If you're looking for the best Lego space sets, you've come to the right place. From huge NASA-branded shuttles to fun alien playsets, Lego has a wide range of space-themed sets to suit all ages and budgets.
Our Lego experts have had their hands on all of the sets we've featured in this guide, so we can speak from our personal experience from having built and played with them ourselves. We've provided our honest opinions on each set, along with the pros and cons of each, their price, piece count, and who we think they are (and aren't) suitable for.
You'll find realistic sets like the huge and impressive Artemis Space Launch System, along with impressive display pieces like the Milky Way wall art. For kids who want to learn about the solar system, there's the clever Earth and Moon in Orbit, while tots can have fun playing with the chunky Space Shuttle Adventures set.
If you're looking for more Lego, check out our guide to the best Lego Star Wars sets. Or if it's a hot deal you're wanting, we've got a Lego deals hub which is kept regularly updated with the biggest bargains.
The quick list
Not only does this epic set let you recreate your very own scale model of the Space Shuttle Discovery, it also comes with a Hubble Telescope.
Price: $199.99 / £169.99
Model number: 10283
Number of pieces: 2,354
One of the most unique space-themed Lego sets so far, this wall art of the Milky Way looks absolutely stunning no matter where you hang it.
Price: $199.99 / £169.99
Model number: 31212
Number of pieces: 3,091
This fantastic-looking astronaut figure has poseable limps and a display stand — and being a Creator 3-in-1 set, it can be turned into a space dog or a shuttle too.
Price: $54.99/£44.99
Model number: 31152
Number of pieces: 647
The Artemis Space Launch System is utterly striking, and amongst the best Lego space sets for adults. It's the most realistic rocket you'll currently find, although you'll need a lot of space to display it.
Price: $259.99 / £219.99
Model number: 10341
Number of pieces: 3,601
The perfect set for kids, the Modular Galactic Spaceship can be built in a number of ways. It's filled with interactive features, too, making it ideal for playing with and swooshing through the air.
Price: $79.99 / £69.99
Model number: 60446
Number of pieces: 717
This is undoubtedly one of the best Lego space playsets out there, creating a space station that can be swapped and changed during play. It's pricey, but you're getting a lot for your money.
Price: $109.99 / £89.99
Model number: 60433
Number of pieces: 1,097
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Based on the actual NASA Perseverance rover, this Technic model features steering functions, movable arms and wheels that can travel across uneven surfaces.
Price: $99.99 / £84.99
Model number: 42158
Number of pieces: 1,132
A gear system allows you to turn a crank and watch the Earth realistically orbit the Sun. It's a great set for teaching kids about the solar system.
Price: $74.99 / £69.99
Model number: 42179
Number of pieces: 526
Aimed at the tiniest builders aged 3 and up, this colorful and fun space shuttle can be built in three different ways, designed to promote learning through play.
Price: $59.99 / £59.99
Model number: 10422
Number of pieces: 58
The best Lego space sets to buy in 2025
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NASA Space Shuttle Discovery
✅ You're a NASA fan: It's a realistic replica of the actual Discovery shuttle, which is neat.
✅ You have plenty of display space: This isn't a small set, so you'll need plenty of shelving space to properly show it off.
❌ You're on a budget: At $200, this is one of the most expensive Lego Space sets out there, so it's for serious collectors/Lego fans only.
🔎 Space Shuttle Discovery: The finished model is a wonder to behold, but it's also a joy to build too. It's big and expensive, but well worth the cost. ★★★★½
It's unfortunate that the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery is close to retirement, as there's no denying that this is one of the best space-themed Lego sets you can buy right now. It's a recreation of NASA's real Discovery shuttle, built to scale and packed with wonderfully realistic details. There's an opening payload bay, for example, five seats for the full crew and a retractable landing gear.
Included in the build is also a scale model of the Hubble Telescope. You can have it out on display alongside Discovery, or you can stow it away inside the shuttle's payload bay, which we think is a seriously neat touch.
