Best Lego space sets 2022: NASA Lego sets, spaceships, Marvel, and more
Let's go back in time almost 60 years, to 1964. Believe it or not, that's how long ago that Lego released its first space set. Back then, it was a simple three-color rocket that cost less than a dollar. Naturally, Lego space sets have evolved quite a lot since then - so let's have a look at some of the best Lego space sets available, shall we?
From huge advancements in Lego itself to impressive partnerships with the likes of NASA, the Lego space sets we see today are nothing short of incredible. In the last few years we've had scale models of Apollo Saturn V, huge replicas of the Discovery Shuttle, and detailed Apollo 11 Lunar Landers. And they're just the ones aimed at adults. There's a whole other world of space-themed Lego sets aimed at kids.
Scroll down below, and you'll find a round-up of all the best Lego space sets currently available. We've organized them into three handy categories. First are the larger space sets designed for adults; second are the Lego space sets aimed at children; and last is a section of Marvel and DC-themed sets with a space-themed twist.
Needless to say then, if you're thinking of picking up a Lego space set, you're in the right place. Here you'll find all the necessary information about the best sets out there, including links through to our more detailed reviews where applicable.
Once you know what Lego space sets you're looking for, why not head on over to our Lego space deals page? And if you'd like the lowdown on different types of Lego sets, we've got you covered with our buyer's guides to the best Lego Star Wars sets and best Lego Marvel sets.
Best Lego space sets for adults
1. NASA Space Shuttle Discovery
Price: $199.99/£169.99 | Model number: 10283 | Pieces: 2,354 | Finished item dimensions: 8.5 x 21 x 13.5 in/21 x 54 x 34 cm | Recommended age: 18+
An impressive replica
Fun to build
It’s huge!
No minifigures
Uses a lot of stickers
If you’re a space fan, then there’s no denying that this Lego NASA Space Shuttle Discovery is one of the best Lego space sets you can get your hands on right now. It’s an authentic recreation of NASA’s real Discovery shuttle, featuring realistic elements such as an opening payload bay, retractable landing gear, and five seats for the crew.
Unfortunately, you’ll have to use your imagination there since this set doesn’t come with minifigures, but it’s a small price to pay for something that’s otherwise so detailed. As an added bonus, it also includes a model of the Hubble Telescope, which can be stowed away inside the shuttle’s payload bay.
Read our full Lego NASA Space Shuttle Discovery review.
2. Lego NASA Apollo Saturn V
Price: $119.99/ £104.99 | Model number: 92176 | Pieces: 1,969 | Finished item dimensions: 39 in/100 cm high and 6 in/15 cm in diameter | Recommended age: 14+
Great attention to detail
Excellent value for money
Huge size makes it difficult to display
A repetitive build
The Lego NASA Apollo Saturn V is an interesting set. It was first released in 2017 as part of the Lego Ideas range, but after being discontinued at the end of 2019, it was brought back in 2020 – the exact same product, but just with a different model number. Clearly, it was so popular that Lego decided it was worth keeping on the shelves much longer than a set’s usual shelf life. And it’s not hard to see why. This replica of Apollo Saturn V is incredibly detailed, and epic in scale – if you stand it upright, it’s a meter tall!
For space fans, too, there’s an awful lot of realistic detail thrown in, such as fuel tanks, rocket fins, and engines – and there’s even a teeny-tiny microfigure included to give you some sense of the scale of this thing. Inevitably, the build is a little repetitive, but for something so magnificent, it’s worth it.
Find out more in our detailed Lego NASA Apollo Saturn V review
3. Lego NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander
Price: $99.99/£89.99 | Model number: 10266 | Pieces: 1,087 | Finished item dimensions: 7 x 8 x 7 inches/20 x 22 x 20 cm | Recommended age: 16+
Minifigs have official NASA decorations
Comes with dedicated stand
Some fiddly parts
Quite a few stickers
For any space fan, this replica Apollo 11 Lunar Lander is instantly recognizable. Lego has spared almost no detail in bringing it to life, looking as close to the real thing as a set of plastic bricks could possibly allow. The result is a wonderful display piece, capturing the moment that humans stepped on the moon back in 1969 brilliantly. The lander itself is expertly crafted, although the intricacy of the model means there are a few fiddly parts. It’s also a little disappointing that some of the decorations – like the golden paneling along the sides of the Lunar Lander – are stickers rather than printed bricks.
