Dominique Luchart's Blog, page 591
June 18, 2021
You can celebrate Captain Picard Day in ‘Star Trek Fleet Command’ right now, ,
The mobile “Star Trek” game “Star Trek Fleet Command” is boldly offering a one-week celebration of Jean-Luc Picard this week.
The post You can celebrate Captain Picard Day in ‘Star Trek Fleet Command’ right now, , appeared first on NEWDAWN Blog.
The best Lego Star Wars deals for Prime Day 2021, ,
For more than 20 years, Lego has helped “Star Wars” fans young and old find a way to build their own adventures in a galaxy far, far away. The tradition continues in 2021 with epic new builds of the famous R2-D2 robot and the Millennium Falcon spaceship, not to mention many sets for “The Mandalorian”.
Here’s a look at the best Lego Star Wars sets on sale for Amazon Prime Day 2021, some old, many new and all overflowing with the Force. Build, or build not — there is no try!
You can find more Amazon Prime Day deals on Star Wars, Legos and other space stuff in these Space.com buying guides:
Our favorite Lego Star Wars setsR2-D2[image error]
(Image credit: Lego)[image error]
Lego R2-D2: $199.99 at Lego.com
One of the most famous “Star Wars” robots, R2-D2, gets a great revival in Lego form for 2021. This epic build is perfect for adults, who will have 2,314 pieces to play with.
Beep-bee-bee-boop-bee-doo-weeeep! The beloved R2-D2 robot has a new take in Lego form. Featuring 2,314 pieces and with a height of more than one foot (31 cm), this set is sure to catch attention.
Notable features include a retractable mini-leg, a rotating head to scan the horizon, tools hidden in the front hatches and a lightsaber readily available in the head. You’ll also get a special Lucasfilm 50th anniversary Lego brick.
Darth Vader helmet[image error]
(Image credit: Lego)[image error]
Lego Darth Vader helmet: $69.99 at Lego.com
The former Anakin Skywalker gets exquisite treatment in this new Lego “Star Wars” Darth Vader set. With 834 pieces, the set aims to make an impression in a small space, so you can tuck it into a bookshelf or in the corner of a display area.
Darth Vader is one of the most interesting villains of the “Star Wars” universe, after the prequel movies showed how the promising Anakin Skywalker fell to the Dark Side and the original trilogy movies showed his evolution from Dark Lord to something more subtle. Now he’s back in Lego. Building him is your destiny.
Adults will enjoy this 834-piece set, which includes hidden details of his life support system. The set is about the size of a large coffee cup, making it easy to put into small spaces if you have a lot of other sets to show off.
The Rise of Skywalker Millennium Falcon[image error]
(Image credit: Lego)[image error]
The Rise of Skywalker Millennium Falcon: $159.99 at Lego.com
Lego’s Millennium Falcon from The Rise of Skywalker shows off the famous ship and several minifigures from the sequel trilogy.
Relive some of the adventures of the Millennium Falcon in the sequel trilogy.
The iconic Corellian freighter starship comes with 1,353 pieces and features important details such as gun turrets that rotate, spring-loaded shooters, a removable canopy with cockpit, a smuggling compartment (cleverly disguised), and a lowering ramp.
It also includes four minifigures (Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, Finn and Boolio) along with droids R2-D2, C3P0 and D-0.
Imperial Shuttle[image error]
(Image credit: Lego)[image error]
Lego Imperial Shuttle: $69.99 at Lego.com
Fly one of the Empire’s top shuttles in this 660-piece set that is suitable for kids nine years of age and older.
Darth Vader is just one of the things to enjoy about this Imperial shuttle. Kids aged nine and older will have a 660-piece set to play with here, including foldable wings, three Lego minifigures, a lightsaber and more.
Star Wars Lego sets from The MandalorianThe Child[image error]
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Lego The Child Baby Yoda Set | $79.99 at Lego.com
Recreate your own Baby Yoda scene from “The Mandalorian” with this adorable new set from Lego.
The posable Child or Baby Yoda set includes 1,073 pieces for builders that are at least 10 years of age. The assembled set will stand roughly 7.8 inches (20 centimeters) tall and includes adjustable head, ears and mouth, allowing you to pick your favorite expressions.