We're big fans of this model: In our Lego NASA Space Shuttle Discovery review, we praised both the building process and the final model. It looks seriously impressive on display, but we struggle to keep our hands away from playing with all of its moving parts.
There are a few downsides, however. The model uses a lot of stickers which can detract from the finished build (although a few do admittedly add some nice details). And there are also no minifigures included, but that's understandable given the scale of the ship.
This will only be available in stores for a few more weeks, after which point you'll likely only find it for more than the MSRP from resellers. It's absolutely worth adding to your collection if you're a space fan, as it makes a stunning display piece.
- Read our full Lego NASA Space Shuttle Discovery review.
Milky Way Galaxy
✅ You don't have much display space: We love Lego sets that hang on the wall, and this is one of the best.
✅ You want something colorful and eye-catching: The use of color here is absolutely gorgeous.
❌ You want a playset: This is art for your wall, and nothing else.
🔎 Art The Milky Way: One of the best wall-mounted Lego sets, we absolutely love the color and design of The Milky Way. It looks stunning on our wall and will brighten up any space. ★★★★★
There are multiple things we love about Lego Art The Milky Way. First and foremost is the fact that it hangs on the wall. If you're a Lego collector then you'll know how precious display space can be, and unless you have a huge house you're going to run out of it pretty quickly. That's where Lego sets that can hang on the wall come in: They can go anywhere without taking up any shelf or mantel space. We absolutely love them.
Lego's rendition of The Milky Way is one of our favorite Lego Art sets, in fact. It uses color excellently to create something both abstract and eye-catching but also instantly recognizable as the Milky Way. Its design will, of course, appeal most to space fans, but the beautiful nature of it means that it's the type of wall art that just about anyone can enjoy.
One of our favorite things about the set, as we mentioned in our Lego Art The Milky Way review, is that it's made up of weird and wonderful Lego pieces, such as miniature hearts, stars and even tiny frogs — yes, really! It sounds odd but in practice, it looks wonderful and adds a lovely layer of texture to the finished work.
This is a fairly time-consuming build to complete, thanks to the fact that it's made up of more than 3,000 pieces. But thanks to the fact that it's constructed of 12 individual squares that then connect together once they're finished, it's easy to work on in bite-sized sessions. You can even have multiple people working on it together, making it a great activity for a couple or family to complete together.
It can be a little repetitive to build thanks to the nature of the set, but it's absolutely worth persevering with: the finished model is an absolutely fantastic display of color and texture, and it looks stunning on just about any wall of your home.
- Read our Lego Art The Milky Way review for more information.
Space Astronaut
✅ You want a fun set: This is a seriously playful set while still looking fairly realistic.
✅ You like value for money: Three builds in one for $54.99? Sign us up!
❌ You want something complex: Aimed at ages 9+, ths Space Astronaut is fairly simple to build compared to some other sets.
🔎 Space Astronaut: The alternative build space dog and shuttle are only OK, but they're just bonuses anyway: The focus is the poseable astronaut, who is simply magnificent. ★★★★★
The Lego Creator 3-in-1 Space Astronaut set might just be one of our favorite space-themed Lego sets of all time. It's not overly expensive, it's simple to build, and yet the finished model is something you can be truly proud of. What's not to like?
Being a 3-in-1 set, the Space Astronaut can be built in three different ways. There's of course the Space Astronaut, but you can also build a space dog and a space shuttle. They're both fine, but not a patch on the astronaut, who is absolutely wonderful thanks to their posable limbs and detailed suit. It stands rather tall at 10.5 inches, too, and comes with a display stand so you can show it off on a desk or shelf.
What makes this astronaut truly stand out, though, is just how poseable it is. In our Lego Space Astronaut review, we talked about how you can move its legs, feet and arms to pose it however you like. You can even move its fingers, giving it various gestures that can be easily changed. A very cool touch.
It's a shame that the other models featured in this 3-in-1 pale in comparison, but let's be honest: We'd love this if it was solely the astronaut, so the dog and the shuttle are mere bonuses. It's hard to mind too much about that.
