1965 Miss Astronaut Barbie — https://airandspace.si.edu, edited by author

When Barbie Beat NASA

“Miss Astronaut Barbie” was space trekking before Neil and Buzz

The most famous plastic blonde of all time, Barbie has been a pop culture icon for over six decades. It has been idolized, mocked, emulated, rebranded as a feminist icon, criticized as unrealistic and stereotyped, and everything in between.

In the meantime, Mattel has sold over a billion Barbie dolls, making it the company’s largest and most profitable line.

Career woman

Barbie has a rather impressive resume, having worked over 200 jobs — including veterinarian, UNICEF ambassador, Army officer, florist, baseball player, detective, and US Presidential Candidate.

You know, Jack of all trades and all that.

Since her first big break as a fashion designer in 1960, her career has been on the rise as a flight attendant (1961), registered nurse (1961), and tennis player (1962). But in 1965, Mattel came up with an ambitious idea for Barbie’s next job opportunity — she became an astronaut!

Miss Astronaut Barbie outfit — sentintospace.com, edited by author

The “Miss Astronaut Barbie” outfit was launched, complete with a futuristic silver spacesuit…