LEGO 10341 NASA Artemis Space Launch System isn't the first of its kind

LEGO Icons 10341 NASA Artemis Space Launch System may be exciting, but it’s not quite the first set to approach NASA’s Space Launch System.

An early look at LEGO Icons 10341 NASA Artemis Space Launch System via Redditor Spare_Promotion661 at Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei has offered the first peek at the latest LEGO NASA set. It’s based on the Artemis launch in November 2022, which debuted the Space Launch System.

Being inspired by a launch from 2022 means that the LEGO Group has had a while to recreate the model, though this set isn’t the first to depict the Space Launch System.

LEGO City 60351 Rocket Launch Center was released in 2022 before the Space Launch System debuted and as such it is only inspired by the system, instead of being directly based on it.

Despite this, the two rocket models don’t just look similar but appear to be the same width too. The scale of the model in the 3,601-piece 10341 NASA Artemis Space Launch System is larger. It’s interesting to see some aspects of the design of 60351 Rocket Launch Center including the barrel tub continue to be used two years later.

Otherwise, looking at the LEGO City set in comparison to the massive LEGO Icons model showcases their similar foundations but entirely different approaches. The platform that the rockets sit on for instance both have a corrugated effect, but at contrasting scales.

The boarding ramp is present in both versions too but while one is sized to minifigures, the other is similarly on another scale and the ramp is connected to a different part of the rocket too.

Unsurprisingly, 10341 NASA Artemis Space Launch System is more accurate than 60351 Rocket Launch Center but looking closely at the only two LEGO Space Launch System sets reveal just how much has changed, but equally remained the same.

Featured image: Spare_Promotion661

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