The Razor Crest[image error]
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Lego Star Wars: The Razor Crest: $165.49 at Walmart
This best-selling set features the famous Razor Crest ship of “Star Wars: The Mandalorian”. Included are four minifigures: The Mandalorian, Baby Yoda, Greef Karga and Scout Trooper, along with battle weapons.View Deal
“The Mandalorian” on Disney Plus introduced us to a galaxy of new characters from the days after the Return of the Jedi, but every bounty hunter needs a ship. Behold: The Razor Crest dreadnought from Lego.
It’s an eye-catching ship from a new era in the Star Wars universe. It will stand 5.5 inches (14 cm) high, 15 inches (38 cm) long and 11 inches (28 cm) wide and come with minifigures of the Mandalorian, Greef Karga, a Scout Trooper, the assassin droid IG-11 and, of course, the Child (aka Baby Yoda).
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Lego The Mandalorian & Child. $19.99 at Lego.com.
Build your own Grogu and Mandalorian in BrickHeadz form in this adorable duo set.
These Lego BrickHeadz versions of the beloved stars of the “Star Wars” series “The Mandalorian” lets you build miniature versions of The Child (who we know is called Grogu, but will forever be Baby Yoda) and the Mandalorian.
These buildable figures are chock full of authentic details from the series. This 295-piece toy is designed for ages 10 and up.
The Mandalorian comes his signature weapons — a rifle and a blaster pistol, while the The Child’s hoverpram features transparent pieces to give that hover effect. The Child’s ears can be posed as well.
Amazing Star Wars Lego sets for collectorsMos Eisley Cantina[image error]
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Lego A New Hope Mos Eisley Cantina. $349.99 at Amazon
Recreate iconic scenes from the “Star Wars Episode IV” with this epic 3,187-piece set!
Lego’s Star Wars: A New Hope Mos Eisley Cantina is a stunning brick version of our favorite hive of scum and villainy in the Star Wars universe.
Available for $349.99 USD on Amazon (it’s sold out on Lego.com), it comes with an incredible 21 minifigures, including Luke Skywalker, Greedo, C-3PO, a Jawa (utini!), Sandtroopers, three members of the Cantina band and more. Ponda Baba and Dr. Evazan are also included.
The assembled set includes 3,187 pieces and stands roughly 7 inches high, 20 inches wide and 23 inches deep (19 cm by 52 cm by 58 cm, respectively.) It is recommended for builders 18 years and older.
Check out our detailed look at this set here.
Imperial Probe Droid[image error]
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Imperial Probe Droid: $59.99 at Lego.com
At 683 pieces, this setpiece from the Battle of Hoth is perfect for adults who enjoyed “The Empire Strikes Back.”
Time to have some fun at the Battle of Hoth with this Imperial Probe Droid, recreating one of the most famous scenes from “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” in 1983. “The droid has posable legs and comes with a transparent, brick-built pole to ‘suspend’ it above a buildable snowy scene,” Lego says of the 683-piece set, suitable for adults.
Scout Trooper Helmet[image error]
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Lego “Star Wars” Scout Trooper helmet: $49.99 at Lego.com
Time to use a Jedi mind trick on this Lego Scout Trooper helmet. You can build this miniature Dark Side security force model in just 471 pieces. A display stand and nameplate will help you educate any innocent padawans who may not know the danger that faces them.
The Lego “Star Wars” Scout Trooper helmet is another awesome rendition of the quickly growing line of helmets. Little details on this 471-piece are great for fans of the Dark Side, including lightweight armor to get maximum speed on those flying bikes and a tinted visor to filter the glare of the sun on the desert planet Tatooine.
Since the Scout Trooper makes frequent appearances in the franchise, it probably will appeal to any adult who grew up with a version of “Star Wars”. It also matches nicely with other “Star Wars” helmets in Lego, including the Darth Vader one mentioned in this article.
LEGO Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Yoda[image error]
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LEGO Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Yoda: $99.99 at Lego.com
This 1,771-piece beautiful display figurine of elder Yoda includes posable head, movable fingers and toes, a green lightsaber and an informational fact plaque.
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Strong in the Force, this set is. Lego’s stunning Yoda set lets you recreate our favorite green Jedi as he appeared in the film “Star Wars: Attack of the Clones.”
The set comes with 1,771 pieces and stands a whopping over 16″ inches (41 cm) tall when counting Yoda’s lightsaber. (And really, how can you not?) This brick-built Yoda includes detailed features, a posable head and eyebrows, as well as moveable fingers and toes so fans can tailor Yoda’s look on their own.