- Read our full Lego Creator Space Astronaut review for more information
Artemis Space Launch System
✅ You love realistic sets: Sets based on NASA properties don't come much better than this
✅ You want an in-depth building experience: It'll take several hours to put this set together, with plenty of challenging parts.
❌ You have limited space: At 28 inches high, this is a huge set, so perhaps don't buy it if you don't have much display space.
🔎 Artemis Space Launch System: Fun and nostalgic by the bucketload, we love the Lego Icons Galaxy Explorer. It's a fantastic build, but even better to look at when it's finished. ★★★★★
The Lego Icons NASA Artemis Space Launch System is seriously impressive in just about every way. It's the biggest and most expensive Lego space set that you can currently buy, but if you have the budget for it, you shouldn't let the price tag put you off: you're getting a seriously impressive kit for the price.
In our review of the Lego Artemis Space Launch System, we made no hesitation in saying it's one of the best-looking space sets Lego has ever released. We think it's going to take something really special to beat it, in fact.
In case it isn't obvious, the SLS absolutely isn't a playset, and we'd wager that it's best kept out of reach of small children, in fact. This is a display set through and through, aimed squarely at adults and experienced builders. Bear in mind that you will need a lot of display space to show this one off, though: it's more than 28 inches (70cm) tall when it's built, so you'll need a big shelf to place it on.
As long as you've got the space in your home for it, though, you won't be disappointed. The details are second to none, and it looks incredibly like NASA's real Space Launch System that it's based on. So much so, in fact, that a talented toy photographer has used it to create some seriously convincing photos.
Ultimately, the Lego Artemise Space Launch System is a great, in-depth build, but it can get a little repetitive at times. It's worth the slog, though, and your perseverance pays off when the finished model comes together. Few Lego sets look as impressive as this, and if anything, it only makes us more excited for what Lego and NASA bring out next.
- For more information head to our detailed Lego NASA Artemis Space Launch System review
Modular Galactic Spaceship
✅ You're looking for a playset: This is very much designed for playing rather than displaying.
✅ You want a set that can interact with others: The Modular Spaceship can interact with the Modular Space Station, along with a few others.
❌ You want a display set: You'll find much better sets elsewhere if you're looking for something to admire on a shelf on mantel.
🔎 Modular Galactic Spaceship: It's not the most exciting-looking set, but it's very much designed for play rather than display. For kids, this is a great set with lots of interactive features. ★★★★
The Lego City Modular Galactic Spaceship is a fantastic set for kids. Like everything in the Lego City range, this is a set designed first and foremost for play: It has lots of interactive features, such as opening cockpits, space for storage, and parts that can be reconfigured. As a modular set, this Spaceship can be built in a couple of different ways — once as a large spaceship, and another as a smaller space shuttle with a ground base.
Both ways offer their own merits, and we think kids will love it in either configuration. With a set of colorful minifigures, there's plenty to play with here: You can pilot the craft, go mining for space rocks, and even interact with a cute little alien that comes as part of the set.
For grown-ups, however, it's perhaps not the best set in the world: we don't think it's the most exciting to look at, so it won't make a great display set if that's what you're looking for. It's at least a fun build for any age group, although being aimed at ages 7 and above, it's pretty simple, with basic instructions and nothing too complicated.
- Read our full Lego City Modular Galactic Spaceship review.
Modular Space Station
✅ Fun is a priority: There's so much fun and creativity to be had with this set.
✅ You're young, or young at heart: As a playset, it's been designed with kids in mind.
❌ You're on a budget: Even though it's a sizeable set, this is a pricey playset so you might want to look for something cheaper.
🔎 Modular Space Station: Designed with kids in mind, there's so much to do and play with on the Lego Modular Space Station. It fuels creativity, and we love that — even if it's not exactly realistic. ★★★★
A new set for 2024, the Lego City Modular Space Station has been built with kids in mind. It's made up of 1,097 pieces, comes with six minifigures, and can be configured in multiple ways.
The Modular Space Station is built around a "space ring", which essentially acts as an anchor for eight different modules. There's a bedroom, a kitchen, a workshop, a lab and more — and kids can remove these and reposition them however they want.
