Mattel's ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti Barbie doll was sent to zero-g paraabolic flight by Mattel to celebrate World Space Week. This year, the theme of "Women in Space" is being celebrated.
It's no longer a Barbie that the first Italian woman has launched into space.
Samantha Cristoforetti is an astronaut from the European Space Agency (ESA). She made her debut in the fashion doll line three year ago. There were only a few models to display. Cristoforetti's Signature Role Model Barbie doll, now for sale, is raising funds to support a scholarship in honor of "Women in Space", the theme of this years's World Space Week which began Monday (Oct.4).
"With STEM [science technology, engineering, and mathematics] still being underrepresented by women in the workforce, Barbie is using its platform to show girls in exciting and diverse roles in space for them explore their limitless potential," Isabel Ferrer (Marketing Director for Mattel's Barbie line in Europe and the Middle East and Africa) said in a statement.
The Cristoforetti Barbie new Barbie is dressed in a simplified NASA extravehicular Mobility Unit, or spacesuit. This spacesuit is used for spacewalks outside the International Space Station. The doll's white uniform is decorated with the Italian flag on her left shoulder, NASA's extravehicular activ (EVA) patch on her right shoulder, and the ESA logo patch on its chest. Red stripes are used to identify the spacewalker who is wearing the spacesuit.
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A portion of the proceeds from Samantha Cristoforetti's Barbie Signature Role Model Barbie doll sales go to a bursary supporting scientists and explorers of the future. Mattel image credit
The Barbie doll looks very similar to the Cristoforetti model, which was first made for display. It also has a portable life support system backpack (PLSS). Cristoforetti was wearing her blue flight suit, which she used to train.
Although Cristoforetti is not yet able to perform spacewalks, she may do so in her next mission. Cristoforetti, a crew member aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, will be the first European woman who commands the space station in 2022.
A Cristoforetti Barbie was flown on a recent ESA parabolic flight to celebrate World Space Week. The doll was exposed to the same weightless environment as the real Cristoforetti in training and her first spaceflight in 2015.
Cristoforetti said that sometimes little things can help to plant great dreams. "Maybe the amusing images of my doll floating in weightlessness can spark children's imaginations and encourage them to pursue STEM careers."
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European Space Agency (ESA), Samantha Cristoforetti holding Mattel's Barbie Signature Role Model doll, which was named after her. (Image credit to ESA
The Cristoforetti Signature Role Model Barbie doll can now be purchased in Europe and at select American stores. The $30 doll (34,99) will be donated to Women in Aerospace Europe (WIA), Europe. This money will go towards a new 5000 ESAx Mattel Bursary that will be awarded to outreach projects encouraging interest in STEM careers.
The new scholarship is open to both academic and non-academic outreach projects.
ESA and Mattel formed a partnership to encourage diversity and encourage women and girls to pursue careers in the aerospace industry. We are grateful for the support from Women in Aerospace Europe and we are pleased that this partnership provides another avenue through which to achieve this goal," Emmet Fletcher (head of branding and partnership office at ESA) said.
Samantha Cristoforetti, an ESA astronaut, plans to bring one of her Barbie Signature Role Model dolls on her next expedition in 2022. She will be the first European woman to command a space station. (Image credit: ESA/Mattel).
The Cristoforetti doll was first Barbie to be modelled after an astronaut, and it was also the second Barbie to go on sale. Mattel introduced the Barbie Inspiring Women Series Sally Ride doll in 2019, which was named after the first American woman who flew into space. Mattel also produced a Barbie doll for Anna Kikina (Russia's only female cosmonaut corps), but it was only for display.
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