Lego Space Exploration

Long-Range Explorer

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Cockpit View

This is a long-range exploration vehicle used on lunar and planetary surfaces. It's capable of travelling great distances in a small time, but is still generally restricted to low orbit. With the use of boosters, it can make the hop between planets if necessary, though this is usually only done once to get the vehicle to the planet it's going to be used on.

[This is my second attempt at a vehicle with an interior. I had more interesting parts available to me when I built it, but still a very limited selection. The ship was actually completed in the fall of '99, but didn't get uploaded to the website until December 2000]

Engine View

If you look closely at these images, you'll see that the vehicle is equipped with a variety of scientific instruments. The engine nacelles provide not only propulsion but also store the fuel and provide power to the ship. The 'landing legs' are also vertical thrusters to provide 'lift'.

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Overhead View

On the front corners of the dorsal hull are a solar array for replenishing minor amounts of energy, and providing an emergency energy source as well, and on the other corner is a weapon turret, just in case. :) In the aft section is a communications antenna array, as well as a deep-space scanning probe. In the center of the roof is a radar dome and a long-range communication dish that also serves as a radio telescope.

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Aft Section

The rear of the hull reveals the airlock hatch, as well as a storage and work area that contains the retractible ladders and a small surface rover.

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Engine Assembly

A closer view of the airlock and rear deck. Notice the hatch vents for atmospheric sampling, as well as the pressure indicator to the left of the door.

[Attaching the door was an interesting problem, considering the parts I chose, and the angle at which it was attached. I managed to make it work though.. :)]

Team Deployed

Here we see the hatch open with the commander standing next to it. The three members of the science team have stepped out onto the surface and are making their final equipment inventory check before heading out.

[These are the same crew members and equipment combinations I put together for the first explorer vehicle. Not much need to change them, since the crew is the part I've been the happiest with. :)]

Cockpit Closeup

The commander also serves as pilot, and here's the cockpit. Standard operating procedures dictate that the commander stay in a full oxygen system at all times, so that in the event of an emergency (such as decompression), he can still safely land the ship or whatever. The remainder of the crew is more free to remove equipment for comfort during the mission.

[The cockpit was taken right from an existing lego set, and only slightly modified (such as the actual control assembly)]

Engine Assembly

The front of the cockpit is capable of being opened for maintenance, and emergency situations. Since this results in decompression of the ship, it's not typically opened.

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Engine Assembly

Here's the science team at their stations in the ship. Notice that they're still wearing space suits, but they've taken off their air systems. From this console, they can operate all of the ship's scientific equipment.

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Engine Assembly

On the left edge of the image are the bunks. There are two, so that half the crew can sleep at any given time on a crew rotation. Towards the rear of the room are storage lockers, a supply cart, and several probe rockets. On the upper-right side of the image is the airlock.

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