A Lego Yoda minifigure and plaque round out the set, so you get TWO Yodas in one kit!
Stormtrooper, Boba Fett and TIE Fighter Helmets[image error]
Lego Star Wars Boba Fett Helmet: $59.99 at Lego.com
Perhaps the most popular bounty hunter in “Star Wars” lore, Boba Fett can grace your Mandalorian home in Lego form. You will have to assemble 625 pieces first, though. And watch out for Hutts.View Deal
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Lego Star Wars Stormtrooper Helmet: $59.99 at Lego.com
Luke Skywalker may have been a little short to be a Stormtrooper, but even he was too tall to don this Empire buckethead. This iconic Star Wars Lego helmet has 647 pieces.View Deal
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Lego Star Wars TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet: $59.99 at Lego.com
Build your own TIE Fighter Pilot helmet with this 724-piece set that completes the helmet set from Lego. Just pray you don’t get assigned as Darth Vader’s wingman.View Deal
Let’s face it, in the “Star Wars” universe, the bad guys had the greatest helmets. First released for May the Fourth in 2020, Lego’s debut collector helmets include Boba Fett’s helmet, a Stormtrooper helmet and a TIE Fighter Pilot helmet.
Read our full story on the new Lego Star Wars helmets here.
D-O droid (The Rise of Skywalker)[image error]
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Lego Star Wars D-O Droid: $69.99 at Lego.com
Lego’s D-O droid is the perfect companion for your brick-built BB-8. It includes 519 pieces and a tiny D-O droid for your minifigure-scaled Star Wars sets.View Deal
It seems like every new “Star Wars” movie or TV show dreams up a new adorable droid and “The Rise of Skywalker” is no different. The film introduced us to the rolling one-wheeled robot D-O, which Lego released as a collector’s series this year.
Normally available for $69.99, this Lego D-O set is on sale for $55.99 on Amazon and includes 519 pieces to create a droid model that stands 10.5 inches (27 cm) high ad is 4 inches (10 cm) wide and 6 inches (16 cm) deep. It features a poseable head and even a tiny D-O droid in minifigure scale.
Read our full story on the new Lego D-O droid set here!
Poe Dameron’s X-Wing Fighter[image error]
(Image credit: Lego )Relive the epic battles of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) with Poe Dameron’s X-Wing Fighter ($89.99 at Lego). You can adjust the wings to swoop in for an attack, shoot any enemies menacing your path, and make a safe landing after each mission using the landing gear. Included are 3 minifigures: Poe Dameron, a Knight of Ren (who supported Supreme Leader Kylo Ren) and Jannah (a former First Order Stormtrooper who now helps the Resistance). You’ll also get the ever-handy R2-D2 robot. The set has 761 pieces and is recommended for anyone who is at least nine years old.
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Lego Star Wars Sith TIE Fighter: $79.99 at Lego.com
Lego’s new Sith Tie Fighter comes with 470 pieces and minifigures of Finn, a First Order Pilot and Knight of Ren.View Deal
Play with the dark side using this $79.99 Sith TIE Fighter featured in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” (2019). It’s available at Lego.com.
Aspiring pilots can fire the spring-loaded shooters, and use the docking tower for launches and landings. Included are 3 minifigures: a First Order TIE Pilot, a Knight of Ren and Finn (a former Stormtrooper). The set has 470 pieces and is recommended for anyone who is at least nine years old.
Best Lego Star Wars sets for under $30AT-AT vs. Tauntaun Microfighters[image error]
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AT-AT vs. Tauntaun Microfighters: $19.99 at Lego.com
Kids ages six and up can recreate part of the Battle of Hoth using this quick-to-build set with an AT-AT Walker and Tauntaun construction models.
Young fans of “The Empire Strikes Back” can recreate the Battle of Hoth with this AT-AT vs. Tauntaun Microfighters building set. It includes a posable AT-AT Walker, Tauntaun construction models, and 2 Lego minifigures.
Resistance X-Wing[image error]
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Resistance X-Wing: $19.99 at Lego.com
The tiniest of “Star Wars” fans will enjoy this small set depicting the famous X-Wing that Luke Skywalker flew to destroy the Death Star. At just 60 pieces, it’s suitable for kids aged four and older.
Recreate some of the most famous battles of “A New Hope” with this Resistance X-Wing fighter, one of the craft piloted by Luke Skywalker.
