U.S. #5573-82
2021 55¢ Star Wars Droids
Issue Date: May 4, 2021
First Day City: Nicasio, CA
Type of Stamp: Commemorative
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset, Flexographic
Format: Pane of 20
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 60,000,000
In 2021, the United States Postal Service released 10 new Forever stamps picturing Star Wars droids. The stamps were created to honor these characters and the positive influence they've had on people. Star Wars has always shown the exciting side of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) with highly advanced droids and other technological marvels. It's no wonder so many Star Wars fans have gone on to pursue STEM education.
In the Star Wars universe, there are countless droids who help keep things running. Whether on the side of the heroes or the villains, droids have always played an important role. Over the years, we have seen astromechs in charge of piloting X-wing fighters, protocol droids who translate different languages, droids programmed for battle, and many more. The 2021 set of 10 US stamps picture a small handful of them. Some are quite famous, while others are more obscure: IG-11, R2-D2, K-2SO, D-O, L3-37, BB-8, C-3PO, GNK (or GONK), 2-1B, and C-1-10P ("Chopper").
STEM has a ways to go before we'll see anything like these droids in real life, but that hasn't stopped people from trying. In fact, there are many people across the US who recreate Star Wars droids in their own homes or workshops. Most of the time these are decorative or only able to move with the use of a remote control. But who knows what discoveries hobbyists might make in the future?!