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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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.

On June 4, 2022, Echazarreta lifted off on a 10-minute suborbital spaceflight on Blue Origin's New Shepard launch vehicle. In addition to being the first Mexican-born woman to cross the boundary between Earth and space, Echazarreta was also the first "citizen astronaut" to fly in a seat sponsored by the non-profit Space for Humanity.

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. 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 is that it's actually been to space! This is the version of Barbie that was chosen for Mattel’s Mission DreamStar expedition to the International Space Station in 2022. Katya Echazarreta holds out the Barbie doll created in her likeness after being honored as a STEM role model. (Image credit: Mattel)

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. In September 2012, a month after the car-size science laboratory landed on the Red Planet, Mattel released a Hot Wheels model of Curiosity. The 1:64 scale miniature was part of the toy company's assortment of 247 Hot Wheels cars for 2012. 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 2010s 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! The advisory team helped Mattel create accessories that are relevant for each Barbie’s career. Astrophysicist Barbie, for example, comes with a telescope, a star chart, and a fun nebula-printed shirt (like you'd likely find in the closet of a a real-life astrophysicist).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. European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti holds Mattel's new Barbie Signature Role Model doll that was styled after her. (Image credit: ESA) Academic and nonacademic outreach projects are eligible to apply for the new scholarship, so long as they will be conducted in Europe and can be completed within 12 months. Helping people understand the world is, and always has been, the core purpose of National Geographic," Goldberg said in press release. "Through our partnership with Barbie, we are excited to reach kids in a new way, using the power of play to inspire our next generation of explorers, scientists and photographers." This box from 1994 Astronaut Barbie is in the Museum’s collection, along with the corresponding doll.