We are now just a matter of weeks away from the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the Moon, and the people at LEGO know a good marketing opportunity when they see one.
On June 1, the company will release a new set of 1,087 pieces that recreates the Apollo 11 Lunar Lander that touched down in the Sea of Tranquility on July 20, 1969.
The set includes two astronaut minifigures—presumably Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, although their helmet faceplates are golden.
Ars has not been able to review this set yet, but it is hard to resist building a Lunar Descent Module and an Ascent Module to recreate the Moon magic of 50 years ago. (Especially since most of us missed one of the 20th century’s greatest achievements in real time.) However, this bit of nostalgia does not come particularly cheap, as LEGO has set a US price of $99.
For that princely sum, the set includes a highly detailed replica of the lander, a cratered lunar surface, and nifty-looking name plates. The descent stage features an opening camera, laser hatches, and a ladder. The ascent stage features a detailed interior with room for both minifigures. Overall, the set measures 20cm high, 22cm wide, and 20cm deep.
The lander assembly will certainly pair nicely with the 1,969-piece Saturn V set that LEGO released a couple of years ago. Building the largest rocket to ever reach orbit was certainly a treat, and now we have a chance to take the next step of the Apollo 11 mission with the lunar lander. Now we just need a high-fidelity Command Module to get the crew home safely.