It’s not quite enough to stop this being one of the best Lego space sets out there, though. We particularly love the included display base, designed to replicate the surface of the moon – even complete with little minifigure footprints!
Read our Lego NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander review for more information.
4. Lego International Space Station
Price: $69.99/£59.99 | Model number: 21321 | Pieces: 864 | Finished item dimensions: 7 x 12 x 19 in/20 x 31 x 49 cm | Recommended age: 16+
No stickers!
Includes a tiny Discovery Shuttle for scale
Accurate replica
Solar array panels are flimsy
When Lego first announced the International Space Station (ISS) – a fan-designed model from the Lego Ideas range – we were a little concerned. Why? Well, it seemed that all of those solar panels could be stickers, rather than printed bricks. Nobody likes stickers on a Lego model, especially not that many. Thankfully, Lego delivered more than we hoped for, and there isn’t a single sticker to be seen on this model.
What is to be seen, though, is a glorious replica of the ISS, squeezing in more details than we could have imagined. Real-life features, such as the Integrated Truss Structure, habitation modules, and logistics carriers have been faithfully recreated. And there are even tiny versions of the NASA Space Shuttle, SpaceX Dragon, and Boeing CST-100 Starliner to give the International Space Station a sense of scale. Putting the solar panels together is repetitive though, and by their very nature they’re a little flimsy and easily knocked out of place. But when it’s all built, this is a very impressive model.
5. Lego Icons Galaxy Explorer
Price: $99.99/£89.99 | Model number: 10497 | Pieces: 1,254 | Finished item dimensions: 5 x 20.5 x 12.5 inches / 13 x 52 x 32cm | Recommended age: 18+
Fun to build
Clever design techniques
A great piece of Lego nostalgia
No baseplates or included station like the original
This is the only designed-for-adults Lego space set that isn't based on a NASA property, but it's something rather special. Particularly for those of us who have loved Lego since our childhood. You see, this is a recreation of one of Lego's earlier space sets - the Galaxy Explorer from 1979. (If you're not old enough, you might recognize it as the inspiration behind Benny's Spaceship in The LEGO Movie.)
Bigger and more detailed than the original, Lego Icons Galaxy Explorer is undoubtedly a must-have for any LEGO collector and Lego space fan. It's been created to celebrate Lego's 90th anniversary, and so we have a feeling it won't be around forever. It's one we're certainly proud to have in our own collections, that's for sure.
For more information head to our detailed Lego Icons Galaxy Explorer review
Best Lego space sets for kids
1. Lunar Research Base
Price: $119.99/£89.99 | Model number: 60350 | Pieces: 786 | Finished item dimensions (of the lunar base): 5 x 15.5 x 10 in/13 x 40 x 25 cm | Recommended age: 7+
Inspired by NASA
Huge variety
Moving parts make it a great playset
Loads of stickers
Needs a lot of space to display or store
Lego’s Lunar Research Base is another of its new sets, based on an official NASA concept for its Artemis Base Camp. It's a fantastic playset thanks to just how much stuff is included. There are plenty of moving parts and a full suit of minifigures, making this the perfect playset for young space adventurers. The downside is that it's quite big, so it needs a lot of space to display or store.
Its price gives us pause however, as $120/£90 for a 786 piece playset just feels too expensive. Grab it whenever it's on offer, however, and this is a set that will certainly delight any young Lego space fan.
More details can be found in our Lego Lunar Research Base review.
