If your child loves LEGO and space in equal measure, the Women of NASA set is one worth knowing about. It brings together five real, pioneering women who helped shape space exploration — a brilliant way to introduce kids to STEM role models through play.
How the Set Came to Be
The Women of NASA set started life as a fan idea rather than an official LEGO project. Science writer and editor Maia Weinstock, who has a long-standing interest in space exploration and the history of women in science and engineering, submitted the concept to LEGO Ideas, the platform where fans pitch sets for LEGO to consider producing. Once an idea reaches 10,000 supporter votes, LEGO reviews it for potential production — and that’s exactly what happened here.
In her original submission, Weinstock explained her thinking:
> “Women have played critical roles throughout the history of the U.S. space program, a.k.a. NASA or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Yet in many cases, their contributions are unknown or under-appreciated — especially as women have historically struggled to gain acceptance in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).”
LEGO agreed, and the set went into production, arriving in stores in 2017.
Meet the Five Women of NASA
The set features five minifigures, each representing a real woman whose work helped shape space science:
Margaret Hamilton, computer scientist — While working at MIT under contract with NASA in the 1960s, Hamilton developed the on-board flight software for the Apollo missions to the moon. She’s widely credited with helping popularise the modern concept of software engineering.
Katherine Johnson, mathematician and space scientist — A long-serving NASA researcher, Johnson calculated and verified trajectories for the Mercury and Apollo programmes, including the Apollo 11 mission that first landed humans on the moon. Her story was told in the film Hidden Figures.
Sally Ride, astronaut, physicist and educator — A physicist by training, Ride became the first American woman in space in 1983 and remains one of the best-known female astronauts. After leaving NASA, she founded an educational company focused on encouraging children — especially girls — to pursue science.
Nancy Grace Roman, astronomer — Known as the “Mother of Hubble” for her role in planning the Hubble Space Telescope, Roman was one of NASA’s first female executives and helped develop its astronomy research programme.
Mae Jemison, astronaut, physician and entrepreneur — Trained as a medical doctor, Jemison became the first African-American woman in space in 1992. After retiring from NASA, she founded a company developing new technologies and continues to encourage students to pursue science.
Why This Set Matters for Kids
Building sets like this gives children a hands-on way to learn about real people who made a difference — not just fictional heroes. For kids interested in space, engineering or science generally, having minifigures of actual scientists and astronauts on their shelf is a small but meaningful nudge that these careers are open to them too.
It’s also a lovely conversation starter: while building, you can talk through what each woman actually did, and why it mattered.
What Do You Think?
Would this set encourage a budding scientist or astronaut in your house? Tell us in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the five women featured in the LEGO Women of NASA set?
The set includes Margaret Hamilton (computer scientist), Katherine Johnson (mathematician and space scientist), Sally Ride (astronaut and physicist), Nancy Grace Roman (astronomer), and Mae Jemison (astronaut and physician).
Who came up with the idea for the set?
Science writer Maia Weinstock submitted the concept through LEGO Ideas, a platform where fans propose sets. It gained enough supporter votes for LEGO to consider it for production.
Is this a good LEGO set for encouraging STEM interest?
Yes — because it’s built around real women scientists and astronauts, it’s a great way to combine hands-on building with conversations about real achievements in space science and engineering.
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