Barbie launches doll of Europe’s only female astronaut — and takes it on zero-gravity flight

New Barbie Signature Role Model Samantha Cristoforetti celebrates women in space.

Mattel’s new ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti Barbie doll was sent on a zero-g parabolic flight to mark World Space Week and its theme this year of “Women in Space.” (Image credit: ESA/Mattel)

Samantha Cristoforetti, an astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA), made her debut as part of the fashion doll line three years ago, but only as a couple of one-off models for display. Now, Cristoforetti’s Signature Role Model Barbie doll is for sale and is raising funds for a scholarship in celebration of “Women in Space,” the theme of this year’s World Space Week that began on Monday (Oct. 4).

European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti holds Mattel’s new Barbie Signature Role Model doll that was styled after her. (ESA)

Samantha Cristoforetti, 44 from Italy, is an aviator, engineer, astronaut and is currently in training ahead of her next mission to the International Space Station in April 2022. During her six-month tour of duty, she will take on the role of Commander and plans to take her doll on the mission with her to continue inspiring girls.

They created a special edition lookalike doll of Samantha and even gave her a taste of space. The doll departed from the ESA base in Germany and traveled on a Zero-gravity flight, mimicking all the preparation and experience of a real-life astronaut.

“With STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] careers still underrepresented by women, Barbie is using its platform this World Space Week to show girls exciting and diverse roles and activity in space for them to explore their limitless potential,” Isabel Ferrer, Mattel’s marketing director for the Barbie line in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), said in a statement.

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