Last year, LEGO® Technic released three playsets under a multi-theme-spanning Space banner. Another set was added to the lineup in August 2025; and where the previous sets explored Mars, we now stay (relatively) closer to home – with 42211 Lunar Outpost Moon Rover Space Vehicle.
Products in this article were gifted by The LEGO Group; the author's opinions are their own.
This article contains affiliate links to LEGO.com; we may get a small commission if you purchase.
42211 Lunar Outpost Moon Rover Space Vehicle
- Release date: 1 August 2025
- Pieces: 1082
Price:
- US$ 99.99 on LEGO.com US
- CA$ 129.99 on LEGO.com Canada
- GB£ 89.99 on LEGO.com UK
- AU$ 149.99 on LEGO.com Australia
- NZ$ 169.99 on LEGO.com New Zealand
- DE€ 99,99 on LEGO.com Deutschland
- NL€ 99,99 on LEGO.com Nederland
- FR€ 99,99 on LEGO.com France
- PLN 439.99 on LEGO.com Polska
- NOK 1399,90 on LEGO.com Norge
- DKK 899.95 on LEGO.com Danmark
Background to LEGO Technic Space
My first true LEGO love was LEGO® Space. First came 6812 Grid Trekkor in 1991, and soon more Blacktron II, Space Police II and Ice Planet 2002 sets would fill my childhood bedroom. That is, until I discovered the world of LEGO Technic, and soon my space sets started collecting dust while I focused on gears, motors and pneumatic cylinders.
Now, as a middle-aged guy, both worlds are still dear to me (I even have a Blacktron II tattoo), so you can imagine my excitement when last year’s LEGO Technic space vehicles combined my nostalgia! Sets 42178 Surface Space Loader, 42180 Mars Crew Exploration Rover and 42181 VTOL Heavy Cargo Spaceship LT81 feature vehicles operating on Mars.
I built set 42180 for a review on Rebrickable, but although I found it a great playset, it did leave me wanting more. Despite the set being mostly constructed out of LEGO Technic parts, it doesn’t take full advantage of this – resulting in too-simple functions. With that in mind, I’m a bit cautious as I start reviewing 42211 Lunar Outpost Moon Rover Space Vehicle.
Aside from the 3 unlicensed sets mentioned above, LEGO Technic also partners up with space organizations for other sets. NASA has provided inspiration for 42158 NASA Mars Rover Perseverance in 2023 (with a polybag version the next year) and 42182 NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle - LRV in 2024. Now, they're partnering with a private company.
Lunar Outpost
I was surprised to find this set comes with an IP license: The LEGO Group has partnered up with Lunar Outpost, a private company set out to assist the US and its allies to explore and build infrastructure on the moon. As I had never heard of them before, I hoped to find more information on this company in the building instructions, but the only mention comes on a single page showing two of their lunar vehicles along with the LEGO model, and a link to their site lunaroutpost.com.
I’ve searched the site, but was unable to find the model featured in the set, however their Instagram post and the official LEGO product description explain that one of the two smaller rovers included in the set is a Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP), shown in the '2025' callout box in the above image. This is their customizable 10kg lunar vehicle intended to provide cost-effective assistance for commercial and scientific exploration, and is currently scheduled to be included in 4 missions. I guess this means the main model is not based on an existing rover, but rather a LEGO interpretation of a future possibility?
Before we build this unknown vehicle, first a quick look at all the elements used in the construction.
New mold
The only new mold found in the set is a real beauty.
Wheel 7 x 7 with Center Axle Hole, 6 Pin Holes, Curved Spokes, coming 4x in White (6530010 | 7230) looks great as a futuristic wheel, but it will be very useful for creating rose windows for cathedrals, fountains, and other architectural stylings as well. You can about it in my LEGO Technic August 2025 parts review.
Recolors
- 56x Rubber Technic Tread Attachment 1 x 3 in Dark Azure (6550799 | 14149)
- 56x Technic Link Tread Wide with Two Pin Holes, Reinforced in White (6535943 | 88323, 42479)
- 52x +2 spare Technic Link, Reinforced, with Beveled Edge in White (6557602 | 14696)
- 1x Technic Panel Triangle 5 x 4 Left in Dark Azure (6556987 | 80278)
- 1x Technic Panel Triangle 5 x 4 Right in Dark Azure (6569225 | 80274)
The wheels of the rover are covered in threads with rubber attachments for more grip, resulting in two very welcome recolors. Meanwhile, the mining vehicle included uses smaller links for its threads. Two recolored panels complete this lineup.