It’s only 60 pieces and suitable for kids aged four and up, allowing your youngest “Star Wars” fans to start building their own franchise stories.
Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder[image error]
(Image credit: Lego )If you can cast your mind back to the groundbreaking first “Star Wars” film – “A New Hope” (1977), you’ll remember the landspeeder that the young Luke Skywalker used to commute between his family farm and nearby services. Both Luke and his helper robot, C-3PO, are included as minifigures — along with an armed Jawa, recalling an epic confrontation early in the film.
Lego’s Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder set has been newly reissued with an opening trunk (just big enough to include macrobinoculars) and a blaster rifle for Luke. This $29.99 set has 236 pieces and is recommended for anyone at least seven years old.
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Obi-Wan’s Hut[image error]
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Lego Star Wars Obi-Wan’s Hut: Was $30 $24 at Lego.com
Visit the old hermit Ben Kenobi (he hasn’t heard the name Obi-Wan in a long time) in this 200-piece Lego set from the first “Star Wars” film. It includes minifigures of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker, as well as C-3PO and R2-D2.View Deal
For more “A New Hope” adventures, you can visit the hut of “Old Ben” – better known as the powerful Jedi knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi, with this typically $29.99 Lego Obi-Wan’s Hut set. You can save 20% now with this sale from Amazon. There’s a similar sale on at Walmart for the same price. Fans of the movie will remember a famous scene with the hologram of Princess Leia, which you can recreate here using the minifigures.
Also included are Luke Skywalker, the robot R2-D2, and a Tusken Raider in case you have need of trying out the two lightsabers included with the set. This set has 200 pieces and is recommended for anyone at least seven years old.
Action Battle Hoth Generator Attack[image error]
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Action Battle Hoth Generator Attack: 29.99 $20.99 at Lego.com
Recreate one of the most iconic battles of the original series of “Star Wars” with this mini set about the Battle of Hoth. With 235 pieces, this is ideal for kids who are seven years of age and older.
The Battle of Hoth has a perfect rendition here for kids who are just getting to know the original series trilogy of “Star Wars”. The set is aimed at children ages seven and older and has only 231 pieces. The flaming Lego pieces is a nice touch, showing how much firepower went into the famous standoff between the Dark Side and the Jedi.
Duel on Mustafar[image error]
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Lego Star Wars Duel on Mustafar: $19.99 on Lego.com
Anakin Skywalker was supposed to bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness. Now you can recreate his fall to Dark Side in this 208-piece set with minifigures of Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.View Deal
Zooming in time to the prequel movies, you can replay the epic battle between the new Sith Lord Darth Vader (formerly Anakin Skywalker) against Obi Wan. Fans of “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith” (2005) will remember this as the duel on Mustufar.
In Lego’s Duel on Mustafar set, you can recreate the scene using two minifigures (Anakin and Obi Wan), two lightsabers and a construction model that includes a “lava explosion” function. This set has 208 pieces and is recommended for anyone at least seven years old.
Sith Troopers Battle Pack[image error]
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Lego Star Wars Sith Troopers Battle Pack: $14.99 $11.99 at Walmart
Who knew the Dark Side was so colorful? Lego’s 105-piece Sith Trooper Battle Pack includes three brilliant red Sith troopers (two jet troopers and one regular) along with a First Order Officer and speeder.View Deal
Ready to make a First Order army just like what you saw in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”? This set should give you a boost.
The Sith Troopers Battle Pack includes a land speeder, a First Order Officer, a Sith Trooper and 2 Sith Jet Trooper minifigures complete with stud-shooting blasters. This set has 105 pieces and is recommended for anyone at least six years old.
Trouble on Tatooine[image error]
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Lego “The Mandalorian” Trouble on Tatooine: $29.99 at Lego.com
There’s a battle brewing on the famous Tatooine planet, and kids can figure out what to do next. It’s just 276 pieces and suitable for people aged seven and older.
The Mandalorian and a Tusken Raider from the series “The Mandalorian” can play starring roles in your desert missions in the Trouble on Tatooine set. In 276 pieces, you’ll get The Mandalorian’s speeder bike (including a Lego minifigure seat and saddlebag for the Child), a Tusken hut and missile-shooting ballista for the Tusken Raider.
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
The post The best Lego Star Wars deals for Prime Day 2021, , appeared first on NEWDAWN Blog.
