YSU alum seeks to make NASA rocket LEGO model

By BRUCE WALTON

bwalton@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

NASA’s Space Launch System is a new rocket that’s been in development since 2010 which scientists hope will one day reach Mars.

Just like the SLS rocket, it’s LEGO replica model, built by Boardman native Nicholas Mastramico, also has an ambitious goal to becoming an official LEGO model.

Mastramico works as a NASA structural engineer for the SLS rocket in Huntsville, Ala., and started creating the model during his off time as a hobby in July 2015.

The model is made from more than 600 LEGO pieces he ordered online. The model includes the rocket, the launch pad, interchangeable upper stages, a small Orion capsule, the mobile launcher tower and a mobile crawler.

For a while, he said he kept it on his desk until his wife Kimberly gave him the idea to submit it to become an official LEGO model in April.

The project has to receive 10,000 supporters to have the idea submitted to become an official LEGO set and organized in different deadlines.

The first milestone to reach is 1,000 supporters within a year, and so far he’s received 653 supporters, with 223 days left.

After a year, he has to reach 5,000 supporters in 180 days and 10,000 votes in another 180 days. If it becomes official, the set will be mass-produced and sold in stores and online.

Mastramico said the biggest goal for his model is to inspire children just like he was to become fascinated with space ships and engineering.

“You never know what can be that spark, and actually having a representation of that model, of that rocket in your hand, could easily spark a kid into going into math or science or engineering,” he said.

Growing up in Boardman, Mastramico said he always loved science and building models of spaceships from nonfiction or science fiction.

His father, Tom Mastramico, said he remembered picking out new models to make when he was around 10 years old.

“He’s always worked with space models, very meticulous kinds of drawings and just had the patience and the love to do that kind of work,” Tom said.

Nicholas Mastramico graduated from Boardman High School in 2000 and said his math and science teachers inspired him to work toward his dream. He graduated from Youngstown State University and the University of Alabama.

He has tried to get the word out about the LEGO project through a partnership with the U.S. Space and Rocket Center for a raffle. Anyone can enter the raffle by supporting the project on the LEGO website and then sending an email to LegoSLSKit@gmail.com.

If the model becomes an official LEGO set, the raffle winner will receive the SLS rocket LEGO set; an autographed copy of Nicholas Cara’s novel of “The Grey Ghost: The Shadow that Walks;” two free passes to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center; and a $25 gift card to Deep Comics and Games.

The second-place prize winner will receive the SLS rocket LEGO set.

If the vote goal isn’t reached, raffle participants will still win the same prizes, except the sets will just be the unofficial pieces to build the SLS rocket.

To support the model, visit Mastramico’s web page at https://ideas.lego.com/projects/138573. For information about the raffle, visit www.nicholascara.com/2016/07/24/lego-sls-contest.