'Mars Explorer' Barbie Is Almost Entirely Pink (PICTURES)

'Mars Explorer' Barbie Is Almost Entirely Pink

Barbie is going to Mars. And she's wearing pink.

Mattel and Nasa have announced a special edition 'Mars Explorer Barbie' to celebrate the first anniversary of the Curiosity Rover landing on the Red Planet.

But science fans, bloggers - and probably a few little girls when they get hold of the doll - have been disappointed to find that the doll bears little resemblance to any astronaut that might one day walk on the arid Martian surface.

For one thing, the dolls is almost totally pink and white, with a pink backpack, boots and helmet.

The packaging of the doll - which notes it was made in "collaboration" with Nasa, but does not feature a Nasa logo - even features a picture of the Curiosity rover itself. Also in pink.

It's also worth noting that the doll comes without gloves, meaning Barbie's hands would probably explode as soon as she stepped foot outside her space craft.

"If a little girl plays with this and dreams of exploring space, that is great... [But] there are real women who are astronauts, washing their hair in space as we speak, and it's a job that requires brains and dedication, not cute accessories," wrote Dodai Stewart at Jezebel, in response.

Mattel said that the design simply added the trademark Barbie touch to every child's dreams of space.

"Ready to add her signature pink splash to the "red planet," Barbie doll is outfitted in a stylish space suit with pink reflective accents, helmet, space pack and signature pink space boots."

The doll has been released as part of Mattel's "Career of the Year" series, which has so far included 130 editions.

It is not the first Barbie astronaut, however. This old-school version was released almost 50 years ago, in 1965 - two years after Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to fly in space.

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