Deutsch
Français
Español
Italiano
Nederlands
Rumors of a new NASA-themed LEGO set had been circulating for a while, and this week the first images have surfaced of the packaging for LEGO Icons 10360 NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. The set will be released exclusively in the LEGO Shop on May 15, 2025.
- Set number: 10360
- Name: NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
- Theme: Icons
- Piece count: 2,417
- Dimensions: 63 cm (24.8 in) long, 26 cm (10.2 in) high
- Minifigures: None
- Price: $229.99 in LEGO Shop
- Release date: May 15, 2025
- Recommended age: 18+
LEGO Icons 10360 NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
The LEGO Icons 10360 NASA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft set includes 2,417 pieces and will retail for $229.99, which works out to roughly $0.095 per piece. The combined display model with both aircraft and stand measures 63 cm in length and 26 cm in height. For comparison: the previously released LEGO Icons 10318 Concorde measures 105 cm long, while the 10283 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery is 54 cm long. An information plaque displays key specifications of both models.
LEGO has equipped the Boeing with a functional landing gear system that can be operated using a rotating mechanism on the underside. The Enterprise’s cargo bay includes landing wheels, and engines are also included. These dummy engines were used during real-life testing to simulate the weight and drag of a fully functional space shuttle, ensuring accurate aerodynamic data.
Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 905 (N905NA)
The LEGO model is based on Boeing 747 aircraft number 905 (N905NA). Originally built for American Airlines in 1970, it was acquired by NASA in 1974 and completely repurposed to carry space shuttles. To accommodate a shuttle on its back, the 747 underwent significant structural modifications. Boeing reinforced the fuselage and added three large attachment struts on the upper fuselage. Additional vertical stabilizers were also added to the ends of the tail wings to ensure stability during flight.
The first test flights took place in 1977 with the Enterprise, NASA’s prototype shuttle. In the years that followed, N905NA was frequently used to transport shuttles between testing sites, runways, and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This was typically after landings at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where ground transportation wasn’t feasible due to the long distance. A second aircraft, 911 (N911NA), was added to the fleet in 1986, but 905 remained the most-used shuttle carrier.
The aircraft’s final mission took place in April 2012, when it carried the Discovery to Washington D.C. for display at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. Today, N905NA can be visited at Space Center Houston in Texas, where it’s displayed with a replica of the shuttle Independence mounted on top.
Enterprise (OV-101)
For LEGO Icons 10360, LEGO chose to recreate the Enterprise, the first shuttle NASA ever built. Constructed in 1976, the Enterprise (OV-101) looked like a fully functional shuttle on the outside but was never designed for spaceflight. It was used for atmospheric testing during the 1977 Approach and Landing Tests.
While it never left Earth’s atmosphere, the Enterprise played a vital role in testing aerodynamics and landing behavior. Key data that contributed to the design of operational orbiters like Columbia, Challenger, and Discovery.
Support our work by purchasing your LEGO sets through our affiliate links. Every purchase helps us deliver the latest LEGO news and exciting insights!