2. Rocket Launch Center
Price: $149.99/£124.99 | Model number: 60351 | Pieces: 1,010 | Finished item dimensions (of the rocket): 16.5 x 4 in/42 x 11 cm | Recommended age: 7+
Realistic NASA detail
Great selection of minifigures
A lot for kids to play with
Very expensive for a playset
This set, along with the three to follow, is brand new and so we haven’t had a chance to get hands-on with it yet. It’s a replacement to Deep Space Rocket and Launch Control (60228) which recently retired – except it’s bigger and more expensive. A little too expensive in fact: $150/£125 for a playset feels like a lot of money.
Still, you do get a lot included for that price, including a realistic rocket inspired by Artemis, NASA’s return to the moon. There’s also a nice selection of minifigures: six in total, including astronauts, scientists, and workmen. There’s basically everything here a kid needs to stage their own rocket launch.
3. Lunar Roving Vehicle
Price: $39.99/£24.99 | Model number: 60348 | Pieces: 275 | Finished item dimensions: 4 x 5.5 x 4 in/10 x 14 x 10 cm | Recommended age: 7+
Inspired by NASA
A fun-looking vehicle
You’ll need a more expensive set to get the most out of it
This Lunar Roving Vehicle, complete with its 12 wheels – count them! – is a fantastic-looking space toy. It’s another set based on an Artemis concept, this time for NASA’s Lunar Rover. It opens up at the back, providing space for a minifigure astronaut to sit, and there’s also room for one in the driver’s position.
Better yet, that large, round panel opens up, allowing the vehicle to attach to the Lunar Research Base, which we’ve written about above. Of course, it means you’ll need to shell out $120/£90 to make good use of that function, which is a little annoying.
4. Lunar Space Station
Price: $79.99/£54.99 | Model number: 60349 | Pieces: 500 | Finished item dimensions: 5 x 12.5 x 11 in/13 x 32 x 28 cm | Recommended age: 6+
Inspired by NASA
Some nice, realistic details
Surprisingly big
Feels a little expensive
Here’s the last of Lego’s newest space sets. This Lunar Space Station is based on NASA’s Artemis Lunar Gateway, which gives some educational value to its play. And indeed, there’s a lot to like here, including the realistic docking capsule, the science and botany labs, and the separate sleeping quarters. You can almost imagine it floating through space.
Our only concern is that it’s only $10/£5 cheaper than the ultra-realistic International Space Station model, and we know which one we’d rather have on our shelves. Still, this one is minifigure-scale, so for younger Lego space fans it has much more playability.
5. Creator 3-in-1 Space Shuttle Adventure
Price: $39.99/£44.99 | Model number: 31117 | Pieces: 486 | Finished item dimensions (of the Space Shuttle): 4 x 11 x 7 in/12 x 28 x19 cm | Recommended age: 8+
Three different ways to build
Great budget alternative to larger sets
Lacks NASA branding, despite obvious influence
If you don’t have the budget to splash out on Lego’s $200/£160 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery, this 3-in-1 Creator set is a great alternative and one of the best Lego space sets out there aimed at kids. Although it’s lacking the NASA branding and some of the finer realistic detail, it’s still very clear what it’s supposed to be. And it even features opening payload doors, with a satellite stowed away inside.
The other two models on offer in the set – a rocket and lunar lander – look very effective too, each of them essentially being a smaller version of one of Lego’s more expensive sets. You can’t build all three of them at once, though; you’ll need to buy three copies of the set if you want to do that.
6. Monkie Kid’s Galactic Explorer
Price: $129.99/£89.99 | Model number: 80035 | Pieces: 1,356 | Finished item dimensions: 3.5 x 16.5 x 10 in/9 x 41 x 25 cm | Recommended age: 9+
Huge amount of play functionality for kids
Cool minifigures
Not at all realistic
A lot of stickers
Lego’s own Monkie Kid series, a range based on Chinese mythology, might not seem like the ideal choice to make space-themed Lego sets, but here we are. If you’re looking for a realistic Lego space set, this clearly isn’t it, but as far as kids’ playsets go, they don’t get much more funky and interesting-looking than this.
The rocket itself is rather huge – 16.5 inches (41 cm) tall, in fact, and has a lot of interesting internal details, perfect for roleplay. The cockpit and cabin windows lift off, providing access to the inside, where you’ll find five seats for the crew to sit. The finished build does feature quite a lot of stickers, however, which is slightly disappointing.
