LEGO to produce Mars Curiosity rover kit due to popular demand

While the Curiosity rover is still miles away gathering data in Mars, its earthbound fans will get to know it a little better via an upcoming LEGO kit.

 

LEGO's Tim Courtney said the Curiosity Rover got the needed backing to produce a kit of the rover under LEGO's CUUSOO line.

 

"After analyzing the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover project, we learned that this product has niche appeal and strong demand from the space and education communities. The product aligns well with the LEGO Group’s mission to 'inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow,' including those who will build our future in outer space," Courtney said in a blog post and video.

 

He noted the project became popular in late summer 2012, when the real Mars Curiosity Rover landed on Mars in its historic mission.

 

The Lego model is designed by Lego CUUSOO user "Perijove," a mechanical engineer who worked on the actual Curiosity rover at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

 

"Perijove writes that he built and submitted the rover to further the educational outreach of the Mars Curiosity rover’s incredible mission, and to encourage greater public support for space exploration," Courtney said.

 

However, he added, the final product is still in development, and pricing and availability have yet to be finalized.

 

The model is likely to have a fully articulated arm, deployable mast, and a working rocker-bogie suspension system "that allows the rover to climb over large rocks and keep all six of its wheels on the ground."