Astro Barbie: Pair of Dolls That Went to Space Now on Display at the Smithsonian

In February 2022 , two Barbie dolls react to an strange call : “ amount on Barbie , allow ’s go party … .. in outer space . ” plume in clean spacesuits , the pair spent a few month aboard the International Space Station ( ISS ) among substantial - sprightliness astronauts . Now that they ’re back on Earth , the two astronaut Barbies are on presentation at the National Air and Space Museum as part of an exhibit consecrate to one of the dolly ’s most iconic feeling .

The Smithsonian ’s National Air and Space Museum recentlyunveiledthe latest addition to its collecting of Astronaut Barbie , which now include the only two doll to have really gone to distance .

This particular pair of space - theme Barbie dolly did n’t just put on their cosmonaut suits for fun , they put them to use as part of Mission DreamStar , a collaboration between the toy company Mattel and NASA that set out to encourage youthful girls to become astronaut and space scientists .

Two astronaut Barbies spent some time on board the ISS.

Two astronaut Barbies spent some time on board the ISS.Image: Mattel

The astronaut Barbies launched aboard an Antares rocket in February 2022 and spent several calendar month in microgravity on panel the ISS . During their time in outer space , the dolls float in the microgravity environs , tour the space station ’s Veggie Garden , Minus Eighty - Degree Laboratory Freezer , as well as the famed Cupola window that provides a breathless view of Earth below .

As part of the Barbie Space Discovery line , the two spaceman Barbies were arrange in white spacesuit with pinkish and blue detail , livid gloves , and white boots . Before going to space , however , the dolls had to pack light , impart all of their accessories behind , and their tomentum had to be styled in a way to keep it from shedding in the space travel surroundings .

In improver to the two Barbies that run to blank space , the museum ’s Udvar - Hazy Center in Chantilly , Virginia , also includes three other loop of Astronaut Barbie : 1965 Miss Astronaut , 1985 Astronaut Barbie , and 1994 Moon landing Barbie .

Photo: The Smithsonian

Photo: The Smithsonian

Miss Astronaut was a pioneer , the first Barbie doll wearing a spacesuit was released 13 class before NASA started include womanhood in its class of spaceman in 1978 and 18 years before Sally Ride became the first American woman to go to space in 1983 .

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BarbieMattelSpace suit

A Barbie doll dressed in the Miss Astronaut outfit.