What are the aliens in Mars Mission like?

They are green, glow-in-the-dark figures that try to reclaim the crystals the astronauts mine.

Which Mars Mission sets have more than 700 pieces?

MX-81 Hypersonic Operations Aircraft (7644-1, 795 pieces), MB-01 Eagle Command Base (7690-1, 763) and MT-201 Ultra-Drill Walker (7649-1, 759).

How is Mars Mission related to Life On Mars?

Both are Space sub-themes set on Mars, but Life On Mars dates from 2000–2001 and Mars Mission from 2007–2008.

Mars Mission

Sets: 21
Since: 2007
Newest set: 2008

Mars Mission sent astronauts back to the Red Planet in 2007, this time to mine energy crystals under constant threat from aliens. All 21 sets are listed here with their parts.

21 sets

2000s

About Mars Mission

A conflict over crystals

The story is straightforward. Human crews in white and orange suits drill for energy crystals on Mars, and green aliens try to take them back. Many sets pair a large human vehicle with a smaller alien craft, so a single box contains both sides of the conflict. The aliens were made in glow-in-the-dark material, one of the details collectors tend to remember best.

Big machines

Compared with the Space lines of the 1980s and 1990s, Mars Mission's models are large. MX-81 Hypersonic Operations Aircraft (7644-1) from 2008 has 795 pieces, MB-01 Eagle Command Base (7690-1) 763 and MT-201 Ultra-Drill Walker (7649-1) 759. MT-101 Armored Drilling Unit (7699-1, 635 pieces) and MT-61 Crystal Reaper (7645-1, 600 pieces) are not far behind. Mid-sized options include MX-71 Recon Dropship (7692-1, 435 pieces), ETX Alien Mothership Assault (7691-1, 434) and MT-51 Claw-Tank Ambush (7697-1, 374). The letter codes follow a pattern: MX for aircraft, MT for ground vehicles and walkers, MB for the base. The largest set arrived in 2008, the second year of the theme, while the command base was already out in 2007.

Rebuilding the mission

Large vehicles with drills, walkers and cockpits need a fair number of specialised parts, so it pays to check the full parts list before you start. Printed parts and the transparent crystal elements deserve particular attention, as they are harder to replace than basic bricks. On Bricoria, the ‘What can I build?’ tool compares your bricks against all 21 sets and shows which are complete and which are only a few pieces short. If you also collect Life On Mars from 2000–2001, the two themes make an interesting pair: same planet, very different approach.

FAQ

What are the aliens in Mars Mission like?: They are green, glow-in-the-dark figures that try to reclaim the crystals the astronauts mine.
Which Mars Mission sets have more than 700 pieces?: MX-81 Hypersonic Operations Aircraft (7644-1, 795 pieces), MB-01 Eagle Command Base (7690-1, 763) and MT-201 Ultra-Drill Walker (7649-1, 759).
How is Mars Mission related to Life On Mars?: Both are Space sub-themes set on Mars, but Life On Mars dates from 2000–2001 and Mars Mission from 2007–2008.