42221 NASA Artemis SLS Heavy Lift Rocket

[Ngoc Nguyen]

 

 

Edited December 2, 2025 by Ngoc Nguyen

[Auroralampinen]

This looks really cool with a lot of gears and other stuff:). 

[Bartybum]

You know what that's pretty cool, but man I can imagine people are gonna be pissed the back isn't closed

[Stereo]

I'm curious what the 2 rows of gears do.  They look like they're the same size.  Maybe it auto-reverses or something?

[Jundis]

1 hour ago, Stereo said:

I'm curious what the 2 rows of gears do.  They look like they're the same size.  Maybe it auto-reverses or something?

Or there are two other sized gears behind it so they can pull of the "main lift-off" and the seperation of the upper satellite section?

At least this is a model with real functions with deserves the name "Technic". After the 42158 Mars Rover, 42179 Orrery and the 42182 Moon Rover, this is a nice continuation! 

[Auroralampinen]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRvXyFSgT0Z/?igsh=MXU2NHZrbWRyejR2cw==

Olav is apparently the designer

[R0Sch]

This is so cool! Finally a set that can be called Technic. Can't wait to build this. Too bad that every decoration is a sticker.

[Oh_Hi_Mao]

This set made me sad. It is a statement of how much potential technic system has and how much of it is wasted in the form of functionless empty shells a.k.a cars. I will buy this set

[R0Sch]

The Creator 31378 is also a nice addition for space enthusiasts as myself.

[JunkstyleGio]

This is what Technic is all about. Love it!

 

[Timorzelorzworz]

A well done Technic set as it should be. The box artwork is a bit unlucky. The Microfig crew is burned by the flames.

[Ngoc Nguyen]

What's the name of the color of the upper half of the rocket?

[Maaboo the Witch]

1 minute ago, Ngoc Nguyen said:

What's the name of the color of the upper half of the rocket?

Dark Orange, according to Brickset.

[Lipko]

I don't like this model at all. Has a function, yes, which makes it more of a kinetic sculpture, but doesn't look good enough to be a sculpture. But based on the comments, I'm alone with that, I guess I have a bad taste

Edited December 2, 2025 by Lipko

[Jockos]

It will be a definite buy! I liked the orrery too, and I'm glad TLG is experimenting with more 'static' models.

[Timorzelorzworz]

5 minutes ago, Jockos said:

and I'm glad TLG is experimenting with more 'static' models.

A static ISS labeled 18+.

True true, models without wheels are rare.

Edited December 2, 2025 by Timorzelorzworz

[msk6003]

New parts

Axle connector with 2 pin hole 2x2x3 cylinder in white

Screw holder maybe 2x5x1 in white

32524 liftarm 1x7 in dark orange

24119 panel curved 7x3 in dark orange

4742 cone 4x4x2 with hollow in dark orange

90398 trophy microfigure in white with new print (slightly different with current astronut microfigure according to rebrickable.)

Rare parts

Seems like nothing.

 

 

There is some kind of 4x4 round brick in dark orange under the 4742 part. I think it can be 2 24593 cylinder half 2x4x2 in dark orange(still new in this color) but I can't sure.

Edited December 2, 2025 by msk6003

[howitzer]

Not sure yet if this is worth a buy, but it's much more so than any other sets announced for the next year so far. Definitely a step in the right direction.

[msk6003]

1 hour ago, msk6003 said:

Axle connector with 2 pin hole 2x2x3 cylinder in white

1 hour ago, msk6003 said:

Screw holder maybe 2x5x1 in white

For more clear

At least I never seen this part anyware before.

Edited December 2, 2025 by msk6003

[R0Sch]

4 hours ago, msk6003 said:

New parts

Screw holder maybe 2x5x1 in white

[howitzer]

1 hour ago, R0Sch said:

 

About time we get a Technic-compatible nut to match the screw part. It's really annoying to build otherwise studless Technic but have to use bricks to connect to the System-style nut...

[Ngoc Nguyen]

1 minute ago, howitzer said:

It's really annoying to build otherwise studless Technic but have to use bricks to connect to the System-style nut...

Did that brick make you go nuts 

[Bartybum]

19 hours ago, Stereo said:

I'm curious what the 2 rows of gears do.  They look like they're the same size.  Maybe it auto-reverses or something?

17 hours ago, Jundis said:

Or there are two other sized gears behind it so they can pull of the "main lift-off" and the seperation of the upper satellite section?

According to Racingbrick it's for sound. I suspect it's to simulate the popping shockwave sound the rocket makes on launch

[SAM1626]

11 hours ago, Lipko said:

I don't like this model at all. Has a function, yes, which makes it more of a kinetic sculpture, but doesn't look good enough to be a sculpture. But based on the comments, I'm alone with that, I guess I have a bad taste

Not to be negative but this set is kinda lame I agree with @Lipko it doesn't look very nice as a model, and although it is a cool idea I don't feel it quite hit the mark, 42179 was open and you could see inside it that was fine, but this set could use to be less blocky, although it is a great idea, and I don't want to insult whoever worked hard to make this model, it could have been done better. I personaly love the cars, that's why I love Technic but I try to support other branches of technic like this, I guess I am not supportive enough, but I feel there is nothing wrong with not liking this its not that you have bad taste @Lipko.

[gyenesvi]

23 hours ago, Lipko said:

I don't like this model at all. Has a function, yes, which makes it more of a kinetic sculpture, but doesn't look good enough to be a sculpture. But based on the comments, I'm alone with that, I guess I have a bad taste

11 hours ago, SAM1626 said:

Not to be negative but this set is kinda lame I agree with @Lipko it doesn't look very nice as a model, and although it is a cool idea I don't feel it quite hit the mark

Which is the part that you guys think should look better, and could be improved? My feeling is that this models is exactly meant to be a kinetic sculpture, so the emphasis is more on the mechanics than the looks. Also, I think the key visual part that could in theory look better is the main rocket itself, if it was built from system pieces. The side rockets and the nose is already built from system parts, and the base could be covered with tiles but it would not make a big difference. Now I think the reason they decided to make the rocket body technic, is because the back of it cannot be covered anyway, due to the mechanism itself being there. Hence, technic curved panels make more sense there to leave the other half kind of open and to be able to attach it in a more stable way to the liftoff mechanics. So I kind of like it for the mechanics.

Question: which orange color is this? Same as previous space sets? Is this the same color as the G-class? Is this called dark orange?