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How to build the Soma cube rocket

The rocket uses all seven Soma pieces, 27 cubes in total. Here is one solution: first the finished figure, then the pieces one by one from the floor up, in an order you can follow with real pieces.

ZBPLTAV
The finished rocket, seen from the front left and above: the front is at the lower right, the left side at the lower left.
  • Vsmall corner
  • LL shape
  • TT shape
  • Zstep (Z shape)
  • Atwist A
  • Btwist B
  • Pbranch

Open in 3D, piece by piece

Opens the solver with this figure. Press "Next" to place one piece at a time, and drag to turn the view.

Step by step

Build in this order from the floor up, lowering each piece from above. Every piece rests on the floor or on pieces already placed.

  1. Z

    Step 1 · Place piece Z (step) on layer 1, at the back right. It lies flat as a zigzag from left to right: the left end is at the back, the right end at the front.

  2. B

    Step 2 · Place piece B (twist B) on layers 1–2, on the left. Three of its cubes lie on layer 1, and one sticks up onto layer 2.

  3. P

    Step 3 · Place piece P (branch) on layers 1–2, at the front right. Three of its cubes lie on layer 1, and one sticks up onto layer 2.

  4. L

    Step 4 · Place piece L (L shape) on layers 1–3, at the front. It stands upright like a wall running from front to back.

  5. T

    Step 5 · Place piece T (T shape) on layers 2–4, in the middle. It stands upright like a wall running from front to back.

  6. A

    Step 6 · Place piece A (twist A) on layers 3–4, in the middle. Only one cube is on layer 3; the other three lie on layer 4.

  7. V

    Step 7 · Place piece V (small corner) on layer 5, in the middle. It lies flat, with its bend at the back left corner. All 7 pieces are in place and the figure is finished.

Layer by layer, seen from above

Layer 1 is the floor. In each plan the top edge is the back of the figure and the bottom edge is the front.

LPBLPPBBZZZZ
layer 1 · floor
LPBT
layer 2
LTAT
layer 3
AAAT
layer 4
VVV
layer 5

About this figure

Open in 3D, piece by piece