Mattel will be making more space-themed toys in the coming years after signing a new deal with rocket company, SpaceX.
The toy giant announced on Wednesday that it has entered into a multi-year agreement with the rocket company to create and market products that inspire children and adult collectors alike to tap into their inner space explorers.
Mattel will start releasing SpaceX-inspired toys in 2023 under its iconic Matchbox brand. In the same year, the toy manufacturer will also begin dropping collectibles inspired by space exploration on Mattel Creations, the company’s collaboration and direct-to-consumer platform offering limited-edition, higher-end items.
“We take pride in our ability to create products and experiences that honor cultural moments and inspire humankind,” said Nick Karamanos, SVP Entertainment Partnerships at Mattel, in a press release announcing the agreement. “As space exploration advances more quickly than ever before, we are thrilled to work with SpaceX and help spark limitless play patterns for the space explorer in every kid.”
Brian Bjelde, Vice President at SpaceX, added: “At SpaceX, we believe that a future in which humanity is out among the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one in which we are not. We look forward to working with Mattel to help inspire the next generation of space explorers and enthusiasts.”
Mattel’s space-themed toys
Mattel’s SpaceX-inspired toys won’t be the first space-themed toys to be released by the company. According to CNN Business, the toy manufacturer has started to make Astro-inspired collectibles since 1965, the year in which the now-classic Barbie Miss Astronaut debuted.
Inspired by the Project Mercury astronauts, who were the first Americans to travel to space, the silver-space-suit-clad Barbie Miss Astronaut doll was created to inspire young girls to pursue a career in space exploration long before women became a part of NASA’s astronaut corps in 1978.
This silver-space-suit-clad Barbie doll is inspired by the first Americans to travel to space.
What is SpaceX?
SpaceX, whose complete business name is Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, is a spacecraft manufacturer, space launch provider, and satellite communications corporation headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded by entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002 in the hopes of revolutionizing the aerospace industry and making affordable spaceflight a reality.
Since its formation, the firm has gained global attention for a series of historic milestones. In 2012, its Dragon spacecraft became the first commercial spacecraft to deliver cargo to and from the International Space Station. And in 2020, it became the first private company to take humans there as well.
