Last November, it was announced that TLG was teaming up with NASA on a three-year project to inspire the next generation of learners and explorers. Back then, the President of LEGO Education offered, “Learning is at the very core of the LEGO Group’s values…. The LEGO Group’s mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow. Our partnership with NASA will help us in this mission.” On Monday, the first group of sets were sent to the International Space Station via the final launch of the space shuttle Endeavour. Are you curious what they sent up? Click the image above to check out Gizmodo’s detailed story. It not only has images of the space-bound LEGO, but also explains the logistics of playing with our favorite toy in a zero-gravity environment without losing all those pesky little pieces. My only complaint? I wish that, in this day and age, we’d stop separating Art and Science. Why do the sets that are “designed to inspire children to explore science, technology, engineering and math” look so machine-like and ugly? They’re completely devoid of any sense of visual appeal or balance of form and function. Do we really need another generation of scientists who lack aesthetic sensibility? LEGO is so great because it bridges engineering and scientific principles with the elements and principles of art and design. So why do these sets seem to lean so heavily in the “nuts and bolts” direction? Oh well, I guess I’m just spoiled by the Apple brand of geek.