Barbie Heads Out To Space In ‘One Giant Leap For Dollkind’ And Young Hopefuls
When Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin first set foot on the Moon in 1969, it would’ve been difficult for them to predict that one day, Barbie dolls would travel up into space too.
In the 63rd year of the ubiquitous doll’s existence, Mattel collaborated with the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab to send two of its dolls up into orbit, in a bid to encourage girls around the world to be interested in aerospace, engineering, and STEM careers.
To date, there are nearly 40 different Barbie careers showcasing girls in STEM roles, including an astrophysicist, space scientist, and robotics engineer.
“Now, almost 60 years later and with 200 careers and counting, Barbie dolls have made it to space,” said Global Head of Barbie and Dolls, Lisa McKnight.
“It is important that we encourage girls to reach for the stars—literally—and pursue careers in aerospace and STEM. With help from the International Space Station National Lab team, we are reminding girls that not even gravity can hold them back,” she added.
Aboard the ISS, the two dolls got a grand tour of the space, including the Cupola, the observation module, Veggie Garden, and Minus Eight-Degree Laboratory Freezer (Melfi). Adorably, they were also introduced to the robots who live on the station, the Astrobees.
When the dolls return from their out-of-this-world mission in the summer, they will be donated to the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, and will be exhibited at the museum’s Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, so young girls can see them up close.
As part of the dolls’ trip to space, Barbie has released a special episode of its You Can Be Anything series, which will introduce the different careers in space to girls worldwide.
