This Mattel doll became an astronaut in 1965, perhaps inspiring the young Sally Ride
..... last summer, "
inspire generations of young girls to reach for the stars" for she... [DOC] [TLE] Mattel's Astronaut Barbie Becomes a Mars Explorer with Help from ... [PAR] Aug 5, 2013 ... Mattel's Mars Explorer Barbie doll has launched on the first ... astronaut outfit, "
Barbie Miss Astronaut," was released in 1965, two years after Soviet cosmonaut 
Valentina Tereshkova became the world's first woman to fly into space and 18 
years before an American woman, Sally Ride, would follow her.