What is the oldest American object ever launched into space? - Ars Technica Skip to content Ars Technica home Sections Forum Subscribe Search AI Biz & IT Cars Culture Gaming Health Policy Science Security Space Tech Feature Reviews AI Biz & IT Cars Culture Gaming Health Policy Science Security Space Tech Forum Subscribe Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Pin to story Theme HyperLight Day & Night Dark System Search Sign In Sign in dialog... Sign in L+250 years and counting What is the oldest American object ever launched into space? From a Revolutionary War flag to the Statue of Liberty… Robert Pearlman – Jul 6, 2026 3:57 pm | 41 A seal made from reclaimed copper from the Statue of Liberty and then flown on the space shuttle Discovery in 1985. Credit: collectSPACE.com A seal made from reclaimed copper from the Statue of Liberty and then flown on the space shuttle Discovery in 1985. Credit: collectSPACE.com Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Did you know that the space shuttle once launched the Statue of Liberty into space?
In fact, there were two “Lady Liberties” on board Discovery when it lifted off on its fourth flight in April 1985. To be fair, each statue was only 15 inches tall (38.1 centimeters), but they were also each made of copper that was removed from the full-size statue during its then-still-ongoing restoration. After the weeklong STS-51D mission was over, one of the space-flown statues was placed on display, and the other was melted down to create copper seals, which were then sold to the public by the Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Centennial Commission. The copper dated back to the statue’s original 1875 to 1884 construction.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/07/whats-the-oldest-americana-flown-in-space/
In fact, there were two “Lady Liberties” on board Discovery when it lifted off on its fourth flight in April 1985. To be fair, each statue was only 15 inches tall (38.1 centimeters), but they were also each made of copper that was removed from the full-size statue during its then-still-ongoing restoration. After the weeklong STS-51D mission was over, one of the space-flown statues was placed on display, and the other was melted down to create copper seals, which were then sold to the public by the Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Centennial Commission. The copper dated back to the statue’s original 1875 to 1884 construction.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/07/whats-the-oldest-americana-flown-in-space/