For 35 years, the Hubble Space Telescope has been out there doing the heavy lifting of cosmic discovery. Now, Lego is inviting builders to do some heavy lifting of their own - namely, lifting a box containing 1,252 tiny plastic pieces that assemble into a surprisingly faithful replica of the iconic observatory.
The new Lego Icons Hubble Space Telescope (set no. 11382) launched on August 1 at a retail price of $140, available at Lego stores and online. The finished model stretches 15 inches (38 cm) long, making it roughly twice the size of previous Lego Hubble kits. It's also the first to include a minifigure astronaut for scale, because nothing says "cosmic grandeur" like a tiny plastic person next to a slightly larger plastic telescope.
This isn't Lego's first rodeo with Hubble. Two earlier models were paired with their shuttle companions: the 2003 Lego Discovery Space Shuttle - STS-31 (set 7470) and the 2021 Lego Icons NASA Space Shuttle Discovery (10283). A third desktop version came with the 2017 Women of NASA set (21312), honoring astronomer Nancy Grace Roman, the "Mother of Hubble." But this new Icons model is the first to show off the telescope's inner workings, because apparently the exterior wasn't nerdy enough.
The real Hubble, launched in 1990 aboard the space shuttle Discovery and deployed by the STS-31 crew, measures 43.5 feet (13.2 meters) long. That makes the new Lego model about 1:35 scale - roughly minifigure scale, though let's be honest, minifigures aren't exactly proportionally accurate. They're basically tiny yellow cylinders with arms, but we love them anyway.
According to the instruction book - which reads like a love letter to engineering - the set was developed "in close collaboration with our partners at NASA and ESA," and it faithfully recreates authentic engineering details inside and out. The aperture door opens to reveal the secondary mirror assembly, and removable panels expose the mirrors and central baffle that guide starlight to the instruments. Because nothing says "fun for the whole family" like a baffle.
The model reflects Hubble's current configuration after its fifth servicing mission in 2009. Yes, that's the one where astronauts fixed the blurry vision and upgraded the cameras. Included in the build are the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS), Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), and Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) - all still active on the real satellite. Plus, there are three gyroscopes, five guidance sensors, communications antennas, and two solar array wings. The designers chose the latest solar array version, because who doesn't want the upgraded model?
There are hidden details beyond the instruction book, because of course there are. A Lego steering wheel on the base stands in for the capture mechanism that might one day be used to boost or deorbit the telescope. Decals represent pressure-relief vents and ports for the three fixed-head star trackers, which help the telescope figure out which way is up. The dark circular openings on the aft body are the external light paths for the trackers, because even in space, you need to know where you're pointing.
The set also includes a display stand with a plaque listing facts about Hubble, including the dates of its five servicing missions. Three translucent pre-printed parts showcase famous observations: the Eagle Nebula ("Pillars of Creation"), the Whirlpool Galaxy, and the Butterfly Nebula. Because what's a telescope without a few stunning images to justify its existence?
Finally, the included astronaut minifigure wears an extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) - the spacesuit used during servicing missions - with NASA's celebratory logo for Hubble's first 35 years on the back of its portable life support system (PLSS) backpack. No NASA insignia or flight emblems, but we appreciate the effort. It's a fitting tribute to a telescope that has been peering into the universe since 1990, and now it can peer into your living room. Enjoy.