Barbie Space Discovery Space Station Playset with Space Explorer Doll, Puppy, Workstation, Satellite Space Scenes & 20 Space Station Items:Chair, Test Tubes, Microscope, Puppy Bed, 3 - 7Years Old

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Astronaut Barbie's accessories took a more realistic turn in 1994 in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the first moon landing. Katya Echazarreta holds out the Barbie doll created in her likeness after being honored as a STEM role model. (Image credit: Mattel)

Twenty years after introducing Barbie Miss Astronaut, a new "Astronaut Barbie" was released featuring a pink and silver mini skirt-spacesuit "with sparkly skirt and tights." The concept is in line with what Richard Dixon, president and chief operating officer of Barbie’s California-based maker Mattel, described as an ambitious “diversity revolution” for the plastic icon. “It’s a far cry from the Barbies of dated ethnic old,” he declared at a recent conference in Los Angeles.After welcoming 1994’s Astronaut Barbie to Air and Space, the Museum went on a long Barbie-collecting hiatus that ended only recently with the addition of two dolls from 2021. Barbie, on the other hand, never rests. Between 2000 and 2020, seven total space-themed Barbie dolls were released. Most notably, Barbie did what no human has yet achieved and traveled to Mars! In 2013, Mars Explorer Barbie claimed the Red Planet for Barbieland. Clad in a white spacesuit with shimmery pink detailing, this doll perfectly blends the more realistic, practical styles of the 1960s and ‘90s with the hyperfeminine fashions of the 1980s. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile. In 2021, Mattel released its most recent astronaut doll with the Barbie Space Discovery line. This version of astronaut Barbie wears a white spacesuit with pink and blue detailing, white gloves, and white boots. The best part about this doll, however, is that she is the first Barbie doll to ever actually visit space! This is the version of Barbie that was chosen for Mattel’s Mission DreamStar expedition to the International Space Station in 2022. Two Space Discovery Barbies “tour” the Vegetable Production System (Veggie) on the ISS. (Image credit: Mattel) The new Astronaut Barbie is one of six iconic careers celebratingthe Mattel toy line. The other careers featured are: Pilot, Athlete, Journalist, Political Candidate and Firefighter. They are all scheduled for release this spring.

Two “Space Discovery” Barbies that flew to the International Space Station in 2022, on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center. Like anything else that flies in space, the two dolls received special preparation before the flight. Although Barbie dolls are well known for coming with multiple accessories; those remained on the ground for this mission. And both Barbie dolls sport hair that has been styled, not just to prevent the flyaways of a bad hair day, but also to literally keep any hair from shedding into the spaceflight environment. Echazarreta's Barbie doll portrays her wearing her Space for Humanity flight suit, complete with a miniature version of the mission patch designed for her flight. During this time, Mattel also released another iteration of Space Camp Barbie (2008) as well as two scientist dolls: Space Scientist Barbie (2017) and Astrophysicist Barbie (2019). Several space-themed dolls based on real women were also released, perhaps in an attempt to show young girls that their dreams aren’t only possible in Barbieland. Among these highlighted women are Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician who worked on the Mercury program; Sally Ride, the first American woman in space; and Samantha Cristoforetti, the first Italian woman in space. 2021: Space Discovery Barbie

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A former NASA engineer who became the first Mexican-born woman to fly into space now has a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll attesting to her being a role model for the next generation of scientists and explorers. Currently, Echazarreta is pursuing her master's in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University. She is also helping inspire girls and young women through her TV appearances and on her TikTok channel, where her videos have been viewed millions of times. Released 13 years before NASA accepted its first female astronauts and 18 years before the first American woman would go to space, the Miss Astronaut outfitted doll was ahead of her time. As such, she served the important purpose of showing young girls that they too could dream of spaceflight before there were women astronauts at NASA to be such role models. 1980s Earth-bound throughout the 1970s, Barbie once again donned a spacesuit in 1985 — this time with flair. Unsurprisingly, this doll’s fashion choices were heavily influenced by the culture and trends of the 1980s. This version of Astronaut Barbie explores the Moon in a shiny, hot pink spacesuit. In true '80s fashion, her hair is too big to fit fully inside her helmet. 1980s Astronaut Barbie comes complete with a costume change, and the doll in our collection is displayed wearing her second outfit — a shiny peplum miniskirt worn over silver leggings and knee-high pink boots. As seen in the doll’s commercial, the fantastical hot pink and silver lamé outfit works for all occasions, whether you be landing on the Moon or getting down at the space disco. You can be the first in outer space, fantastic fun in a far-out place. Then, for a change of pace, we know a spacey spot where this mini will look real hot!" Inspired by the pressure suits worn by the all-male U.S. Mercury astronauts of the era, the Barbie Miss Astronaut (and matching "Ken Mr. Astronaut") spacesuits were silver with brown mittens and boots. Each outfit included a white helmet and an American flag for the dolls to carry.

In 1998, Mattel released Space Camp Barbie (not in our collection), whose blue flight suit is much more in line with what actual astronauts were wearing during the 1990s. Based on popular Space Camp programs for children and teenagers, this doll was the first space-themed Barbie that wasn’t an astronaut. Unlike Astronaut Barbie, who represents a far-off future goal that children must wait to achieve until they are older, Space Camp Barbie represents a real and immediately attainable way for children to engage with and study space. 2000s and 2010sIn honor of these two new and very special additions to our collection, we are documenting Barbie’s long career as one of our nation’s foremost space explorers. 1960s Mattel promotional image for its 1985 "Astronaut Barbie." Read the Full Story (Image credit: Mattel) There has been a lot of controversy around Barbie’s body and appearance, as if she’s a real person, but very few dolls have realistic body proportions when you think about it. It’s quite remarkable,” muses Monier. “She is just a toy, after all.” The out-of-this-world set makes a great gift for kids 3 to 7 years old, especially those who love space, science and shooting for the stars! Released 13 years before NASA accepted its first female astronauts and 18 years before the first American woman would go to space, the Miss Astronaut outfitted doll was ahead of her time. As such, she served the important purpose of showing young girls that they too could dream of spaceflight before there were women astronauts at NASA to be such role models. 1980s