A new global study by the LEGO Group recently revealed that 86 percent of kids are interested in finding new planets, stars, and galaxies, and 77 percent want to travel to space. Additionally, more than 3 in 5 children believe there are aliens in space, and 64 percent want to meet them. The LEGO Group predicts that Gen Alpha’s eagerness to search the cosmos will be the key to exploring the 96 percent of the universe that is still to be discovered.
With that in mind, the LEGO Group asked kids across the world to share their visions of how they would like to explore the cosmos. With the help of Associate Master Builder at LEGO House, Didac Perez Soriano, a selection of these spacecraft were reimagined in LEGO bricks.
The LEGO Group then showcased the future of space travel according to a group of young budding space explorers–Lotty (10, UK), Sebastian (10, Denmark), Jace (13, Hong Kong SAR, China), Jillian (7, USA), Jordan (12, USA) and Orla (6, UK)–by blasting their unique designs, playfully coined Unidentified Playing Objects (UPOs), over the New York City skyline on May 22nd, 2024.
Here’s a look at those UPOs in action:
All UPOs in their LEGO brick form can be viewed at the “Explore Space Your Way” exhibition at LEGO House in Billund, Denmark, until June 17. The collaborative exhibition with the Technical University of Denmark at LEGO Square allows visitors to learn more about space through creative exhibits crafted entirely from LEGO bricks.
Funstellations
The LEGO Group also believes that Gen Alpha can bring a new creative lens to our view of the stars. Celebrating kids’ curiosity about the future of space, the LEGO Group is asking children to reimagine the night sky with their own “Funstellations.”
With a guardian’s help, children are invited to visit LEGO.com/Space to download a sky map and join the dots together to show what object or shape they can see in the stars–maybe it’s a cowboy riding a unicorn or a flying whale.
The LEGO Group will then work with the International Astronomical Union to recognize their formations as Funstellations–official reimaginations of our constellations–and update our vision of the night sky. Says Debra Elmegreen, President of the International Astronomical Union:
We are excited to tap into the unbridled creativity of children through this collaboration by encouraging them to look up at the night sky and think about the stars. The next generation of scientists and space explorers will shape how we understand and interact with the Universe. With this project, we hope to give them a head start.
Visit LEGO.com/Space to submit your Funstellation and explore space your way.
LEGO Space Sets
Finally, LEGO has space sets available for builders of all ages. This year, they are introducing many epic space-themed sets, all of which can be found on the LEGO website.
Click to view slideshow.With all this, it’s clear LEGO is committed to the future of space exploration by inspiring our children to imagine a life beyond the stars.
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