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  Toys based on or modeled after real astronauts

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Author Topic:   Toys based on or modeled after real astronauts
Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 51925
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 02-17-2024 02:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I was thinking the other day about all of the toys that have been made in the image of real astronauts and decided to try to compile a complete list. Do you know of any I have missed?

A couple of guidelines:

  1. The list only includes toys that were directly based on real astronauts, space program personalities or a real type of astronaut (e.g. Apollo astronaut).

    An example of a toy that would not count is Major Matt Mason, which was inspired by the Apollo program but not based on the astronauts. Similarly, there were many astronaut Barbie dolls, but only a few modeled directly on specific astronauts.

  2. The list does not include statuettes or plastic model kits.
Space Voyagers (Action Products International)
  • 1998 Authentic Replica Mercury Astronaut
  • 1998 Authentic Replica Gemini Astronaut
  • 1998 Authentic Replica Apollo Astronaut
  • 1998 Authentic Replica Shuttle Astronaut
  • 1998 Authentic Replica Shuttle Astronaut with MMU
  • 2004 AstroSquad Apollo Lunar Explorer Commander Wolf Perry
  • 2004 AstroSquad Space Shuttle Mission Specialist Lt. Cdr. "Steel" Jones
  • 2004 AstroSquad Shuttle Payload Commander Dr. Amy Taylor
  • 2004 AstroSquad Space Station Scientist Dr. Mackenzie "Mack" Powers
Bandai
  • 1998 Power Rangers Space Heroes of Space Alan Bean
  • 1998 Power Rangers Space Heroes of Space Charles Duke
  • 1998 Power Rangers Space Heroes of Space Charles Conrad
Barbie
  • 2016 Inspiring Women Series Katherine Johnson
  • 2019 Inspiring Women Series Sally Ride
  • 2021 Signature Samantha Cristoforetti
Blue Origin
  • 2022 Bobblehead Wally Funk
  • 2022 Bobblehead Audrey Powers
  • 2022 Bobblehead Laura Shepard Churchley
Dragon Models
  • 2002 Apollo Astronaut ‘Buck’
  • 2003 Apollo 11 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin
  • 2003 Can.Do NASA Apollo 11 Astronaut (A)
  • 2003 Can.Do NASA Apollo 11 Astronaut (B)
  • 2011 Apollo 11 Commander
DID Corporation
  • 2019 Apollo 11 Astronaut Neil Armstrong
  • 2019 Apollo 11 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin
  • 2019 Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins
Fisher Price
  • 2021 Little People Collector Inspiring Women Sally Ride
Funko
  • 2022 Soda Astronaut (Artemis OCSS)
  • 2022 Soda Astronaut (Artemis xEMU)
G.I. Joe
  • 1966 GI Joe Official Space Capsule and Authentic Space Suit
  • 1996 International Collectors Convention Space Shuttle Pilot
  • 1996 FAO Schwartz Masterpiece Edition Action Astronaut
  • 1997 Classic Collection - Robert L. Crippen
  • 1997 Classic Collection - Mercury Astronaut
  • 1999 Classic Collection - Colonel Buzz Aldrin
  • 2000 Friendship VII
  • 2002 LIFE Historical Editions - Mercury Astronaut
  • 2002 LIFE Historical Editions - Apollo Moon Landing Astronaut
Hobby Master
  • 2015 Legend Series The Last Man on the Moon Capt. Gene Cernan
Hot Wheels
  • 1998 Action Pack - John Glenn Great American Hero
  • 1998 Action Pack - Apollo Mission
Kenner
  • 1995 Apollo 13 Astronaut (12”)
LEGO
  • 2003 Discovery Kids Lunar Lander Apollo astronaut
  • 2012 CUUSOO Hayabusa JAXA project manager Junichiro Kawaguchi
  • 2017 Women of NASA Sally Ride
  • 2017 Women of NASA Mae Jemison
  • 2017 Women of NASA Nancy Grace Roman
  • 2017 Women of NASA Margaret Hamilton
  • 2019 NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander Apollo astronaut
Minifigs.me
  • 2013 Chris Hadfield
  • 2015 Apollo 13 Crew: James Lovell, Fred Haise, Jack Swigert
  • 2015 Gene Kranz
  • 2016 Mercury Astronaut
  • 2016 Space Shuttle Astronaut
  • 2019 Apollo 11 Moonwalkers Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
  • 2020 Valentina Tereshkova
  • 2021 Collector’s Edition Apollo 11 Crew
Minor League Baseball (MLB)
  • 2020 Biloxi Shuckers Bobblehead Fred Haise
  • 2004 Lancaster JetHawks Bobblehead Gordon Fullerton
  • 2004 Lancaster JetHawks Bobblehead William “Pete” Knight
  • 2005 Lancaster JetHawks Bobblehead Vance Brand
  • 2007 Lancaster JetHawks Bobblehead Buzz Aldrin
  • 2008 Lancaster JetHawks Bobblehead Bill Dana
  • 2010 Lancaster JetHawks Bobblehead Robert “Hoot” Gibson
  • 2011 Lancaster JetHawks Bobblehead Fred Haise
  • 2012 Lancaster JetHawks Bobblehead Joe Engle
  • 2014 Lancaster JetHawks Bobblehead Mike Melvill
  • 2015 Lancaster JetHawks Bobblehead Jerry Ross
Nanoblock (Kawada)
  • 2023 Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki Model
  • 2023 Astronaut
  • 2023 Astronaut Pressure Suit
Odyssey Toys
  • 2003 World Stars Space Heroes Apollo Commander Nick
  • 2003 World Stars Space Heroes Space Shuttle Commander Steve
  • 2003 World Stars Space Heroes Mission Controller Pete
  • 2006 World Stars Apollo Commander
  • 2006 World Stars Apollo Command Module Pilot
  • 2006 World Stars Apollo Lunar Module Pilot
  • 2006 World Stars Apollo CM Pilot Ryan
  • 2006 World Stars Shuttle Misson Specialist Val
Playmate Toys
  • 1999 Apollo 11 25th Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Touchdown Donatello
  • 1999 Apollo 11 25th Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Lunar Leonardo
  • 1999 Apollo 11 25th Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Retro Rocket Raphael
  • 1999 Apollo 11 25th Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Moon Landin’ Michelangelo
Playmobil
  • 2019 Playmobil Magazine Luca Parmitano
  • 2022 DuoPack ESA Astronaut (with ROBert robot)
Soundprints (Trudy Corporation)
  • 1996 Smithsonian Odyssey "One Giant Leap" Apollo 11 Astronaut doll
  • 1998 Smithsonian Odyssey "Handshake in Space" Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Astronaut Thomas Stafford doll
  • 1998 Smithsonian Odyssey "Handshake in Space" Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov doll

