The Lego Technic "NASA’s Mars Rover Perseverance (42158)" is a clever and convincing reproduction of the robotic explorer currently trundling around Jezero crater searching for evidence of past life on the surface of Mars.

This is a sizeable model which measures over 30cm long even without the front arm extended. It consists of over 1100 pieces, many of them very small and easy to misplace so thankfully there are some extras included. After an easy start making the associated Ingenuity helicopter, the main rover offers a challenging build of around 5-6 hours. As this is an advanced model from the Lego "Technic" range it uses plenty of cellular rods with an abundance of black or blue pins holding everything together rather than relying on traditional Lego studded construction.

As usual with Technic models, it includes various working parts. In this case, these are the "360-degree steering" and a moveable robotic arm. Both are operated from twisting knobs on the rear of the model. Perseverance's articulated suspension, which is designed to maintain traction on all six wheels across uneven surfaces, is particularly well-modelled. As well as a set of authentic-looking wheels there are cables, NASA stickers and numerous special pieces to give the model a detailed and realistic appearance.

When complete, you can download the "Technic AR App" from Google Play or Apple's App Store to learn more about the Perseverance Mission and bring the model to life. This is a well-presented but simple application which allows you to explore sites drilling virtual rocks and piloting a virtual Ingenuity. The 3D illustration of how the model's complicated mechanisms work is fascinating as this is not entirely clear when building the model. Overall, the NASA Mars Rover Perseverance is a good addition to Lego's growing portfolio of space-themed sets.