Updated: August 18, 2023

An original Copernicus shuttle filming miniature prop as seen used in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier ( Paramount Pictures, 1989 ).

This filming miniature is composed of wood, fiberglass and resin and features hand-painted detailing throughout. The graphics for "3," "USS Enterprise," "Copernicus," and "NCC-1701-A," have all been stenciled onto the sides of the shuttlecraft. Wire fastened at the top of the model would allow the ship to be hung from the ceiling for exhibition purposes.

This model represents one of three models of this scale that were created by Associates and Ferren, with supervisory work by Greg Jein. These models were built to 1/6 scale. This model is the only known filming miniature at a six-foot scale of the Copernicus from the production of the film. While the two models of the Galileo that were produced were auctioned off in the past as part of Christies' 2006 "40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection," this prop was retained by the studio and continued to be exhibited at various museums up until 2012. Six models of varying sizes were created for different purposes during the production of the film, to be used in crash sequences, and included 2-1/2 foot models.

The Copernicus was the third shuttlecraft attached to the USS Enterprise in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. After a malfunction with their transporters, William Shatner as "James T. Kirk," Leonard Nimoy as "Spock,” Deforest Kelley as "Dr. Leonard McCoy," and Laurence Luckinbill as "Sybok," would use the Copernicus to travel to the planet Sha Ka Ree. The shuttlecraft would later be destroyed while on the planet. This type of filming miniature can be seen on the descent to the planet, as well as during the landing sequence on the planet. The Copernicus also makes an appearance in the film during a scene in which its sister shuttlecraft, the Galileo, crash lands in the shuttle bay.

Included with this authentic filming miniature is an original Paramount Studios wooden crate. This crate features labeling that includes hand-written notations such as, "M-106 / Copernicus Model," "Copernicus Enterprise Shuttle," and more that were added to the crate for archival purposes during exhibition and shipment. Crate: 70 x 40 x 36 inches; Model: 25 x 34 x 59 inches.

Value: $30,000.