Is this set suitable for display?

It is really a building and experimenting set. With no minifigures and a technical focus, it suits tinkering more than shelf display.

How many pieces are included?

There are 158 pieces in total, 58 of them different. No minifigures are included.

Do I need an RCX brick?

The set belongs to the Mindstorms / RCX line and is meant as an add-on. For programmable functions you will need suitable control parts from your own collection.

Mindstorms RCX

LEGO® Exploration Mars

Exploration Mars is a 1999 set from the Mindstorms / RCX line with 158 pieces. It works as an add-on for anyone who wants to build programmable robots on a Mars mission theme.

Set number: 9736
Year: 1999
Pieces: 158
Minifigures: 0
Theme: RCX
Different parts: 58

What can I build with it?

Parts list 58

As BrickLink list (XML)

Import on BrickLink: Wanted → Upload, upload the file (or paste its content), pick a Wanted List and add the parts.

Spare parts (2)

These extra parts come with the set in case one gets lost.

Description

An add-on, not a starter box

At 158 pieces this is a small set compared with the big robotics boxes in the range, and that suits its role. You get material for a Mars theme rather than a complete system. If you already own an RCX brick, you can put the parts to use straight away on your own vehicles and probes. If you do not, you are mostly buying components rather than a finished experience. That is why it is worth checking the parts list on this page before deciding whether the set fits your project.

Colours of a rocky planet

The main colours are black, light grey, red and yellow. Together they give a technical look that suits a space mission: dark frames, grey casings and red or yellow accents that make functions easy to spot. Around 58 different parts are spread across the 158 pieces, so there is a decent variety of shapes and few repeats of specialist elements. That is handy if you like to rebuild a design again and again and test new ideas without constantly needing more stock.

Build, program, improve

Robotics sets from this era are all about trial and error. You build a vehicle, write a program, watch where it fails and rebuild. Exploration Mars supplies a theme but leaves plenty of freedom, so a rover, a grabber arm or a measuring station is entirely your call. There are no minifigures; the technology is the focus. That makes the set appealing to older builders who enjoy mechanics and prefer working out their own solutions to simply following printed instructions.

Collecting and reusing the parts

Sets from 1999 are collectable today, and the Mindstorms line still has a loyal following. On this page you can see the full parts list and check which pieces you are missing or could add from your own collection. The “What can I build?” tool also shows which other sets you can put together from the bricks you already own. In that way a small add-on becomes a starting point for further models of your own.

FAQ

Is this set suitable for display?: It is really a building and experimenting set. With no minifigures and a technical focus, it suits tinkering more than shelf display.
How many pieces are included?: There are 158 pieces in total, 58 of them different. No minifigures are included.
Do I need an RCX brick?: The set belongs to the Mindstorms / RCX line and is meant as an add-on. For programmable functions you will need suitable control parts from your own collection.

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