Samantha Cristoforetti barbie up on a parabolic flight to mark World Space Week

The European Space Agency is taking a Barbie resembling celebrated Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti up on a parabolic flight to mark World Space Week, which began on October 4. The Barbie's zero-gravity parabolic flight with members of the European Space Agency aims to show girls they can and should reach for the stars. Cristoforetti herself is hoping the doll's extraordinary zero-gravity flight and World Space Week will inspire many more girls who are interested in space

Sofia (Bulgaria): In the world of most young girls, barbie gets to do the most exciting and coolest things - and now they can see her doing a zero-gravity flight.
The European Space Agency is taking a Samantha Cristoforetti astronaut doll up on a parabolic flight to mark World Space Week, which this year is urging young girls to take up careers in the space industry.

Toymaker Mattel previously made the barbie resembling astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti in 2018. The barbie's zero-gravity parabolic flight with members of the European Space Agency aims to show girls they can and should reach for the stars.

Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman to fly into space back in 1963 inspired by Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. Since Tereshkova, there have been many women making their mark such as astronauts Mae Jemison, Christina Koch, Jessica Meir and Peggy Whitson.

But, according to the United Nations organisation Space 4 Women, there are too few women represented in STEM fields and space industry is no exception. It says "Globally, women represent only around 30 percent of the STEM researchers, and even lower figures have been communicated over the years for women in the space workforce, with very insignificant changes in the last two to three decades."

The organisers say it's important young girls are shown that space is for everyone and you don't have to be an astronaut to work for a space agency or in industries connected with space flight. Cristoforetti herself is hoping the doll's extraordinary zero-gravity flight and World Space Week will inspire many more girls who are interested in space.

"By showing that we can create some excitement for especially young girls. I think boys and girls become passionate about things because they get excited because they see something intriguing, because they see something funny. And so maybe that footage those images will kindle a sparkle of passion in some girl's heart and that would be incredible," she says.

Maruška Strah, the Executive Director of World Space Week Associatio,n agrees. Hearing about Barbie's latest stunt she says: "Oh, my God, it's incredible. Yes, that's exactly what you want. I like, I mean, look at Legos. How many girls get to play with dolls that are astronauts? How inspirational is that? You know, it's not just a beautiful doll, it's a smart, accomplished doll that makes so much difference, I think it's remarkable."

According to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the employment of women is higher in agencies with more administrative and project management roles, such as the UK Space Agency or the Norwegian Space Centre. But it says female employment is much lower in large research and manufacturing activities, such as the French Centre National d'études Spatiales (CNES) or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Strah says women who have leading roles in the space industry are coming together to urge others to follow in their footsteps. The organisers say they have events planned with space agencies all over the world, the aim is to set up mentoring programmes to encourage girls into a career in the industry. The United Nations itself is setting up mentoring programmes.

"United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs is having a space for women mentorship programme, and they will be broadcasting mentors, all these women who are already mentoring the younger generation together with their quotes and occupations. And all this will be available on the on the website, so people will be able to look at that and see what they're doing," says Strah.

World Space Week only lasts for seven days from October 4, but Strah believes the campaign for more women will go on and gain momentum. She says: "I do think I firmly believe actually that World Space Week is an amazing opportunity for people to participate in an international event, in a global event that not only inspires them, but gives them the opportunity to participate in something big. This is the biggest space event on Earth, and through that gives them the opportunity to meet other people, to meet other organisations, to really get involved in the space sector."

AP