7. Creator 3-in-1 Space Mining Mech
Price: $24.99/£21.99 | Model number: 31115 | Pieces: 327 | Finished item dimensions (of the mech): over 6 in/15 cm high | Recommended age: 7+
A fun budget playset
Lots of movable parts
The two alternative builds are slightly disappointing
This Space Mining Mech certainly isn’t NASA-approved, but we think it’s one of the best Lego space sets out there for kids who love to have fun. It’s a budget set which can be built one of three ways. The primary build is a space-faring mech, complete with a rotary blade on one arm and a hand that can actually grab things with the other. He’s also got moving arms and legs, perfect for posing and having fun with.
The other two builds on offer, however, aren’t quite as good. There’s a two-legged robot, and a 4-legged cargo carrier, but if we’d not read the description on Lego’s website we’re not sure we’d have guessed what they were supposed to be.
Lego Friends Olivia’s Space Academy
Price: $69.99/£59.99 | Model number: 41713 | Pieces: 757 | Finished item dimensions (of the mech): 3 x 9 x 5 inches / 8 x 23 x 15cm | Recommended age: 8+
The first Lego Friends set to go to space
Colorful and fun set
Space sets should be gender-neutral
Very similar to existing Lego space shuttle sets
We don’t think that Lego needs to make a space set that’s tailored towards girls, but there’s no denying that this is a lovely set. It’s NASA-branded, like the newest wave of Lego City sets, and while NASA doesn’t typically put pink edging on its shuttles, it’s still recognizable and packs in plenty of realistic detail. There’s a Canadarm, for instance, which comes out of opening payload doors.
Alongside the shuttle, there’s a ‘Space Academy’ building, along with a telescope and a multi-axis trainer. It makes for a great playset. The only real downside is that the shuttle itself is very similar to the Creator 3-in-1 Space Shuttle Adventure, so there’s little need to have both sets. We'd usually recommend that set, but if your little one loves the color pink, then Olivia’s Space Academy is a great choice for any child.
9. Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse’s Space Rocket
Price: $19.99/£17.99 | Model number: 10774 | Pieces: 88 | Finished item dimensions (of the rocket): 5.5 x 2.5 in/14 x 7 cm | Recommended age: 4+
Good value for money
Fantastic minifigures
Rather basic rocket, probably better for younger children
This Disney-branded space rocket is one for Lego’s youngest fans. This set falls into the company’s 4+ range, meaning it’s a basic build for small hands. Older Lego fans will undoubtedly find it a little too simple to keep them occupied – with only 88 pieces, you’ll likely have it together in a matter of minutes.
The rocket itself is particularly simple, made of large, molded shapes. But it hardly matters – this is a lovely-looking set for youngsters. And those Minnie and Mickey minifigures, donned in their space suits, are just wonderful.
10. Chang’e Moon Cake Factory
Price: $69.99/£44.99 | Model number: 80032 | Pieces: 609 | Finished item dimensions (for Chang’e’s rabbit mech): 6 x 5 x 4 in/16 x 13 x 10 cm | Recommended age: 8+
Lots of moving parts for play
A fun twist on a lunar theme
It includes a punk-rock cat!
Lots of small, piddly builds rather than one connected model
Here’s another set from Lego’s Monkie Kid range. This isn’t your usual Lego space set, but it does capture the feeling of being on the moon rather well – despite being zany in design! What is particularly neat is the way it blends Chinese folklore (a theme the Monkie Kid range is built around) into sci-fi storytelling; it’s actually named after Chang’e, the Chinese goddess of the moon. She features here in minifigure form, along with her acquaintance, the Jade Rabbit. The also-included blue punk-rock cat is perhaps not based on folklore, but is very much appreciated all the same (just look at that mohawk).
The individual elements of Chang’e Moon Cake Factory are neat, particularly the bunny mech, with its huge domed window. It’s just a shame the set is made up of lots of small parts, rather than one larger model.