What's particularly fun (but very unrealistic) is that the pods can be removed from the Space Station and assembled into a train. Oh yes, this set can have your kids chugging a train through space.
In our Lego City Modular Space Station review, we praised the interactivity of the set, saying that it makes an excellent gift for kids with an interest in space. Our only reservation, however, is its cost. As a playset, it's rather expensive at $109.99, and we'd be hesitant to pay full price for it.
If you can pick it up at a discount (we've frequently seen it reduced by 20% or more), it's worth your time and money, and it's hard to imagine any space-loving kid would be disappointed by it.
While it might not teach youngsters much about life aboard a real space station, it does encourage creativity and imaginative play, and that's perhaps what we love most about Lego playsets. It's surprisingly big too, measuring over 15 inches across when built, so you at least feel like you're getting your money's worth.
- Get the full lowdown in our Lego City Modular Space Station review
NASA Mars Rover Perseverance
✅ You want a challenging build: Technic is much more complex than standard "system" Lego, so this will be a tough (but fun) build.
✅ You value realism: This is based on the real Perseverance rover and includes lots of realistic details.
❌ You're a novice: Although Lego's age rating is 10+, we wouldn't recommend jumping into this unless you're already well-versed with Technic builds.
🔎 NASA Mars Rover Perseverance: There are lots of realistic features in this Technic build, making it feel like an accurate representation of the real thing. The build is tough, but it's well worth it. ★★★★
The Lego NASA Mars Rover Perseverance is made from Technic, rather than traditional 'System' Lego pieces. Technic sets tend to be more complicated, engineering-focused builds, and the Mars Rover Perseverance is no different, thanks to its working parts.
Made up of 1,132 pieces, it's packed with lots of features that make it feel like a genuine replica of the real thing. It has articulated suspension, for example, which means it's built to move over uneven surfaces. And there's manually controlled 360-degree steering and even a moveable arm.
All of those technical features, however, make this a complex build — so we wouldn't recommend tackling it unless you're already familiar with Lego Technic. It takes some getting used to, even if you're a seasoned standard Lego builder, with complex mechanics that require serious concentration. It's well worth the challenge, though, as the finished model is hugely impressive.
In our Mars Rover Perseverance review, we called it a 'wonderful piece of Lego engineering', and it really is. It straddles the line between display piece and playset perfectly, making the finished model suitable for all ages.
There's also a dedicated AR app you can download on your phone. Point your camera towards NASA Mars Rover Perseverance and it'll bring the set to life — along with providing some neat details about the real Perseverance's mission.
- Read our full Lego NASA Mars Rover Perseverance review to find out more about this set
Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit
✅ You want something educational: With a rotation system in place, this shows kids exactly how the Earth rotates around the Sun.
✅ You like challenging builds: With lots of cogs and working parts, this is a build to test your skills.
❌ You want a display piece: As cool as it is, this isn't the nicest set to look at.
🔎 Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit: This is a seriously neat idea, and perhaps one of the most original Technic models we've ever seen. It's a little ugly, but its mechanism is second to none. ★★★★
We're not sure we've ever seen a Lego Technic model quite as unique as Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit. Made up of 526 pieces, it mimics the Earth's orbit of the Sun, and the Moon's orbit of Earth.
It's not battery-powered: Instead, you spin a crank which will set the model in motion. It's seriously cool, and it's a novel way to teach youngsters about the solar system and how the planets move. In our review of the Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit, we praised its STEM stimulation elements, making it a great learning tool.
Lego markets this as a 10+ set and while we think kids even younger than that will absolutely love seeing it in motion, it might take much older, more experienced builders to successfully put this together. With a lot of cogs and working parts, it's easy to go wrong — but when you do get everything aligned, it's fantastic.
Perhaps the only downside we can think of when it comes to the Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit set is the fact that it isn't the prettiest model to look at once it's finished. Due to being a Technic model, most of its mechanisms are on display, which means it's not all that aesthetically pleasing. But it doesn't matter: some Lego sets are designed to be more functional, and the educational properties of this one are far more valuable than its prettiness as a display set.
