In its most recent attempt to bust gender stereotypes, Mattel in collaboration with the International Space Station National Lab sent two barbie dolls to space aboard the Mission Dreamstar. The team-up hopes to encourage impressionable young minds to pursue a career in STEM, aerospace, engineering, and so forth.
Barbie and her history with space
Barbie never seems to lose its relevance. History shows the cultural icon constantly reinventing herself to suit the changing face of American society, giving womxn and little girls agency since 1959.
Long before she embarked on her first space mission Barbie donned her very first astronaut gear way back in 1965. This was even before humans set foot on the moon!
And now, several decades later, the fashion doll has come full circle, with over 200 careers under her belt, reminding children to “reach for the stars”.
Barbie was on other occasions made in the likeness of astronauts such as Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (ESA).
What’s in store for Barbie after her first mission?
After Barbie returns from her trip to space, the two dolls are to be donated to the National Air and Space Museum, a part of the Smithsonian Institution.
Following this, the Space Discovery Barbies are to be put on display (later in the year) at the museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center located in Chantilly, Virginia to continue her mission of creating excitement in regard to space within young minds.
The Launch of Barbie Space Discovery dolls
To celebrate the launch of Barbie going to space, Mattel has released an all-new Barbie Space Discovery line made available exclusively at Target.
The space exploration line includes a Barbie astronaut doll, a Space Teacher Playset, and a Space Room Playset, among others.