‘Women of NASA’ LEGO collection finally released

LEGO took a huge step away from your typical Star Wars, Batman, and Harry Potter sets, turning the spotlight to Women of NASA. On Wednesday, November 1st, the ‘Women of NASA’ LEGO Ideas set was officially released for purchase, consisting of four pioneering women in the space program. The idea was proposed by science editor and writer Maia Weinstock, who helped design the collection. These were “some of the most influential women who ever worked for NASA” (Nerdist).

Here's a look at what each women did, their legacies now able to be passed down to encourage and inspire young girls:  (info came from the building instructions booklet that comes with the set)

Sally Ride- was selected out of 8,000 applicants for NASA's astronaut training and became the first American woman in space in 1983. She founded Sally Ride Science and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Mae Jemison- was selected out of 2,000 applicants for NASA's astronaut training and became the first woman of color in space in 1992. Her work in the Peace Corps, at NASA, and in the creation of technology companies (among many other accomplishments) have led her to receive countless awards and honors such as the Women's and the International Space Hall of Fame.

(make sure to watch out for an upcoming feature on Mae Jemison)

Margaret Hamilton- an MIT computer scientist and NASA's head developer of flight software for Apollo 11, the mission whose crew were the first to walk on the Moon. She founded Hamilton Technologies and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and NASA's Exceptional Space Act Award.

Nancy Grace Roman- this activist for women in science started an astronomy club in 1936 at age eleven, was educated in the field, and became NASA's first female executive as the first ever Chief of Astronomy. As "Mother of Hubble", she is honored in various ways through NASA and she was awarded with the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal.

A fifth woman, Katherine Johnson, whose story is the focus of the film Hidden Figures, was unfortunately not approved to be included. The two other major parts of this set are the Hubble Space Telescope (developed by Nancy Grace Roman) and the Space Shuttle Challenger (Sally Ride). Children who play with this LEGO series will see that women have gained acceptance in STEM fields and will begin to view these women as role models and examples for what they can and will accomplish.

follow the Women of NASA Lego on Twitter @LegoNASAWomen

Works Cited

Pattillo , Mia. “New Lego Set Celebrates Women in NASA.” The Brown Daily Herald, Brown 
       Daily Herald, 31 Oct. 2017, 

Walsh, Michael. “LEGO Will Honor Women of NASA in Newest Set.” Nerdist, Chris Hardwick,
       28 Feb. 2017