I'm very happy that Barbie dolls nowadays reflect not only the body shape of real women, but also the full range of their professional achievements," she said in a statement through ESA last year. The first astronaut outfit, "Barbie Miss Astronaut" released in 1965, was inspired by the silverly suits worn by the Mercury astronauts. While separate from Mission DreamStar, we look forward to Samantha's flight and continuing to celebrate STEM," McKnight told collectSPACE. With an expansive list of careers under her belt, Barbie is known for championing women's equality and reminding girls that they can grow up to be whatever they want. Echazarreta and Aderin-Pocock are the latest members of the space exploration and astronomy community to be recognized as role models by Mattel.

Day-to-Night Barbie could go from running the boardroom in her pink power suit to a fun night out on the town. Beyond damage to the suits, lunar dust can cause serious damage to the lungs if inhaled, with Wells comparing it to "breathing ground-up fibreglass". Elisha Sauers is the space and future tech reporter for Mashable, interested in asteroids, astronauts, and astro nuts.

Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. With future plans to travel to the Moon again already in progress, the need for a novel cleaning technique to prevent damage to spacesuits and astronauts is clear. Since the initial clothing pack in 1965, there have been several more astronaut-related Barbie releases, whether new dolls, outfit sets, or the 2010 re-release of the original Astronaut Barbie.

Barbie was there to inspire girls that they can be anything as early as the 60s, during a time when it was uncommon for girls to pursue a career in STEM. Her work has earned numerous state awards, including the Virginia Press Association's top honor, Best in Show, and national recognition for narrative storytelling.

While the first woman went to space in 1963, NASA did not allow women to join their astronaut corps until 1978, and as such, Barbie started her astronaut career at a time when it was generally not possible for women to do so. Keep in mind that anyone can view public collections - they may also appear in recommendations and other places. 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. According to Wells, the team from Washington State University named their Barbie "Rosie", after the American figure Rosie the Riveter who represented the women who took up factory jobs during World War Two. 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.