Copper fragments from the Statue of Liberty, which were fashioned into two 15-inch miniatures, were launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in April 1985. These miniatures were crafted from copper removed during the statue’s then-still-ongoing restoration.
The two “Lady Liberties” were on board Discovery as part of the STS-51D mission. The shuttle spent a weeklong mission in orbit before returning to Earth.
The copper used for these miniatures was salvaged from the full-size Statue of Liberty during its then-still-ongoing restoration. By using these specific scraps, the miniatures carried material from the statue into the vacuum of space.
How did the Statue of Liberty get into orbit?
The miniatures were on board the Space Shuttle Discovery during its fourth flight. The two 15-inch (38.1 centimeter) statues were placed on board.
The decision to send these items was tied to the Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Centennial Commission.
What happened to the space-flown miniatures?
Following the conclusion of the STS-51D mission, the two miniatures followed different paths. One of the space-flown statues was placed on display.
The second miniature was melted down to create copper seals. These seals were then sold to the public by the Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Centennial Commission.
Why does this matter for space history?
Comparison of the Two Space-Flown Statues
| Feature | Statue A | Statue B |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Original Restoration Copper | Original Restoration Copper |
| Mission | STS-51D (Discovery) | STS-51D (Discovery) |
| Post-Flight Fate | Placed on public display | Melted for copper seals |
| Current Form | 15-inch miniature | Copper seals |
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