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NASA Teams With LEGO To Offer Model Competition

Posted by samzenpus on from the build-and-win dept.

coondoggie writes "NASA today said it would team up with Lego to offer a competition to see who can build the coolest models of future airplanes and spacecraft. The 'NASA's Missions: Imagine and Build' competition is open now with an entry deadline of July 31. Winners in each category will be selected by a panel of NASA and LEGO officials and announced Sept. 1."

22 of 34 comments (clear)

  1. Spaceballs Winnebago by rwa2 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oh, I wish I had pics of the Winnebago I built when I was a kid... It was complete with a toilet, a ladder that extended down from a hatch in the bottom, and of course the ludicrouspeed drives that flipped out from a compartment in the back.

    1. Re:Spaceballs Winnebago by sleigher · · Score: 1

      Really? All I could think of was the prettiest nerd girl I could create with legos... oh well...

      --
      All points of time and space are connected.
    2. Re:Spaceballs Winnebago by Connie_Lingus · · Score: 1

      perhaps that's exactly what NASA is looking for...a future spacecraft that looks like an old Winnebago. oh imagine the aerodynamics of that puppy!

      --
      never bring a twinkie to a food fight.
    3. Re:Spaceballs Winnebago by foniksonik · · Score: 1

      Luckily spacecraft dont need aerodynamics.

      --
      A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
  2. Re:Sorry if but.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Another great project would be to teach you to spell.

  3. Why LEGO when we have 3D raytracing programs ? by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 1

    I mean, why NASA has to go the LEGO route when free and opensource 3D raytracing programs are available to all ?

    Furthermore, constructing space crafts using LEGO means people are unnecessarily being restricted by availability of the shape/size/color of the LEGO blocks

    On 3D programs people get to create whatever shape/size and use whatever color they want, on their creations

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
    1. Re:Why LEGO when we have 3D raytracing programs ? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 2

      I mean, why NASA has to go the LEGO route when free and opensource 3D raytracing programs are available to all ?

      My impression from reading the article is that LEGO is very involved in organizing and funding this contest, and they have no interest in promoting something that is not their product.

    2. Re:Why LEGO when we have 3D raytracing programs ? by ikaruga · · Score: 1

      Or maybe for the same reason that Minecraft is the 3D design tool of choice for millions over real 3D software: accessibility. Lego is the "easiest" way to prototype something.
      Lego learning curve is virtually non existent. It takes ages to build something meaningful, the amount of detail is very limited, but literally anyone with hands can do it.
      There is also brand name. People love popular brands. Do you think this /. article would even exist if NASA decided to partner with Blender or AutoDesk?
      Finally, reading the article I can't help but to think that Lego is a sponsor and this is nothing but a marketing campaign.

    3. Re:Why LEGO when we have 3D raytracing programs ? by Xest · · Score: 1

      Because with Lego there's still some semblance of engineering involved. With 3D ray tracing it just becomes an art contest instead.

  4. Re:Sorry if but.. by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 2, Informative

    Don't build toys, Build real rockets. If you haven't already forgotten how to.

    If you read the article, you will see the the prize is just a set of legos and some NASA memorabilia. There is no cash prize, and the Lego sets are donated by Lego. This is costing the taxpayers nothing, is not taking any funds away from NASA's "real" missions, and just might inspire some kids to do something meaningful with their lives.

  5. Relevancy? by c0lo · · Score: 1

    I fail to see how this may foster NASA's progress to its (supposed) goals. Any ideas?

    --
    Questions raise, answers kill. Raise questions to stay alive.
    1. Re:Relevancy? by Xest · · Score: 1

      Because young kids building space ships keeps them interested in space such that they may become future scientists or engineers in the field.

  6. On the other hand ... by Taco+Cowboy · · Score: 1

    Kids make models => kids want to become engineers => kids grow up and work for NASA and build future ships

    On the other hand, with the use of open sourced3D ray-tracing programs ...

    Kids make 3D models on screen

    => kids can test out their 3D models with simulation programs available online (many open sourced) while learning about aerodynamics at the same time

    => kids fine-tuning / enhancing / modifying their 3D models

    => kids get all excited and learn more about various rocket engine designs

    => kids unknowingly become very knowledgeable in things that will open a lot of doors for them

    => kids become space craft designers on their own rights

    => profit !

    --
    Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
    1. Re:On the other hand ... by Cenan · · Score: 2

      That is really not how kids work. They want immediate results, they do not want to fiddle with a program for a week to get their design to a stage they are happy with. If that happens they will find other stuff to do.
      This exercise is about getting kids interested, not weed out the majority because they don't have the patience for 3D modelling. Come time when they do, and stand in front of the choice "do I become an engineer?" you want them to remember their brush with NASA fondly, not as a week of endless torment in front of a program they didn't understand.

      --
      ... whatever ...
  7. Re:Sorry if but.. by Xest · · Score: 1

    To be fair he seemed to be able to spell just fine, it was the inability to form meaningful sentences that was the problem.

  8. Just use CAD... by Trip6 · · Score: 1

    and then build in legos. Just like Legoland.

    --
    I hate being bipolar; it's awesome!
  9. nice information by ppgbschool · · Score: 1

    nice information

  10. +1 Insightful Virtual Mod Point by arfonrg · · Score: 1

    'cause I got no real mod points...

    --
    Your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
  11. How the mighty has fallen.... by arfonrg · · Score: 1

    In the 60's (with SLIDE RULES) NASA built the Apollo program and put men on the moon. Today we can't lift our own astronauts into space and NASA's 'move ahead' plan is to play with Legos. Pathetic

    --
    Your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
  12. Lego Digtial Designer - Free 3D-ish by jzarling · · Score: 1

    http://ldd.lego.com/en-us/

    Lego has their own free 3D-ish design program. I have played with it a bit - it can be finicky, but it's pretty cool.

    --
    It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.
  13. ...but this was a contest for children! by slagheap · · Score: 1

    Yeah! And Homer beat their brains out!

    --
    First against the wall when the revolution comes
  14. Dear Lego, please bring back Classic Space by sootman · · Score: 1

    Maybe this will inspire Lego to bring back a line like the old Classic Space series. The space sets they make are fine, but I wish they'd bring back a "pure" space series: no aliens to fight, no giant space bugs, no space police and villains -- just exploration, discovery, and settling. For a nice example of how to update the line, check this out.

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