So do those fin-wing things fold in and out? There's hinge plates there, but it seems they would be awkward to turn. Sure, the design is already incredibly awkward, but I don't understand why there would be hinge plates if they didn't hinge.

I may have owned this. If I did, it’s probably because I requested it, but I can’t remember why I would do such a thing.

That robot was on the flag of yesterday’s random set of the day.

BLUE ROBOT!!!!

LEGO higher-ups: we need a set that isn't a base to use up the giant trans-blue panel. Maybe a ship.
LEGO designers:

Aero? Module?...Looks more like a 'Space Camper'...and not in a good way:
https://spaceballs.fandom.com/wiki/Eagle_5

Either that, or a fusion of the Flintstone's car w/Jetson's tech/future-time...

I DO however like the positioning of the wings, giving it more of a 'forward-sweep' look; and have used that style myself...

I didn't have this set but after losing some essential parts of 6953 : Cosmic Laser Launcher I had to make use of those large transparent panels, so I built this set. I'm very happy with it. I love how the wings lock the canopy when opened.

I don’t remember this one.

@ElephantKnight said:
"Clunky looking. White/black ration all wrong. Trans Blue instead of trans neon green. I'm beginning to think it's not Blacktron. "

It's almost as Blacktron as random set from a week ago 1875 is. Don't believe me? Check out the colour of the glowing background in the box art.

1987 was one of the greatest years for Classic Space imho, right after 1979.
This set though never caught my attention in the catalogue, so unsurprisingly I don't own it. Over the years it has grown on me though, and since one can get it quite cheap on ebay I might do that one day after all, like I did with it's legendary companion from the same year, 6990.

never seen this blue robot, i like it!!!!

My first thought upon seeing this gloriously-windscreened ship was that I would drop another $280 CAD to get this if it was a GWP tomorrow!

Ugh. What an ugly spacecraft.

The Space theme after 1986 has about 10 good sets for the next 20 years, this is not one of them

If ever there was a set that represented the death of Classic Space, this would be it.

I don't remember how much I wanted this as a kid, or if I wanted it at all, as it may have been overshadowed by other Futuron offerings, such as 6990, 6932, and even the smaller 6850. I wouldn't at all mind having it now, and it being today's RSotD inspired me to add it to my Wanted list. If it's as cheap on eBay as @AustinPowers says, I may try to actually acquire it. Also, I totally agree with everybody about the robot's torso piece. And this set had two of them, in two colors! I loved the way they homaged this piece in 40520's robot.

@bookmum, I think Benny would care more about the fact that it's a SPACESHIP! than how it looks.

@BrickBoriqueno: I'm reminded of Cassie in Ant-man. "He's so ugly! I love him!"

@SDlgo9: Makes sense to me about the visor.

I SOOOO wanted this when I was a kid

Blue robot is about to rip that piece off the rover to make a white robot companion for himself.

I believe my grandma has this set loose in her brick box, I found the giant transblue piece in there, and, according to my research, it was not used much elsewhere, at least unprinted. Next time I visit her, I may try to piece this set together if possible...

This set is one of my favorite Space sets from my childhood.

@mrzeon said:
"Ok, ok, we cannot."

Sorry, seems that my browser errored out. Submitted it only once

I remember being quite excited when Futuron was first released in 1987 as this was quite a bold new direction for Lego Space sets. Most people who embraced Futuron really wanted 6932 which had the looks, but was more than twice the price. Those of us on a budget had to settle for this one. As @Brickalili said, it is basically a space pickup truck. No need for aerodynamics when you're operating in space or on moons without an atmosphere. Boxy, but practical!

@oldfan said:
"Not the greatest looking craft (all of Futuron suffers this to some extent IMO)"

Looking at the rest of the line, I can't really disagree but they do have 6932 which is still one of my all time favourite spaceship designs.

I loved the evolution to the Futron aesthetic, in my head the helmets got visors so an enclosed spaceship wasn’t as necessary and the newer huge trans canopies really “popped” I wish I had the means at the time to acquire more of the sets. They visually leaped of the shelf , such beautiful eye candy.

I loved this as a kid, although it was my brother's.
I really wanted 6932 Stardefender, and like many of you, I thought this was only a step away. I'll admit that it probably caused a bit of paranoia about gaps in spaceships in the long run...

@myth said:
"Futuron! You cannot go wrong with that :-)"

You, uh…went a little wrong with ^that.

@thor96:
Look at where the giant trans-blue space-tent connects to the three black or white hinge bricks. There’s a noticeable gap of nearly half a plate all the way across.

@Brickalili:
Tesla Spacertruck.

@TransNeonOrangeSpaceman:
No. That is clearly not how it happened. It’s obvious that Designer 2 slammed the rest of his beer* before getting started.

*all of his beer, not just the open can in his hand.

@SDlgo9:
Blacktron I was so cool, they could see through the opaquest parts. Their future’s so bright, they gotta wear the darkest shades.

@Rimefang:
Sure, cause it’s not like anyone would ever try to land one on a planet with a thick atmosphere.

@Timsterino:
NASA does that for launch and probably reentry, but once you’re in orbit, sealed helmets are only for EVA suits, and possibly emergency situations.

@Ridgeheart: So it does. I didn't notice because it's covered up by the canopy in the picture. Makes me like this ship even more!

@dulydude said:
"One of my first sets and I straight up love it. Maybe I have rose tinted glasses on with this one but it's an awesome set. I mean, it's clearly a little shuttle craft that along with the pilot comes with a robot and a little buggie to drive around in after you land. And the wings fold open to lock the cockpit down and in place. Far cry from what exists these days but still, absolute gold."

I couldn't agree more. I had this set and eventually the larger Stardefender and they were so much fun. Futuron was a great subtheme. Those were the days...

@8lackmagic:
I don't think this set looks any worse than, say 1968 from 2 years earlier (though that set has a some good parts).

@TheBrickshipyard:
The only Blacktron II set to use this piece on a ship was 6981 (which is based on Futuron's 6932). As a station element, 6988 doesn't really use it any better than Futuron's 6990 (Blacktron I's 6987 also uses this piece as part of an opening feature copied from Futuron's 6953).

@Binnekamp:
Sure, you photograph it at a high enough angle, and you can’t even see the giant open spaces in the sides of the cockpit. We call that a “top-down” angle.

@MCLegoboy said:
"Not very Aerodynamic if you ask me. That's a big box and there's a big pocket for air to get trapped in, too, creating a lot of drag. Those tiny engines are begging for death."

I don't think that there's much "air" where this craft is going anyway. Why it would have wings, though, is beyond me.

That set doesn't look bad in person. A really ugly Space set is 6856.

@ao_ka said:
"That set doesn't look bad in person. A really ugly Space set is 6856."

There is NO SUCH THING as an ugly Space set.

This or rivendell?

Yesterday, I wrote:

"The last couple years (the Armada era--sorry, Armada figs, but it's true) weren't quite what the earlier years of Pirates had been, but I still see this set and think "darn, I wish I had that!" "

Today, I write:

"The last couple years of the 80s (the Futuron era--sorry, Futuron figs, but it's true) weren't quite what the earlier years of Space had been, but I still see this set and think "darn, I wish I had that!" "

I wonder how that blue robot feels about the rover having a front that matches its chest.
Imagine if a rover had a decapitated human chest in the front instead.