. Easy pass."
Very disappointed the rock wall has no waistcape.
Easy pass"
Have you considered just taking a break from LEGO?"
Rent free in your head, huh? I’m flattered. And I love that you’re keeping it all collected together somewhere! I haven’t had a chance to do that. But will be helpful when I finally get around to publishing the book! "
Stay classy, San Diego."
Thanks a lot. Now, he's in my head.
And, now I want kamas for my rock walls!
Damn you, yellowcastle!!!
It looks nice but I won't be buying it. There are too many parts devoted to the tower compared to the rocket. If it had been the same scale as the Saturn V without the tower, I'd probably have bought it (especially if they used printed parts). But as it is, it won't pair well with Saturn V and the "display stand" for the main rocket takes up too much space and way too many parts.
I have no intention of getting this set, but that's more due to not having enough space to build and display it than not liking the set. I'd say the sticker thing was an issue, but I collect Speed Champions, so I think I could cope.
@andygott said:
"Things to whine about today…
[rolls die]
… …stickers! Today we will whine about stickers! Who had their marker on stickers? Please cash out up front and tip your waitstaff. "
Why was that even an option? The house'll go broke if you let th be an option...
Saturn V represented everything that was great about NASA at the time, the culmination of years of hard work and determination. (Just don't look too deep into some of the engineer's backgrounds.) SLS represents everything wrong with NASA over the last *checks calendar* 13+ years? More if you count some of the previous shuttle replacement programs.
It's a fine set that would have made more sense at scale with Saturn V, but as a piece of culture? A craft/rocket that's had one, unmanned launch? It's an icon of government waste, sure (and not even comparatively that big of a waste), but I don't know that's something to be celebrated as a LEGO set.
While I do think the end result looks great (especially the launch tower structure), I guess I won't buy this. Stickers are killing it for me, plus I don't really have any attachment to the source material.
I'd rather have a correctly scaled launch tower to go with my Saturn V.
@molrak said:
"Saturn V represented everything that was great about NASA at the time, the culmination of years of hard work and determination. (Just don't look too deep into some of the engineer's backgrounds.) SLS represents everything wrong with NASA over the last *checks calendar* 13+ years? More if you count some of the previous shuttle replacement programs.
It's a fine set that would have made more sense at scale with Saturn V, but as a piece of culture? A craft/rocket that's had one, unmanned launch? It's an icon of government waste, sure (and not even comparatively that big of a waste), but I don't know that's something to be celebrated as a LEGO set."
The Apollo program cost 2.5% of the federal budget for 10 years. At the same scale, give NASA 81 billion for the Artemis program and they'll do great things. Instead they have to make do with roughly 8 billion/per year for Artemis (NASA gets around 25 billion per year). Altogether, NASA spend 28 billion for the moon effort (280 in today's money). So far NASA spent 91 billion for Artemis (everything cost way more today) and because of this, the program is 6 years behind - due to politicians changing their mind - and the budget.
Back in the days, there was a race for the moon and the population was supportive. Now, billionaires go to space in their own recoverable vehicle for a very small fraction of the NASA costs. People are less inclined in giving a blank check to NASA. Besides, government operations are always a money syphon - always costs more and take more time than planned - but very profitable to a group of businesses.
@HOBBES said:
"Back in the days, there was a race for the moon and the population was supportive."
While I agree with the other points you made; this one is a myth.
Surveys conducted at the time showed that an overwhelming majority of people were tired of the space race long before going to the moon became a realistic possibility, and that sentiment did not change even after the first steps on the moon. Some newspapers even ran the headline: "First man on the moon. So what?"
The bigger difference was that there were politicians with vision at the time and that they were not afraid to fully support a risky endeavour; for that, ofcourse, you need a vision that extends beyond the next election cycle...
@YanVanLan said:
" @HOBBES said:
"Back in the days, there was a race for the moon and the population was supportive."
While I agree with the other points you made; this one is a myth.
Surveys conducted at the time showed that an overwhelming majority of people were tired of the space race long before going to the moon became a realistic possibility, and that sentiment did not change even after the first steps on the moon. Some newspapers even ran the headline: "First man on the moon. So what?"
The bigger difference was that there were politicians with vision at the time and that they were not afraid to fully support a risky endeavour; for that, ofcourse, you need a vision that extends beyond the next election cycle...
"
I remember reading something along those lines. Even now, I would say a large majority of people do not understand all the benefits that eventually trickle down from space exploration. Sure, the money can always be spent elsewhere but then getting those advancements might only come significantly later - if at all. There is also the angle: do we want to spend that much to get that new technology - all valid points and definitely debatable. I guess you like space exploration or you don't.
Politicians with vision that extend beyond the next election cycle? This species is long extinct (at least in my part of the world).
species: singular form is the same as the plural form. I learn that today!
Cool, but who is actually buying this?
Good review of a great set, which I'll almost certainly get (as I've wanted some sort of detailed launch tower for a while now)
Slightly disappointed that Lego is still describing the plaque as printed rather than a sticker on their website (I mean, technically the sticker IS printed, but that's not what would be assumed from the description!)
I'll probably see if I can replace the 'N AS A' stickers for some custom sinle 'NASA' ones that go over the multiple parts...
I've been excited for this since the first picture showed up. Can hardly wait.
Looks great but needed some microfigure astronauts.
This set is absolutely stunning!
I love the detail in the stairs, the fueling wires and even more the detail which is out of sight like the satelite. This is set is really thought out. I hope there will be additions to this, like a space shuttle which fits this set.
The piece count surpises me, for a set this big I would expect a higher piece count.
And the height frightens me... 70cm. that's not an easy set to put in a corner to hide when the misses walks in and asks where I spent $260