I will say, for a hot minute there in early 1999, this looked really cool to me. Then I turned a few pages in the LEGO catalog and saw all the Star Wars sets. Suddenly, the other LEGO sets were nowhere near as cool and almost promptly forgotten.

Looking at this more critically, a more compelling reason for my quick disenchantment may stem from the fact that, aside from the shuttle itself and the gold chrome radar dome, everything else in this set was really lackluster. Especially so considering that just four years earlier, LEGO Launch Command had really won hearts and minds its space shuttle launching tower. I was super pissed in 1999 at having missed out on Launch Command (other than the one set with the truck and helicopter) and thusly being confronted with Space Port as my consolation prize.

Also, Tahu Mistika yesterday wasn't that bad, but yes, it was a super hard adjustment to make to see the "Tahu" in that silver and dark red creation. The canister picture doesn't help matters, either.

I need to clean this set up. I found a copy years ago at a thrift store I have.

Not bad! More interior space than most SW sets nowadays!

That's some fancy art! Guessing it's a manual cover?

A good set but, like others have mentioned, it's missing something.

I give the set a B (because it has a base plate. Otherwise it'd be a B-)

That chrome disco ball looks sweet!

Had this one when I was a kid. Found the light-and-sound component just recently, and was shocked to find the thing still works. Pretty impressive, especially considering how much of its 22-year life span was spent in a non-temperature controlled attic.

I got that light-and-sound rocket piece with a bunch of random parts from eBay once. Always wondered what set it came in.

So, which one of these guys is Major Tom?

@Lego_Lord_Mayorca said:
"I will say, for a hot minute there in early 1999, this looked really cool to me. Then I turned a few pages in the LEGO catalog and saw all the Star Wars sets. Suddenly, the other LEGO sets were nowhere near as cool and almost promptly forgotten.

Looking at this more critically, a more compelling reason for my quick disenchantment may stem from the fact that, aside from the shuttle itself and the gold chrome radar dome, everything else in this set was really lackluster. Especially so considering that just four years earlier, LEGO Launch Command had really won hearts and minds its space shuttle launching tower. I was super pissed in 1999 at having missed out on Launch Command (other than the one set with the truck and helicopter) and thusly being confronted with Space Port as my consolation prize.

Also, Tahu Mistika yesterday wasn't that bad, but yes, it was a super hard adjustment to make to see the "Tahu" in that silver and dark red creation. The canister picture doesn't help matters, either. "

I mean the lights and sounds / large battery piece made it seem for younger kids when I was that age. I totally get you on all you said having had both sets.

Not the best of the bunch but certainly an interesting one. I like the use of light and sound part. I had one of the first sets with light and sound, 6750. I still have the part but not the whole set. I have to find a way to make use of it somehow.

There are a couple of 'big' Space Shuttle sets that I've yet to acquire to complete the collection: 1682 because it's just too expensive, and 6456 because it's just too naff...

One of only 2 sets to contain a chrome green part. Also the only set to come with Eena, the female astronaut. The scientist's name is Doctor Felix Combo.

Well, it is space themed... but I expected slightly better for May 4.

Maybe Revenge of the 5th?

Edit: Actually on closer inspection, that asteroid piece looks a bit like a Death Star. Close enough.

While a rather simple build in total, I think it has, like every other launchpad set since 1990, something unique and its special beauty to it. This one's first were a crawler on treads, a sample return (asteroid) and a space shuttle with 6-width, stages and light & sound. And one gorgeous tan baseplate! Sadly, the shuttle doesn't look good when landed in comparison to the photos from the lift-off position.
Oh, did I mention that it is one of only two sets with a chrome green crystal piece?

The asteroid must be really heavy to cause the buggy to do a wheelie. The $80 price is fairly high for 500 pieces possibly because of the light and sound box, but this was also available in countdown corner 6454 with 134 pieces for $20! Looking at the 3D view it wouldn't be that difficult to build starting from 6454, but you would have a hard time finding the disco ball as it doesn't appear in any of the inventories.

Never had this shuttle but I think the design looks pretty good even now, I always loved the modular splitting of vehicles.

I had the Helicopter, small rocket launch, and moon buggy from this theme.

The 2017 31066 Creator 3-in-1 shuttle is the closest set I have to this, and will certainly pick up the 2021 version. 31117

I wonder if anyone has ever managed to use that huge specialized light and sound brick for any other purpose. I'm afraid no, but still hope to be proven wrong by the collective creativity of the internet.

As 90's-junior as this is, that's a pretty good-looking shuttle craft.

Ugh, the space shuttle that somehow managed to blast into space without any rocket fuel or boosters, where most of the back end was all one giant part that made tacky sounds, and the delicate lattices of the tower on 1682 were replaced by big clunky Town Jr bricks.

Oh, and the whole thing separates perpendicularly so you can…simulate explosive decompression and death of the crew? Ah, the late 90s were a dark time.