Fifty years after Barbie was first dressed like an astronaut, a different plastic toy girl has claimed the title of "first doll in space."
"Stargazer Lottie," a doll made by Irish toy company Arklu in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), is now on board the International Space Station. The seven-inch-tall (18 cm) figure arrived at the outpost on Dec. 9, three days after launching with the supplies packed aboard an Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft.
"We are proud to announce that Lottie is now the first doll in space!" Arklu stated on its Facebook page. "Watch [her] adventure unfold!"
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 867 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 12-29-2015 01:27 PM
Wasn't there a "Red Baron" teddy bear that launched aboard SpaceShipOne?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42982 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-29-2015 02:58 PM
SpaceShipOne flew several dolls, including a "Red Baron" Beanie Baby and a teddy bear carried for the British charity Great North Air Ambulance.
Like "Magellan T. Bear," the first teddy bear in space that flew on STS-63, the SpaceShipOne flown bears could be described as dolls but do not fall under the more common definition of the term:
a small model of a human figure, often one of a baby or girl, used as a child's toy.
David C Member
Posts: 1014 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
posted 12-30-2015 08:40 PM
For some reason I have the feeling that several "zero g indicators" on Soyuz flights would fall into the "doll category." Can't back that up though.
Philip Member
Posts: 5952 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
posted 01-01-2016 05:53 AM
There have been numerous dolls in space (Soyuz launch zero g indicator) but not necessarily in the classic girl doll shape. In March 1992, German cosmonaut Klaus-Dietrich Flade brought a mouse doll with him into Mir space station for TV episodes of the children's program "Die sendung mit der Maus".
Probably first doll onboard ISS?
mikej Member
Posts: 481 From: Germantown, WI USA Registered: Jan 2004
Small model of a human figure? Check. Used as a child's toy? Check.
I'm trying to remember whether Woody ever referred to him as a "baby"
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42982 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-24-2016 08:31 AM
From Tim Peake on Twitter:
Stargazer @Lottie_dolls designed by 6 y/o Abigail cannot wait to get out of her box to look at the stars. #STEM
SPACEFACTS Member
Posts: 301 From: Germany Registered: Aug 2006
posted 01-25-2016 05:55 AM
Back in 1978 East German cosmonaut Sigmund Jähn brought with Soyuz 31 a doll to the Salyut 6 station. It was the in German very famous children figure "Sandmännchen."
posted 01-25-2016 08:34 AM
Did a Snoopy ever go into space, I'm sure one did?
hoorenz Member
Posts: 1031 From: The Netherlands Registered: Jan 2003
posted 01-25-2016 02:44 PM
What about Vakosha, that lived aboard Mir for 6.5 years?
Liembo Member
Posts: 583 From: Bothell, WA Registered: Jan 2013
posted 01-25-2016 02:57 PM
First it was the "first" flower in space now the doll. NASA's social media team needs to do some fact-checking before they post.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42982 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-25-2016 08:51 PM
First, it was the other way around (the doll came before the flower).
Second, it wasn't NASA that claimed "first doll in space," it was Arklu (and to some degree, ESA).
Liembo Member
Posts: 583 From: Bothell, WA Registered: Jan 2013
posted 01-25-2016 09:44 PM
I stand corrected. Responsible people need to do a cursory check before they claim "first."
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42982 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-25-2016 10:00 PM
Agreed, though in this case it may come down to how "doll" is defined.
(If they had asked me, which they didn't, I would have advised skipping the "first" claim, or at least frame it better, e.g. first fashion doll to fly in space, assuming even that is true.)
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42982 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-11-2016 08:29 AM
From Lottie (Arklu) on Twitter:
Stargazer Lottie hopes to come back soon, 248 days her feet haven't touched ground... watch this space.
Update: After 264 days in space, Stargazer Lottie returned to Earth:
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42982 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
The "First Doll in Space" is getting her very own spacesuit...
"A limited edition spacesuit accessory will be launched in 2017 due to popular demand following the 'Lottie in Space' campaign," Arklu announced on Monday (Nov. 21).
p51 Member
Posts: 1642 From: Olympia, WA Registered: Sep 2011
posted 11-22-2016 10:09 PM
quote:Originally posted by Tykeanaut: Did a Snoopy ever go into space, I'm sure one did?
posted 12-29-2015 11:52 AM
advertisement