One of the tiny capsules used for the historic rescue of trapped Chilean miners last year has beentransported by FedEx Express to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in
Washington, D.C. as part of an international tour.Measuring nearly 14 feet long and less than two feet wide, the “Fénix” capsule was used inthe historic rescue of 33 Chilean miners trapped 2,300 feet underground for nearly ten weeks oneyear ago at the San Jose Mine near Copiapó, Chile.
To commemorate the event, the life-saving “Fénix” is currently touring outside of Chile, mostrecently stopping for an extended display at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum ofNatural History in Washington, D.C. The exhibition, “Against All Odds,” opens to the public today(August 5).
The Chilean Copper Corporation (CODELCO) and the Ministry of Mining for the Republic of Chileselected FedEx Express as the official carrier of the capsule. FedEx recently transported thecapsule to Toronto and Ottawa, Canada, and then to Bochum, Germany before delivering it to theSmithsonian.
Once the Smithsonian exhibit is complete, the rescue capsule and other materials from the SanJose mine site will be returned via FedEx Express to Santiago, Chile. In addition to the transportof the capsule, the FedEx Packaging Lab designed a customised shipping container used to transportthe 800 lb. capsule.
“FedEx has had the honor of transporting some of the world’s most precious cargo and now wehave been entrusted with transporting the Fénix capsule. We understand how valuable the Fénixcapsule is to the Chilean people and the rest of the world and are proud to transport this emblemof hope. At FedEx, the Fénix capsule symbolises the everyday values that we embrace, the importanceof teamwork,” said Juan Cento, president, Latin America and Caribbean division, FedEx Express.
The Fénix capsule is just one of the unusual shipments FedEx has been recently entrusted toship. Last summer, 25,000 sea turtle eggs were transported by FedEx from the Gulf of Mexico to theAtlantic coast in Florida. Other unusual international cargo transported by FedEx includes awindmill from Denmark, an 11,000-pound helicopter, and a five-ton communications satellite.
