A few months ago, we announced that Lego is set to launch a new line called “Women of NASA,” which is absolutely amazing. What’s even more exciting is the fact that the four minifigures are set to launch on November 1.
In a press release, Lego said, the set is “great for role playing space exploration missions. Explore the professions of some of the groundbreaking women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) with the Lego Ideas Women of NASA set.”
The 231-piece building set is meant for kids ages 10 and older, and will sell for $24.99.
The idea is the brainchild of Maia Weinstock, a science editor and the deputy editor at MIT News. The collection includes four scientists from NASA’s 60-year history:
1. Margaret Hamilton, a computer scientist from MIT, who helped create the flight software for the Apollo Moon missions. Hamilton is now 80. Um, yes!
2. Sally Ride, an astronaut who was the first American woman to go to space in 1983. No biggie. Sadly Ride passed away in 2012 at age 61, and will be unable to see her minifigure come to life.
3. Nancy Grace Roman, an astronomer and NASA executive who played helped plan the Hubble Space Telescope. Roman is now 92.
4. Mae Jemison is an astronaut who was the first African-American woman in space in 1992–she’s now 60.
It’s amazing that three of these women are able to see their accomplishments so enshrined that they’ve become toys for children. Kids will be able to learn about their successes–and hopefully become inspired by them.
We previously noted that Weinstock’s original proposal included a fifth figure honoring NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, the “human computer” who was the subject of the recent film Hidden Figures. Sadly, she could not be included, as the company was unable to obtain approval for her inclusion. But she’s still awesome.
You can check out photos from the set at Collect Space here.
