A Coelophysis skull was brought into space by the space shuttle Endeavor on January 22, 1998. It traveled to the space station MIR.

Anatomy: Coelophysis was a small, lightly-built dinosaur that walked on two long legs. It was about 9 feet long (2.8 m). It had light, hollow bones (hence its name), a long, pointed head with dozens of small, serrated teeth, three clawed fingers on its hands, and a long neck.

Fossils and Name: Coelophysis was discovered in 1881 by David Baldwin. It was named by US paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope in 1889. Thousands of Coelophysis fossils, including bonebeds, have been found at Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, USA. Several hundred Coelophysis fossil skeletons have been found in Arizona, New Mexico, and perhaps Utah. Adults and juveniles have been found.