Decorated elements
The set features the highest count of newly decorated elements in this LEGO Technic wave: a mighty 2!
- 1x Tile 2 x 3 with print in White (6565840 | 114544)
- 1x Tile 1 x 2 with print in Light Bluish Gray (6565839 | 114543)
The other decorations – all Lunar Outpost logos – are handled by a small sticker sheet, so it is simple to leave the branding off if you prefer.
Other elements of interest
There are a couple of elements which are not new, but still worth mentioning as they have only appeared in 3 sets or less prior to the release of 42211.
- 2x Technic Panel Dome 5 x 5 with Pin Holes in White (6482636, 6513897 | 4412)
- 2x Technic Panel Curved 3 x 9 in White (6509540 | 5427)
- 2x Technic Beam 1 x 7 Thick with Alternating Holes in White (6471586 | 2391)
- 2x Technic Panel Fairing #10 Medium Triangle Smooth in White (6485964, 6513890 | 2403)
- 2x Technic Panel Fairing #9 Medium Triangle Smooth in White (6485965, 6513888 | 2395)
- 2x Technic Pin Connector Hub with 2 Perpendicular Axles in Light Bluish Gray (6226939, 6523968 | 10197)
- 6x Technic Link 1 x 6 Perpendicular in Light Bluish Gray (6452875 | 4514)
- 2x Technic Beam 2 x 5 L-Shape with Quarter Ellipse Thick in Light Bluish Gray (6534870 | 80286)
The build
We start with the chassis, which consists of a center beam that holds 2 perpendicular beams which can rotate, providing a moving suspension. Through the center beam, an axle controls the steering over the 4 wheels. Set 42158 NASA Mars Rover Perseverance had a clever trick to switch between different types of steering, but we get just ‘regular’ steering here.
On one side of the vehicle, a turntable is added to carry the crane, while on the other side the ‘head’ of the rover is added. Inside the head, 2 solar panels are hidden which can come out by pressing a lever. I’ve added a video at the end of the article to show this in motion.
The empty spaces in the H-frame are filled with 2 white platforms to house the mining rover and cargo container.
The crane is constructed next, which can lift the mining rover and container off the vehicle. Where the crane on set 42180 Mars Crew Exploration Rover was pretty basic and flimsy, here it is a well-working piece of LEGO Technic machinery.
The last step is to add the wheels. The threads are held in place by a sprocket hidden behind the new wheels.
The rover looks great, and the suspension allows it to move over some rough terrain. But we’re not done yet!
The rover comes equipped with a small mining rover, which can gobble up moon rocks and crystals and store them in a container. The ball joint at the top allows the crane to pick them up and place them on the platforms.
The final bag gives us the small MAPP. Unlike the mining rover, the MAPP seems to stand alone, and can’t be carried by the big rover.
Finally, let’s see all the functions of the rover in action.
Conclusion
Where set 42180 Mars Crew Exploration Rover left me wanting more, this set is exactly what I hoped for in a merger of LEGO Technic and LEGO Space. The product is a true playset, and the possibilities of LEGO Technic are fully utilised to add to the playability, rather than just provide the parts. The only downside is the rover appears to be an automated vehicle: there is no cockpit for figures to sit in, or controls to operate.
If you don’t want to play, the set can offer you some great new elements, with the new wheels and recolored treads being the most desirable. With an RRP of US$ 99.99/ £ 89.99/ 99,99€/ AU$ 149.99 for 1080 parts, the price tag is not that bad for a licensed set. I just don’t know if that license was really needed, given the model is not based on any existing vehicles?
There might be one more reason why I love this set...
If you just imagine the dark azure to be blue, and add in some trans-neon orange (a moment of silence please for the loss of this color) antenna and windshields, then the set can serve as the start of the Ice Planet 2002 revival!
READ MORE: Review: 10372 Hibiscus from LEGO® Botanicals
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Another fantastic New Elementary review. The video, the very satisfying pictures of layed out parts, loads of background info! Thank you very much for all the effort, the reviewers on this site always go that extra mile and it's deeply appreciated. I did not expect an Ice Planet picture, very epic. I'm not even into Technic, but you make this set seem like a must have.
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