Apr 27
Ellen Ochoa plays a 15-minute flute set on the aft deck of the Space Shuttle Discovery, April 1993
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Ellen Ochoa plays a 15-minute flute set on the aft deck of the Space Shuttle Discovery, April 1993
Although time for another new release round-up, I need to express for the umpteenth time that Mattel's website makes it difficult to keep on top of these things. They persist in not having the dolls actually show up in release order even when you filter by release order; so I'm always thinking I missed one.
The newest "Styled By" doll is Patti Wilson.
Relatively unassuming from the front, and while I don't have an issue with her by any means, I don't think she's a standout. But the real highlight is the back of the doll.
This isn't even visible in the packaging; but I miss the days that Mattel routinely included elements that weren't visible in the packaging. Too many collectibles these days literally show no signs of care for any element that can't be seen new in box, because their target audience is collectors who will keep them in box. Fair enough on some level, but that's just letting Mattel cop out. I appreciate this design a lot.
A repro of Golden Dream Christie was chosen by vote to be among the upcoming releases. She looks modestly authentic, but the hair is a bit of a sticking point to me. I believe that they are going for the same effect; it just doesn't look quite right compared to the original.
In honour of Hispanic Heritage Month, Mattel released a new Inspiring Women doll: this one in the likeness of Ellen Ochoa.
Ochoa was the first Latina in space, and the first Hispanic director of the Johnson Space Centre, and she makes a very lovely Barbie. I love any and all Barbie dolls themed around space and astronauts, I really do.
There was another release that everyone has been talking about; but I'd like to save that for a little later in the month to talk about, given that it's Halloween themed.
Wednesday, 9/24/25. Just last week, I saw that this existed. I said something along the lines of “I need this for my classroom!”
This afternoon, a surprise landed on our doorstep. Bill Grazier sent this to me! What sweet friends I have!!
ELLEN OCHOA // ASTRONAUT
“She is an American engineer, former astronaut and former director of the Johnson Space Center. She is the first Hispanic woman in the world to go to space. She’s logged a total of 1,000 hours in space and is the first Hispanic director and second female director of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.”
Ellen Ochoa (born 10 May 1958)
Music in space! Astronaut Ellen Ochoa lays down a melody in the flight deck aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, April 1993. Dr. Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman in space on the mission (STS-56) & flew a total of 4 times totalling nearly 41 days during her space flight career. Selected in 1990 by NASA, she flew aboard Atlantis twice & once more on Discovery. In 2013, she became director of the Johnson Space Center. Incredible career in space!
It’s a national women’s day! So here’s my short list of amazing women that I admire
Irene Morgan.
African-American woman who was arrested in 1944 under a state law imposing racial segregation in public facilities and transportation. She was traveling on an interstate bus that operated under federal law and regulations. She refused to give up her seat in what the driver said was the "white section".
Katherine Johnson
When asked to name her greatest contribution to space exploration, Johnson would talk about the calculations that helped synch Project Apollo’s Lunar Module with the lunar-orbiting Command and Service Module. She also worked on the Space Shuttle and the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS, later renamed Landsat) and authored or coauthored 26 research reports. She passed away on Feb. 24th 2020.
Ellen Ochoa
In 1993, Dr. Ellen Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman to go to space when she served a nine-day mission abroad the space shuttle Discovery. She has flown in space four times, logging nearly 1,000 hours in orbit. Prior to her astronaut career, she was a research engineer and inventro, with three patents for optical systems. She is also the first Hispanic (and second female) to be named director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
FEEL FREE TO ADD!