Barbie that spent six months orbiting the Earth on the International Space Station will go on public display for this first time this week at the Design Museum in London. It will be part of a new exhibition marking the 65th anniversary of the Barbie brand, set to open on Friday in partnership with the doll’s creator Mattel. The Barbie was made to resemble Samantha Cristoforetti, the first female commander of the ISS.
On the mission in which she was accompanied by her lookalike Barbie, Cristoforetti became the first European woman to complete a spacewalk. There will be videos on display of Cristoforetti answering questions from space to encourage young girls to become scientists and astronauts—all while floating in zero gravity alongside the Barbie. “We’re so excited that the first time anyone can see Samantha’s doll since it returned from the International Space Station is at the Design Museum this summer,” said curator Danielle Thom.
“Its remarkable journey on Samantha’s history-making mission 400 kilometers above the Earth was one of the most dramatic moments in Barbie’s evolving story.” Cristoforetti said she was “thrilled” her Barbie would play a “starring role” in the exhibition. Highlighting other connections between Barbie and the cosmos, there will be a rare edition of the first space-themed Barbie on display.
The silver “Miss Astronaut” was Barbie’s first depiction as an astronaut released in 1965, four years before Neil Armstrong re.
