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: On Aug. 1, Lego will roll out into stores the Lunar Outpost Moon Rover Space Vehicle, a new toy building set inspired by the real robotic explorers that are enabling humanity's return to the moon. The $99.99 kit uses 1,082 pieces to form a futuristic all-terrain rover with rocker suspension, deployable solar panels and a rotating arm; a smaller mining rover; and Lunar Outpost's MAPP, or Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform, rover.
A Belgian artist who was credited with sculpting a small metal figurine left on the moon as a tribute to the space explorers who made the ultimate sacrifice died on Saturday (May 3). Paul Van Hoeydonck was 99. In August 1971, Apollo 15 commander David Scott placed the "Fallen Astronaut" statuette and its accompanying memorial plaque near where he had parked the moon rover, where it remains, lying in the lunar regolith.
: Now on approach, the new Lego Icons Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is set for a landing May 15. The $229.99, 2,417-piece kit recreates the modified Boeing 747 jetliner and NASA's prototype orbiter Enterprise as they appeared when they arrived at the Paris Air Show in 1983. The jumbo jet has deployable 18-wheel landing gear and the winged orbiter can be outfitted with its engines or aerodynamic tail cone.
: Sixty-four years after the first American to fly into space sought permission to pee in his suit, a new campaign is pairing the experiences of children and astronauts. Goodnites' Mission Dry aims to destigmatize wearing protective nighttime underwear by comparing them to crew members who don absorbent garments when they launch into orbit and go out on spacewalks. Former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly stars in a new video for the campaign.
: Playmobil is inspiring kids (and adults) to imagine their future on the moon through a new play set produced in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA). Now in stores in both Europe and the U.S., the $22.99 (€19,99/£19.99) Starter Pack Space Mission comes with an astronaut figure, lunar rover, mobile science station and rock samples, as based on what ESA is doing now to send astronauts to the moon.
: A Soviet probe that failed to reach the planet Venus in 1972, fell back to Earth Saturday (May 10). Setting its reentry apart from others was that as a descent capsule the uncrewed Kosmos 482 spacecraft was designed to survive a plunge back into the atmosphere, whether it be on Venus or Earth. If it remained intact is not known. According to Roscosmos, the probe (or any of its debris) fell into the Indian Ocean, west of Jakarta.
: The National Air and Space Museum is almost ready to open five more of its halls as its 7-year renovation continues. The "Boeing Milestones of Flight" and "Futures in Space" galleries, along with the Lockheed IMAX theater and three aviation galleries will debut on July 28. The public will again be able to view John Glenn's "Friendship 7" and an Apollo lunar module, as well as see for the first time SpaceX and Blue Origin equipment.
: The United States Mint has set noon EDT on Thursday (May 15) as its T-0 for the launch of Florida's American Innovation $1 coin celebrating the space shuttle. Depicting the reusable orbiter lifting off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the dollar is a tribute to the ingenuity embodied by the 30-year program. The coins come in 25-piece rolls for $36.25 and 100-piece bags for $123.50, minted in Philadelphia (P) or Denver (D).