PeterO
Member

Posts: 458
From: North Carolina
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 02-17-2024 02:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for PeterO   Click Here to Email PeterO     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Would the new LEGO Space Astronaut count?

randyc
Member

Posts: 897
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: May 2003

posted 02-17-2024 02:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for randyc   Click Here to Email randyc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hobby Master made a Gene Cernan Figurine.

How about the Blitzway Apollo 11 Astronaut? The figurine doesn't distinguish between Neil and Buzz but it has to be one of them.

Blitzway also made a Shuttle astronaut on the end of the RMS.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 51925
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 02-17-2024 03:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Adding the Hobby Master Cernan figure now. Thanks!

As for Blitzway, I don't think their products can be considered toys. As statuettes, there is no real way to play with them.

quote:
Originally posted by PeterO:
Would the new LEGO Space Astronaut count?
Given that LEGO did not try to reproduce specific features from the EMU/MMU, I feel that it is perhaps too generic to be included. Had it been part of the Icons line, rather than Creator, and had it been intended as a replica model, then that would be different.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 51925
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 02-17-2024 05:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I added a few more since first posting:
  • Space Voyagers (Action Products International)
  • Odyssey Toys
  • Soundprints (Trudy Corporation)

GT76
Member

Posts: 95
From: New Orleans, La. USA
Registered: Jun 2015

posted 02-17-2024 09:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GT76   Click Here to Email GT76     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There is the 2002 Life Historical Editions Apollo Moon Landing Astronaut.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 51925
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 02-17-2024 11:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks! Added to the list above.

mercsim
Member

Posts: 252
From: Phoenix, AZ
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 02-20-2024 07:43 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for mercsim   Click Here to Email mercsim     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great list Robert! How about the Mercury Hallmark ornament? I play with mine every year when he goes on and off the tree.

Also FAO Schwarz issued the Master Edition Mercury Astronaut without the capsule that wasn't specifically John Glenn.

Action Products Mercury Astronaut Authentic Replica.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 51925
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 02-20-2024 10:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks! I added the Action Products' Mercury astronaut (as well as the other in the series based on an image of the back of the packaging) and the FAO Schwartz G.I. Joe.

As for the ornaments, though some have light and sounds, they seem — at least to me — to fall outside of the category of the other items listed. My general litmus test has been if the item would be found for sale in the toy aisle of big box store or in specialty toy shop.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 51925
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 02-22-2024 08:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I added Nanoblock's model of JAXA astronaut Naoko Yamazaki as well as two kits based on real astronaut spacesuits.

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