Best Marvel & DC space sets
1. Lego Marvel The Guardians’ Ship
Price: $149.99/£139.99 | Model number: 76193 | Pieces: 1,901 | Finished item dimensions: 9 x 14 x 23 in/25 x 36 x 59 cm | Recommended age: 14+
Fantastic minifigures
Comes with display stand
Hugely accurate
No Drax and Nebula minifigures
Lego can’t decide if it’s for play or display
We’ve now moved on to the realm of not-so-realistic space sets. And is there a better way to kick it off than the excellent Guardians’ Ship? It might not be NASA-approved, but this is still one of the best Lego space sets out there, in our opinion. It’s a fantastic recreation of the Benatar – the ship the Guardians of the Galaxy replaced the Milano with after it was damaged. The level of accuracy is fantastic, and it’s instantly recognizable to any Marvel fan.
Strangely, it doesn’t contain a Drax or Nebula minifigure, which is a bit disappointing for those hoping for a full Guardians set. We’re also not sure if it’s supposed to be a play set or a display piece, and we don’t think Lego can decide either. The included stand (which we love!) suggests the latter, but the fact it’s a 14+ set rather than 18+, and the play elements inside the ship, suggests the former. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but just something to keep in mind.
2. Lego Marvel Rise of the Domo
Price: $89.99/£89.99 | Model number: 76156 | Pieces: 1,040 | Finished item dimensions (ship): 8 in/22 cm long | Recommended age: 8+
Interesting build
Great play features
Accompanying ‘Deviant’ builds feel unnecessary
The Eternals’ spaceship might not be quite as recognizable as The Guardians’, but there’s no denying the triangular Domo is eye-catching. There’s a great design on the exterior, and opening it up will reveal a full interior complete with cockpit, weapons room, and laboratory. There’s a nice set of minifigures included, too: Makkari, Ikaris, Thena, Sersi, Druig, and Phastos… if those names mean anything to you.
We’re not so sure about the Deviant builds that come with the set, however. They look rather cool, but they’re undoubtedly adding quite a chunk to the asking price. We’d have preferred the focus to be solely on the ship.
3. Lego Marvel Sanctuary II: Endgame Battle
Price: $39.99/£34.99 | Model number: 76237 | Pieces: 322 | Finished item dimensions: 2.5 x 7 x 14 in/7 x 18 x 36 cm | Recommended age: 7+
Surprisingly big considering the price point
Great minifigures
Stickers rather than printed parts
Some details are lacking
We’re surprised by how large the Sanctuary II is, going by its price. For $40/£35, a wingspan of 14 in/36 cm is rather impressive, and so this makes for quite the formidable toy. There’s a nice selection of minifigures too: Iron Man, Thanos, and Captain Marvel. You can pop one of them inside the cockpit, and there’s another opening area at the rear of the ship to store cargo.
It’s just a shame that some of the details of the real thing are lacking, but that’s to be expected for the price. There’s also a lot of stickers here, and it’d have been nice to see more printed parts.
4. Lego DC 1989 Batwing
Price: $199.99/£174.99 | Model number: 76161 | Pieces: 2,363 | Finished item dimensions: 4 x 20 x 22 in/ 11 x 52 x 58 cm | Recommended age: 18+
It’s a Batwing!
Can be fixed to the wall
Not technically a space set
Batman minifigure isn’t unique
Yes, we are taking some liberties with the final entry on our best Lego space sets list. We’re well aware that the Batwing isn’t technically a spacecraft. But it’s close enough, and we’re fairly sure that Batman could go to space if he wanted to. (Fun fact: there’s a now-retired Bat-Space Shuttle from the Lego Batman Movie range, proving that Batman has, indeed, been to space.)
Technicalities aside, this is a fantastic-looking craft, and a wonderful replica of Batman’s 1989 Batwing. What we particularly love is that it comes with two display options: a buildable stand, for tabletop displaying, or a wall-mounted option. The only tiny nit-pick we can find is that the included Batman minifigure isn’t exclusive to the set (but The Joker and his Goon are).