US Postal Service releases ‘Sun Science’ stamps with NASA imagery, ,
USPS released “Sun Science,” a collection of 10 colorful stamps celebrating the study of heliophysics using imagery from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory.
The post US Postal Service releases ‘Sun Science’ stamps with NASA imagery, , appeared first on NEWDAWN Blog.
Playmobil has an epic Star Trek USS Enterprise playset coming soon: report, ,
Playmobil will apparently release an epic Star Trek USS Enterprise playset from the Original Series in September.
The post Playmobil has an epic Star Trek USS Enterprise playset coming soon: report, , appeared first on NEWDAWN Blog.
The best Star Wars Prime Day deals and gifts for 2021, ,
Amazon.com’s annual Amazon Prime Day megasale begins Monday, June 21 and will last two days. The Force is strong with Star Wars deals, and we found the best ones to give loved ones (including yourself of course).
We list the best deals here for the Padawan or Jedi Master in your life — from clothing to toys to lifestyle products. It will take some Jedi mind tricks to figure out what your superfan will enjoy, but we promise you these deals are easier to navigate than the Kessel run or the forests of Endor.
Amazon Prime Day 2021: The best space deals to watch
Best Star Wars video game deals[image error]
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order PS4: $33.99 at Amazon
Help your new Padawan complete his Force training with this deal on “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” on PlayStation 4.View Deal
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Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Xbox One: $29.00 $25.60 at Amazon
Xbox players can also save $5 on Fallen Order at Amazon.View Deal
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Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order PC version: $61.79 at Amazon
Help your new Padawan complete his Force training with this deal on “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.” Hyperdrive on this deal quickly, as stock is low.View Deal
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Star Wars Squadrons PS4. $39.99 $19.99 at Amazon
If you’re a Star Wars fan on PlayStation 4, don’t miss this deep discount on Star Wars Squadrons.View Deal
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Star Wars Squadrons Xbox One. $39.99 $19.99 at Amazon
Xbox players can save $20 on Star Wars Squadrons.View Deal
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Star Wars Battlefront II PS4: $29.99 $18.78 at Amazon
PlayStation 4 players can save big on the hit game Star Wars Battlefront II at Amazon.
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Star Wars: The High Republic: Into the Dark e-book: $10.99 at Amazon
Jump into the High Republic of Star Wars universe. Follow Padawan Reath Silas as he leaves the Jedi Temple on Coruscant for frontier space.View Deal
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Star Wars: The Ultimate Pop-Up: $250.00 $138.99 at Amazon
Made by paper engineer Matthew Reinhart, “Star Wars: The Ultimate Pop-Up Galaxy” includes scenes from all 11 movies, from the prequel series all the way through to the sequel trilogy. Scenes include The Clone Wars and The Battle of Yavin, and characters include Padme, Luke Skywalker, Jedi Master Yoda, Rey and Kylo Ren.View Deal
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The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. $50.00 $28.24 at Amazon
Voyage to Batuu from Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in this stunning art book behind the immersive amusement park.View Deal
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Star Wars: Galactic Baking by Insight Editions. $19.99 $16.48 at Amazon
The Force is strong with these tasty recipes to bake your own “Star Wars” treats. TIE Fighter s’mores are just the beginning!View Deal
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Today’s Best Mandalorian Deal
Star Wars Mandalorian Darksaber: $29.99 $24.86 at Amazon
While out of stock until August, you can still nab this at a great price. Imagine yourself fighting the Empire’s remnants with the Mandalorian Darksaber. None of those enemies will stand a chance against the Force. View Deal
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Hasbro Clue Game: Star Wars Edition: $45.99 $39.99 at Amazon
Ready to save the galaxy from the evil Empire? Play as one of your favorite “Star Wars” characters with this board game. It includes selections from the original series, including Leia, Luke, Han, Chewbacca, R2-D2 or C-3PO.View Deal
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Star Wars Darth Vader Deluxe Costume Jumpsuit: $64.99 $46.95 at Amazon
Who says that dressup is just for kids? We really love the stellar prices on the women’s Darth Vader deluxe costume sizes. The listed price is for extra-small costumes for women, but deals can be had on larger women’s sizes and also for men.View Deal
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Star Wars Stormtrooper Bike: $199.99 at Amazon
