Earthlings, We Come in Pieces: Legos Inspire the Next Generation of Space Explorers

Research conducted on behalf of the Lego Group finds that more than half of Generation Alpha respondents want to be astronauts when they grow up.

Friday, May 24, 2024 at 04:51 PM ET

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Young spaceship designers watch their Lego creations take flight in the form of drone constellations during an event Wednesday night in Jersey City, New Jersey. [Courtesy: Lego Group]

Key Takeaways:

Lego hosted a drone show recreating imaginative "Unidentified Playing Objects" (UPOs) designed by children to inspire the next generation of astronauts and space explorers.
A recent Lego study revealed a significant increase in children's interest in space, with 58% now aspiring to careers in the field, outperforming previous generations.
Astronaut Kellie Gerardi emphasizes fostering children's innate curiosity through play, books, and educational initiatives to bridge imagination into motivation for a diverse range of careers in an emerging "golden age of spaceflight."

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JERSEY CITY, New Jersey—A bed with wings, a dinosaur with a jetpack, and other whimsical creations dazzled the New York City skyline Wednesday night during an event meant to inspire the next generation of astronauts, scientists, and space explorers.

The Lego Group this week hosted a drone show under the stars, recreating imaginative spaceship designs submitted by children around the world—which the company has playfully dubbed Unidentified Playing Objects (UPOs)—using hundreds of small, buzzing aircraft.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.