A Barbie doll that journeyed into space will soon be showcased to the public for the first time at the upcoming Design Museum exhibition, celebrating the 65th anniversary of the iconic doll brand.
Modeled after Samantha Cristoforetti, the European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut and first female commander of the International Space Station (ISS), this special edition Barbie accompanied Cristoforetti during her six-month mission orbiting Earth aboard the ISS in 2022.
“I think it’s a great achievement for the overall team to have this Barbie on display and to have it connect to many more people through this exhibition,” said Cristoforett.
In April 2022, Cristoforetti embarked on her second mission to the ISS, Minerva, where she achieved another milestone by conducting her inaugural spacewalk, becoming the first European woman to do so.
Throughout her mission, Cristoforetti engaged with young audiences, answering questions from five girls about her journey into space. Video footage capturing these interactions will accompany the Samantha Cristoforetti Barbie doll at the exhibition titled Barbie: The Exhibition.
Released by Mattel in collaboration with the ESA during World Space Week 2021, the Cristoforetti Barbie aims to inspire young girls to explore careers in space as future astronauts, engineers, and scientists.
On loan from the ESA, this unique doll’s display in London will underscore Barbie’s longstanding association with space exploration. Also featured will be the original “Miss Astronaut” outfit from 1965, marking Barbie’s debut as an astronaut, on loan from the Mattel archives in Los Angeles.
Additionally, visitors will encounter Barbie’s 1985 release in a metallic pink spacesuit, highlighting her role in promoting scientific curiosity following astronaut Sally Ride’s historic space mission in 1983.
Danielle Thom, curator of Barbie: The Exhibition, explained, “The doll we are showcasing orbited the Earth in the International Space Station. It’s not the original one-off made for Samantha, which she owns personally, but a widely available version created by Mattel.”
The exhibition, opening on July 5, 2024, and running until February 23, 2025, aims to explore Barbie’s cultural impact over the decades, tracing her evolution from a 1959 debut envisioned by Ruth Handler to empower her daughter Barbara with diverse narratives.
Among the exhibits will be the sought-after “Number 1 Barbie,” clad in a classic black-and-white bathing suit, alongside iconic dolls like Sunset Malibu Barbie from 1971 and Day to Night Barbie from 1985.
Highlighting the evolution of Barbie’s representation, the exhibition will also showcase the popular Totally Hair Barbie from 1992, featuring extra-long hair for styling.
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