Yesterday I talked about the grand (and expensive) centerpiece of the 2015 LEGO Space sets–the 60080 LEGO Spaceport. But what’s a centerpiece without a solid assortment of items to put around it, right? Luckily, LEGO has three way cool LEGO Space Summer 2015 sets lined up that I got to photograph in person at the New York Toy Fair 2015 last month…

In past years LEGO might have released a massive Space Shuttle set like LEGO 60080 all by its lonesome–but not this year! This year, it’s going to be released alongside an entire wave of three complementary sets–and all three of them look outstanding!

It’s possible that a fifth 2015 LEGO City Space Exploration set will also be released as a retailer exclusive, but those sets are typically not shown at the New York Toy Fair. But let’s take a look about what we know is on the way…

My favorite of the smaller LEGO 2015 Space sets is definitely the LEGO Utility Shuttle 60078. For about one-fifth the cost of the Spaceport set, you get a reall neat-looking small shuttle for a couple of your LEGO astronauts to go on a short mission in!

60078 Utility Shuttle includes two identical astronaut minifigures (and they really should be identical in those space suits, so that makes sense) and a small satellite for the duo to repair (it fell off its stand at Toy Fair–I swear it wasn’t me!).

Priced at $24.99 for 155 pieces (about 16 cents per piece), this is another set that isn’t the best deal around. Again, we have to keep in mind that large and specialized pieces like the ones in these space shuttles inherently cost more than standard pieces (and a high cost-per-piece ratio on a $25 set is a lot more palatable to me than on a $120 set).

Next up is the LEGO City Space Starter Set 60077. Basically, this set contains a transport buggy (which I guess can be used as a moon buggy), some technical equipment and a quartet of minifigures (an astronaut, a female scientist, a ground worker and a technician).

For a $9.99 set with 105 pieces I think this is nice enough, but I have a feeling that this is one value-priced set that’s not going to appeal much to collectors not buying the other LEGO Space theme sets, however (even though four minifigures in any $10 set is always a great deal).

Finally, we have the LEGO Training Jet Transporter 60079 set. I’m not the most well-versed person as far as space exploration goes, so I didn’t really understand what this was until I looked it up. 

Apparently, NASA has training aircraft vehicles that duplicate a space shuttle’s approach profile and handling qualities. This allows shuttle pilots to simulate landing under controlled conditions before they have to do it on a real-life orbiter. Cool, huh?

While this isn’t the sort of set that I ever wished for, now that I understand the function of a space training jet, I really kind of feel like I need this LEGO 60079 Training Jet Transport set.

At $49.99 for 448 pieces, the value isn’t quite perfect, but it’s better than the other two non-starter sets in this year’s Space Explorers theme. Even so, for a set that’s over 15.7″ long and includes three vehicles and three minifigures, I don’t think that price is too bad at all. 

All of the LEGO Space 2015 sets are scheduled to be released in August 2015 (with a late July release at Toys R Us and LEGO Stores all but guaranteed). 

Now that you’ve seen all four known Summer 2015 LEGO City Space sets, what are your thoughts on the sub-theme, fans? Which of the four sets (if any) will be on your shopping list this summer?