- Our full Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit review has more details about this wonderful space-themed set
3 in 1 Space Shuttle Adventure
✅ You're shopping for a tot: Like all Duplo sets, this is super simple, designed for the smallest hands to play with.
❌ You want something more complex: Older kids will find the building challenge of this set unsatisfying, so choose something else for those aged 5 and up.
🔎 Space Shuttle Adventures: We love that even the youngest members of the family can now express their love of space through bricks. This playset is wonderful, and has lots of learning potential, but it's strictly for tots only. ★★★★½
We couldn't leave the youngest members of the family out of our guide to the best Lego space sets. Thanks to Lego going all-in on the space theme, even Duplo hasn't been left out. We think this chunky, colorful Space Shuttle Adventure set is the perfect choice for any pre-schoolers who have shown an interest in space.
This super-colorful and adorable set is made up of 58 chunky Duplo pieces, comes with two spacemen and can be configured in multiple ways. The focus here is learning through play, and Lego has packed in plenty of opportunities for your youngsters to develop their fine motor skills. There are propellers that can be spun around, for example, and a winch that can wind and unwind — ideal when those astronauts are heading out on a space walk.
Lego calls this a 3 in 1 set, with three main ways to build the shuttle. But those 58 bricks can actually be configured in hundreds of ways, allowing little imaginations to run free.
It's on the expensive side: $59.99 for 58 bricks sounds like a lot, but remember that Duplo bricks are much, much bigger than Lego bricks, and we think the quality of them is much better too. Putting these big, glossy blocks together is seriously satisfying. There's enough here for your kid to get plenty of play out of, but they're likely to grow out of it in a year or two when they want to move on to "grown-up" Lego.
How we test - ✅
Our reviewers test Lego sets the only way that we know how: By building them! Our Lego review team is made up of staff members and trusted freelancers, and each one of them has extensive experience in building Lego sets.
We build up each set that we review, detailing how long the build process takes, how enjoyable it is, and if there are any particularly difficult or annoying sections. We also analyze how the finished model looks aesthetically when it's complete. Will it look good on display, are there any hidden details we like, and is anything missing?
If the set is meant for younger space fans then we also review the playability of the set. Does it have lots of moving parts, and are there minifigures included? Finally, we take the price into consideration to see if a set represents good value for money.
Lego Space Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most expensive Lego space set?
Currently, the most expensive Lego space set you can buy is the NASA Artemis Space Launch System, which is priced at $269.99. That's only a fraction of the most expensive Lego set ever, which is tied between the $849.99 Millennium Falcon and the $849.99 AT-AT. Phew.
Which Lego space set has the most pieces?
The set with the most pieces is the Lego Icons NASA Artemis Space Launch System. It's made up of 3,601 pieces which makes it around 500 pieces bigger than anything else in the Lego space range. The biggest set across all of Lego's range that's currently available is the Eiffel Tower, made up of 10,001 pieces.
What is the best Lego space set?
There are lots of excellent Lego space sets, but we think the current best set is the Space Astronaut. It's inexpensive and it's a lot of fun.
Which Lego space sets are suitable for kids?
The most obvious choice is the Lego Duplo 3-in-1 Space Shuttle Adventure, given that it's aimed at those aged four and above. However, sets from the Lego City range are also particularly kid-friendly, including the Modular Galactic Spaceship and Modular Space Station sets in our guide above. We also recommend the Lego Creator Space Astronaut and Lego Technic Planet Earth and Moon Orbit sets for kids.
Is Lego Star Wars part of Lego's space range?
No. Lego Star Wars is its own branch of Lego and its own theme of sets. Lego space sets, like the ones above, aren't affiliated with any franchise outside of Lego itself. Lego Star Wars sets are sets based on characters and ideas from the Star Wars universe.
Recent updates
March 18: We've rewritten the strapline and intro to accurately reflect this guide, updated some of the links and added the Lego City Modular Spaceship. February 14: We've added a "How we test" section for full transparency on how we judge each set in this guide. This follows a recent update where the intro and straplines were rewritten and the links were checked.
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