The rescue capsule Fénix was designed by the Chilean Navy in collaboration with NASA to rescue the 33 miners trapped underground in Chile's San José copper mine. Painted in the red, white, and blue colors of Chile, the Fénix looked like a military missile. The device was nearly 3.95 meters high on the outside, and the inside was 1.9 meters high and about 51 centimeters across, which was just enough room for an adult male. When mobilized by the rescue team, the Fénix was equipped with an emergency oxygen supply. The bottom of the capsule held three tanks of air, which would provide enough air for one person to breathe for about 90 minutes. This amount of air was more than needed for the 15 to 20 minutes that the trip to the surface was expected to take.

It also had a communication system so that the miners could speak to the surface while being lifted up. In an emergency, such as the capsule getting stuck in the rescue hole, the bottom could be opened from the inside so that the miner could be lowered back down to the shelter. Thanks to the capsule and the organized rescue efforts, the miners put an end to their life of darkness. When they stepped out of the capsule door to meet their loved ones, the designers of the Fénix shared in the joy; their efforts resulted in the saving of 33 lives.