The United States' first teleoperated rover to reach the moon's surface is rolling out as a Lego model this summer, together with two futuristic vehicles inspired by real-life robotic lunar explorers.
The new Lunar Outpost Moon Rover Space Vehicle is scheduled for release on Aug. 1, as part of Lego's Technic line of advanced building kits. The $99.99 set is the result of a collaboration between the Danish toymaker and Lunar Outpost, a Colorado-based company specializing in lunar surface mobility, commercial space robotics and space resources.
"Inspired by real-life Lunar Outpost vehicles enabling humanity's return to the moon, this Lego Technic Lunar Outpost Moon Rover Space Vehicle comes with a moon rover, mining rover and MAPP rover to inspire endless journeys of exploration," reads the set's description on Lego's website.
The MAPP, or Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform, was the key part of Lunar Outpost's Lunar Voyage 1 mission, which on March 6 arrived on the moon, making history. It would have made even more, had the commercial lander that delivered MAPP there not have immediately tipped over, trapping the rover inside its garage. It never had the chance to actually rove anywhere.