Make an impression in your neighborhood using this amazing “Star Wars” bike that comes, Mad Max-style, with a Stormtrooper helmet on the handlebars! Next thing you know, your kid will be using the Force to do epic bike moves.View Deal
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Star Wars: Battle of Endor Mural: $99.99 at Amazon
Add a touch of terror (and nostalgia) to your wall with this incredible mural portraying the Battle of Endor. You’ll never feel so motivated to protect the planet of the Ewoks.View Deal
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Lenovo Star Wars: Jedi Challenges: $159.00 from Amazon
The Force of your smartphone is powerful for this game, which uses augmented reality to make your Jedi dreams come true. All you need is a compatible smartphone to show your stuff in lightsaber battles, combat and even holochess. This bundle includes a Mirage AR Smartphone Headset, Lightsaber Controller, and Tracking Beacon. Stock is low, so order soon.View Deal
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The Star Wars Archives: 1999-2005 $180.00 at Amazon
Uber-fans of the prequel series of “Star Wars” will love this new volume about the trilogy featuring Anakin Skywalker. View Deal
Star Wars Lego sets for fans and collectors[image error]
Lego R2-D2: $323.00 at Amazon
While this is a pricey set, the build is incredible. One of the most famous “Star Wars” robots, R2-D2, gets a great revival in Lego form for 2021. This epic build is perfect for adults, who will have 2,314 pieces to play with.View Deal
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Lego The Child Baby Yoda Set | $79.99 $73.49 at Amazon
Recreate your own Baby Yoda scene from “The Mandalorian” with this adorable new set from Lego. View Deal
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Lego Star Wars: The Razor Crest: $199.99 at Amazon
This best-selling set features the famous Razor Crest ship of “Star Wars: The Mandalorian”. Included are four minifigures: The Mandalorian, Baby Yoda, Greef Karga and Scout Trooper, along with battle weapons.View Deal
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LEGO Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Yoda: $99.99 $79.97 at Amazon
This 1,771-piece beautiful display figurine of elder Yoda includes posable head, movable fingers and toes, a green lightsaber and an informational fact plaque.
View Deal
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Lego Star Wars Boba Fett Helmet: $59.99 $50.79 at Amazon
Perhaps the most popular bounty hunter in “Star Wars” lore, Boba Fett can grace your Mandalorian home in Lego form. You will have to assemble 625 pieces first, though. And watch out for Hutts.View Deal
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Lego Star Wars Sith TIE Fighter: $76.76 at Amazon.com
Lego’s new Sith Tie Fighter comes with 470 pieces and minifigures of Finn, a First Order Pilot and Knight of Ren.View Deal
Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.
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Hooded Horse unveils 3 new space strategy games in at E3. Here’s their 1st trailer., ,
Three new space strategy games from Hooded Horse were unveiled at the E3 games expo this week with an exclusive, brand-new trailer.
The post Hooded Horse unveils 3 new space strategy games in at E3. Here’s their 1st trailer., , appeared first on NEWDAWN Blog.
On This Day in Space! June 18, 1983: Sally Ride becomes America’s 1st woman in space, ,
On June 18, 1983, NASA astronaut Sally Ride became America’s first woman in space after she and four colleagues blasted off on the space shuttle Challenger for the STS-7 mission. The astronauts spent 6 days in space deployed two communications satellites for Indonesia and Canada.
Ride became the first woman to operate Canadarm, the shuttle’s robotic arm. She used it to deploy a Shuttle Pallet Satellite that was loaded with science experiments, and later used it again to bring the satellite back inside the shuttle.
They returned to Earth on June 24. Ride later became the first American woman to travel a second time when she launched on another Challenger mission, STS-41G, in 1984. Ride also served as president of Space.com from 1999 to 2000.
Catch up on our entire “On This Day In Space” series on YouTube with this playlist.
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History of NASA: $22.99 at Magazines Direct
Discover the story of how and why NASA was created, its greatest triumphs, darkest days, and of the times it exceeded all possible hopes. A tale of adventure, heroism and resourcefulness, learn of the space agency’s greatest achievements and how — over six decades — the organization has consistently and tirelessly devoted itself to its founding principle: that “activities in space should be devoted to peaceful purposes for the benefit of all humankind”. View Deal
Still not enough space? Don’t forget to check out our Space Image of the Day, and on the weekends our Best Space Photos and Top Space News Stories of the week.
Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.
