Five American women behind NASA’s space program are the stars of a new set of Lego toy figurines.
Lego Group, the Danish-based maker of the interlocking building blocks, announced it had chosen the “Women of NASA” project as the winner of its fan design contest.
Awesome to be featured as a LEGO with Dr. Sally Ride! @LegoNASAWomen @LEGOIdeas @20tauri pic.twitter.com/Y1V9snil24
— Dr. Mae Jemison (@maejemison) March 2, 2017
How many of these pioneering NASA scientists, engineers and astronauts do you know?
- Margaret Hamilton, a computer scientist who designed systems for the Apollo 11 moon landing.
- Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician whose work helped launch the first U.S. astronauts into space and subject of the new film Hidden Figures.
- Sally Ride, the first American woman in space.
- Nancy Grace Roman, former chief astronomer at NASA who championed the Hubble Space Telescope.
- Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space.
Science writer Maia Weinstock sent Lego her idea for the set, hoping to inspire girls and boys with their stories. The new figurines are expected to hit stores around the world in late 2017 or early 2018.
