NASA And The LEGO Group Partner To Inspire Children To Build And Explore The Future
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A LEGO space shuttle headed to orbit helps
mark the Tuesday signing of a Space Act Agreement between NASA and
The LEGO Group to spark children's interest in science, technology,
engineering and math (STEM).
To commemorate the beginning of this partnership, the small LEGO
shuttle will launch with the crew of the space shuttle Discovery on
its STS-133 mission, targeted to launch Wednesday, Nov. 3, from
NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The partnership marks the beginning of a three-year agreement that
will use the inspiration of NASA's space exploration missions and the
appeal of the popular LEGO bricks to spur children's interest in
STEM. The theme of the partnership is "Building and Exploring Our Future."
The LEGO Group will release four NASA-inspired products in their LEGO
CITY line next year. The space-themed products will vary in terms of
complexity, engaging audiences from young children to adult LEGO
fans. Each product release will contain NASA-inspired education materials.
"Partnering with The LEGO Group is a perfect fit. We have taken the
excitement of NASA's missions and coupled that with kids' love of
creating things with the iconic LEGO bricks," said Leland Melvin,
NASA's associate administrator for Education. "These projects not
only foster creativity but also instill in the young builders a real
sense of the engineering and design principles that NASA uses every
day. Fun learning activities like these can help inspire kids to
become the next generation of explorers."
As part of the Space Act Agreement, NASA will send special LEGO sets
to the International Space Station aboard shuttle Endeavour's STS-134
mission in February 2011. The sets will be assembled by astronauts
on-orbit and by children and student groups across the country. The
construction process and activities with the sets will demonstrate
the challenges faced when building things in the microgravity
environment of space.
"The LEGO Group's purpose is to inspire children to think creatively,
reason systematically and release their potential to shape their own
future," said Stephan Turnipseed, president of LEGO Education North
America. "The partnership with NASA provides us a unique opportunity
to fulfill our purpose while expanding the imaginations of children
around the world. A child who plays with LEGO bricks today can become
the NASA astronaut or engineer of tomorrow. "
As part of the NASA-The LEGO Group partnership kick-off, a 40-feet by
70-feet activity tent will be set up Wednesday at the shuttle launch
viewing site on the NASA Causeway in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Children of
all ages will be invited to get creative and build their vision of
the future with LEGO bricks as they await Discovery's launch. To see
images of STS-133 prelaunch activities, visit:
http://www.LEGOspace.com
The site has galleries featuring images of prelaunch activities and
will add games and other activities leading up to the release of the
complete line of LEGO Space City games, activities and products on March 1.
NASA's Office of Education in Washington seeks partnerships that help
the agency promote student interest in STEM studies and careers. For
more information about NASA's partnership with LEGO and other
education programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/education
Source: NASA