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Dark matter is putting the brakes on our Milky Way galaxy’s spin, ,
The Milky Way rotates at a whopping 130 miles (210 kilometers) per second, but a new study has found that dark matter has slowed the rotation of its bar by at least 24% since its formation nearly 14 billion years ago.
“Astrophysicists have long suspected that the spinning bar at the center of our galaxy is slowing down, but we have found the first evidence of this happening,” study co-author Ralph Schoenrich, an astrophysicist at University College London, said in a statement.
These new findings not only shed light on the rotation of the Milky Way but also provide an insight into the nature of one of the most elusive materials in the universe — dark matter.
Related: How many stars are in the Milky Way?
The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy with a thick band of stars in the center and large pivoting arms stretching out across the cosmos. Scientists think that a halo of dark matter surrounds the Milky Way, extending out far beyond its visible edge, as occurs at other galaxies.
In the new study, researchers used data from Gaia, a European Space Agency mission mapping the positions of billions of stars, to study the Hercules Stream, a thick cluster of stars that revolve around the Milky Way at the same rate that the galactic bar itself spins.
Because the stars in the Hercules Stream are gravitationally trapped by the pivoting bar, slowing down the bar’s rotation would cause the stars to creep outward to keep their orbits in sync with the bar’s spin.
The researchers found evidence of such an outward cosmic migration when they investigated the chemical makeup of the stars. The Hercules Stream stars are rich in heavier elements, suggesting that these stars formed closer to the galactic center, where stars are about 10 times richer in metals compared to those in the galactic suburbs.
From these observations, the researchers concluded that the galactic bar had indeed slowed by at least 24%. Raising the question — what has the power to put the brakes on an entire pivoting galaxy?
“The counterweight slowing this spin must be dark matter,” Schoenrich said in the statement. “Until now, we have only been able to infer dark matter by mapping the gravitational potential of galaxies and subtracting the contribution from visible matter.”
Astronomers believe that dark matter shrouds the Milky Way — and other galaxies — in an elusive halo that extends far out into space. Scientists have estimated that there is five times as much dark matter in the universe as visible matter.
Though apparently abundant throughout the cosmos, the nature of dark matter remains unknown. But findings published in this study are helping to piece together this mysterious dark matter puzzle.
“Our research provides a new type of measurement of dark matter — not of its gravitational energy but of its inertial mass (the dynamical response), which slows the bar’s spin,” Schoenrich said. “Our finding also poses a major problem for alternative gravity theories — as they lack dark matter in the halo, they predict no, or significantly too little slowing of the bar.”
Alternative gravity theories — such as modified Newtonian dynamics — disregard the notion of dark matter. They instead attempt to explain why the behavior of galaxies doesn’t fit within the predictions of general relativity by making tweaks to Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
The results of this study were published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
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Space startup Launcher to fly an orbital platform filled with CubeSats on a SpaceX rocket in 2022, ,
Startup space company Launcher has a new satellite platform that will carry stacks of CubeSats into space, the company announced after a nearly $12 million funding round.
The platform, called Orbiter, will send up to 330 pounds (150 kg) of mass to orbit. Initially, it will be used for rideshare missions that send fleets of small satellites into orbit, with a larger satellite riding aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Launcher’s debut mission will take off aboard a Falcon 9 in October 2022.
“With Orbiter, small satellite constellation developers can take advantage of the rapid cadence and unprecedented price point of the SpaceX rideshare program to build their constellation at optimum cost and timing,” Hawthorne, Calif.-based Launcher stated in a press release.
Related: See the evolution of SpaceX’s rockets in pictures
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An illustration of the Launcher Orbiter spacecraft shortly after separating from its Launcher Light rocket’s upper stage. (Image credit: Launcher)Image 2 of 3[image error]
An artist’s concept of the Launcher Orbiter with its propulsion module engaged. (Image credit: Launcher)Image 3 of 3[image error]
An artist’s concept of the planned Launcher Light rocket with a Launcher Orbiter spacecraft encapsulated inside its payload fairing. (Image credit: Launcher)Orbiter will also serve as the third stage of Launcher Light, a small rocket that Launcher hopes to get into low Earth orbit in 2024. The company said customers may want to consider Launcher Light for “additional orbits and schedules.”
The rocket’s comparatively diminutive size (at 50 feet (15 meters)) allows full dedication to a single small mission, as opposed to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 (230 feet or 70 meters), in which Orbiter must fly as a rideshare vehicle.
