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Ingenuity Helicopter Inspiring Space Explorers
The LEGO Technic building set results from extensive consultations between LEGO designers and JPL engineers, who shared valuable insights into constructing these extraordinary space machines. Developed in collaboration with the Office of Technology Transfer and Corporate Partnerships at Caltech, which oversees JPL for NASA, the kit represents another successful endeavor within the Technology Affiliates Program. This program encourages industry partnerships and allows companies to leverage JPL’s intellectual property or collaborate with renowned scientists and engineers to tackle diverse technological challenges.
Fostering STEM Education
Drawing on NASA’s long-standing alliance with LEGO, this building set offers aspiring builders the opportunity to delve into the intricate details of the Perseverance Rover. By examining its mobility system and science instruments and interacting with simulated data transmitted by the rover, users gain an immersive experience that fosters scientific curiosity and a deeper understanding of space exploration.
Notably, since landing on Mars in February 2021, the Perseverance rover has embarked on a groundbreaking mission to search for evidence of ancient microbial life. It has collected rock and soil samples that will be returned to Earth by a future mission. Meanwhile, the Ingenuity helicopter achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first powered and controlled aircraft to take flight on another planet. With over 50 successful flights, Ingenuity has provided valuable aerial insights into the Red Planet.
Ingenuity Helicopter and Young Enthusiasts
Laurie Leshin, Director of JPL, expressed her enthusiasm for inspiring young minds, stating, “Our trips to Mars started with a plan so big that many people thought it was impossible. With great success, we’ve accomplished the incredible feat of safely landing rovers and even a helicopter on the enigmatic terrain of Mars. Our missions aim to delve into the intricate details of the planet’s climate, geology, and potential for hosting life, unveiling the captivating mysteries of the Red Planet. At JPL, we try to answer amazing science questions by dreaming big and pushing the limits. I hope that these kinds of toys will give kids the same sense of adventure that we have at NASA’s JPL.”
Ingenuity Helicopter LEGO Collaboration
Scott Hulme, a Mars public engagement expert at JPL, highlighted the significance of partnerships like this, emphasizing how they enhance the enjoyment and accessibility of space exploration for the upcoming generation of explorers. He expressed his enthusiasm for sharing the remarkable endeavours of Perseverance and Ingenuity on Mars, underscoring the value of collaborations as an additional avenue for fostering interest and engagement in space exploration.
The successful partnership between LEGO and JPL promotes education and excitement about space exploration and exemplifies the growing trend of private-public collaborations in pursuing scientific advancement. By working closely with JPL’s technology transfer offices and programs, companies can forge strategic alliances, enabling the sale of intellectual property, as demonstrated by LEGO, or facilitating access to JPL’s exceptional talent pool to address various technological challenges. These joint projects offer JPL enhanced opportunities to engage with the private sector, ultimately benefiting people on Earth and fostering an enduring fascination with space exploration.
In conclusion, introducing the LEGO Technic building set inspired by NASA-JPL’s Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter is a powerful tool to captivate young minds and cultivate a passion for engineering, space, and scientific exploration. By enabling children to embark on their space adventures from the comfort of their homes, this collaboration promotes the spirit of curiosity, innovation, and the boundless potential of human achievement.
