Download the all-new Republic app:

Published 20:43 IST, August 30th 2019

Barbie honours Sally Ride, launches first woman astronaut doll

In a bid to honour the first American woman astronaut Sally Ride, the toymaker giant Mattel launched her miniature Barbie doll in Inspiring Women series

Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
null | Image: self
Advertisement

In a bid to honour the first American woman astronaut Sally Ride, the toymaker giant Mattel launched her miniature Barbie doll on Thursday, in their Inspiring Women series. Barbie's official twitter handle released pictures of the famous astronaut in her official NASA gear. The doll has Ride's curly brown hair and sports a surprising no-makeup look. It also shows the 'Barbie Sally' in her space capsule hard at work on her command module.

Elon Musk's 'Starman' completes a lap around the Sun in Tesla Roadster, space fans blare klaxons

Advertisement

Spaceline: Scientists suggest space cable connecting Moon and Earth

The doll has garnered rave reviews online:

'Pluto is a planet', declares NASA chief, 13 years since its demotion

Advertisement

Who is Sally Ride?

Sally Ride became the first American woman astronaut to travel to space in 1983, as shared by NASA. She was the third woman in space overall after USSR cosmonauts Valentina V Tereshkova (1963) and Svetlana Savitskaya (1982). Ride and five other women had been selected in 1978 for NASA Astronaut Group 8, the first American selection class to include females. Incidentally, NASA shared that Ride’s launching 1983, occurred almost to the day of the 20th anniversary of the launch of the first woman in space, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina V. Tereshkova. Ride served as Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) for STS-2 and STS-3 in late 1981 and early 1982 and became an expert in the use of the shuttle’s robotic arm.  Incidentally, Ride and Tereshkova never met.

NASA wants you to name the Mars 2020 Rover, Here's how to participate

Advertisement

20:18 IST, August 30th 2019