Whatever option customers choose, most of the Orbiter components are designed and built by Launcher for “competitive pricing for its customers”, the company added. Orbiter can also change the satellites’ orbital velocity by roughly 0.3 miles (500 meters) per second, allowing the machines to go slightly higher or lower in their orbits.
Launcher Light will compete in a crowded, small rocket market that includes Rocket Lab’s Electron and Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne. Back in 2018, however, Max Haot, the founder and chief executive of Launcher, told SpaceNews that the company is not prepared to rush into space. However, he added that Launcher Light does have the advantage to optimize for performance instead of asking its customers to make changes for their payloads.
“We have a very long-term view, 10 to 20 years,” Haot said in the interview. “We don’t believe that the people that got there a few years before will be the winners. We believe that the ones operating with the highest margin will be the winner.”
Earlier this month, Launcher announced that it raised $11.7 million in a Series A funding round, co-led by Boost.VC and Haot, who put in $5 million from selling his Mevo camera business to Logitech. The company is also working on developing an E-2 engine for Launcher Light.
Haot said the extra money will help boost Launcher Light into orbit, along with funding the hiring of an additional 40 employees in 2021, almost double its current number of 30, according to Ars Technica. By flight time three years from now, Launcher plans to have 150 people on staff.
“Compared to our competitors, we are in the kindergarten of fundraising,” Haot told Ars Technica. “This is a major acceleration of funding for us.”
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
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Incredibly powerful megaflares from young stars are common, study shows, ,
Young stars can release flares more powerful than our sun’s largest on record once a week, according to a massive new analysis of stellar activity.
Scientists believe that stellar flares play a crucial role in shaping the early history of nearby planets. For example, flares can push away lingering gas, which speeds up planet formation, but a steady pulse of powerful flares can destroy a planetary atmosphere, and even shorten the lifespan of a planet itself. So in new research, scientists analyzed 24,000 different stars, each of which is less than 5 million years old, to understand how stars may affect young planetary systems.
“Our work tells us how the sun may have behaved and affected the young Earth billions of years ago,” Konstantin Getman, an astronomer at Pennsylvania State University, said in a statement. “In some ways, this is our ultimate origin story: how the Earth and solar system came to be.”
Related: NASA unveils amazing cosmic views as Chandra X-Ray Observatory turns 20
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A collage of images taken by the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Spitzer Space Telescope of the Lagoon Nebula during a “mega-flare” 250,000 times more energetic by the most powerful solar flare recorded to date. (Image credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Penn State/K. Getman, et al; Infrared: NASA/JPL/Spitzer))Getman and his colleagues used NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory for their flare survey work. First, they identified 40 star-forming regions, in which they selected more than 24,000 stars to analyze. Then, they started tallying flares and comparing the bursts to the largest solar flare on record, the 1859 Carrington Event.
But our sun is pretty mature at 4.5 billion years old. The stars the scientists were studying are much younger and much more active. (Stars tend to be more active in their youth.)
The astronomers spotted more than 1,000 stars giving off more powerful flares than anything our sun is known to produce. In fact, these stars unleashed flares with 100,000 times more energy than the Carrington Event at least once a week, and flares with up to 10 million times the energy of the 1859 blast about twice a year.
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An image of the star-forming region RCW 120 as seen by the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Spitzer Space Telescope. (Image credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Penn State/K. Getman, et al; Infrared: NASA/JPL/Spitzer))That sort of activity could have huge implications for developing planets, the researchers said. “We want to know what kinds of impact — good and bad — these flares have on the early lives of planets,” co-author Eric Feigelson, also an astronomer at Penn State, said in the same statement. “Flares this powerful can have major implications.”
In particular, the researchers were curious about the connection between flares of X-rays and outbursts of charged particles that, when thrown off by our sun, are called coronal mass ejections. So for 55 of the bright flares in the dataset, the scientists conducted additional analyses, which determined that these closely resemble the solar flares that produce coronal mass ejections.
“We’ve found that these giant flares are like ones on the sun but are just greatly magnified in energy and frequency, and the size of their magnetic loops,” co-author Gordon Garmire, an astronomer at the Huntingdon Institute for X-ray Astronomy in Pennsylvania, said in the statement. “Understanding these stellar outbursts may help us understand the most powerful flares and coronal mass ejections from the sun.”
The research is described in a paper accepted for publication by the Astrophysical Journal and available to read as a preprint.
Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
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