A copper spike, an original component from the hull of the USS Constitution, dating back to 1797, is believed to be the oldest piece of Americana to have flown into space. This artifact traveled aboard the space shuttle Atlantis in 1995 during the STS-71 mission, the first to dock with the Russian space station Mir.

While replicas of historical items like George Washington's Headquarters Flag and the Golden Spike have also reached orbit, the USS Constitution spike is an original component. Another artifact from the famous frigate, a fragment of wood, flew into space aboard the Hubble Space Telescope on STS-31.

These objects, though replicas in some cases, represent a desire to connect space exploration with American history. The use of original components like the USS Constitution spike highlights the technological and historical significance of early American craftsmanship and naval history, bringing a tangible piece of the past into the future of space travel.