Happy Fourth of July! | NASA

Happy Fourth of July! | NASA

A gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. It was dedicated by President Grover Cleveland on October 28, 1886.  Designated as a National Monument in 1924, employees of the National Park Service have been caring for the Statue of Liberty since 1933. The statue is a figure of a classically draped woman, likely inspired by the Roman goddess of liberty, Libertas. She holds a torch above her head with her right hand, and in her left hand carries a tabula ansata inscribed JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (July 4, 1776, in Roman numerals), the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. With her left foot she steps on a broken chain and shackle, commemorating the national abolition of slavery following the American Civil War. After its dedication the statue became an icon of freedom and of the United States, seen as a symbol of welcome to immigrants arriving by sea.

Statue of Liberty National Monument, New York City:
https://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm

Image Description: The space shuttle Enterprise, atop a barge, passes the Statue of Liberty in New York, Wednesday, June 6, 2012, on its way to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum where it is permanently displayed. 

Space Shuttle Enterprise (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-101) was the first orbiter of the Space Shuttle system. Rolled out on September 17, 1976, it was built for NASA as part of the Space Shuttle program to perform atmospheric test flights after being launched from a modified Boeing 747. It was constructed without engines or a functional heat shield. As a result, it was not capable of spaceflight.

From the first launch on April 12, 1981 to the final landing on July 21, 2011, NASA's space shuttle fleet flew 135 missions and helped construct the International Space Station.

Space Shuttle Pavilion at Intrepid Museum:
https://intrepidmuseum.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/space-shuttle-pavilion

NASA's Space Shuttle Program/Space Transportation System (STS):

https://www.nasa.gov/space-shuttle/

Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
Image Date: June 6, 2012

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