Learning space exploration history with LEGO Ideas 21321 International Space Station

Learning can be fun, it turns out, as an Aerospace Engineering student has demonstrated with LEGO Ideas 21321 International Space Station.

Twitter user and Aerospace Engineering student Ian Benecken has used LEGO Ideas 21321 International Space Station to tell the real-life story of the International Space Station. Starting with the launch of the first modular, he explains the history of the technological marvel and reveals how it came to be in its current state.

“On November 20th 1998 the first #ISS module #Zarya aka #FGB was launched from #Kazakhstan with a #ProtonK rocket. It was built in Russia but funded by @nasa but operated by @roscosmos. Its purpose is cargo storage,” he begins.

Brick Fanatics reviews LEGO Ideas 21321 International Space Station

Then, two years on: “On August the 6th 2000 the very first unmanned #Russian #Progress resupply capsule launched to the still unmanned #ISS #ProgressM1-3 … 2 days later on August 8th 2000 it docked to the aft end of #Zvesda. The #ISS looked like this from now on:”

The full thread on Twitter is well worth perusing, illustrating how these detailed LEGO models provide an enjoyable creative pursuit, but also provide a tangible connection to real-world history.

Another three LEGO Ideas sets are on the way later this year – the Playable Piano, Sesame Street and the Pirate Bay, with two more recently confirmed for production – Winnie the Pooh and Medieval Blacksmith.

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