Six year old Abigail has designed Stargazer Lottie doll, who is traveling to the International Space Station with British European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake.
The Special Edition ‘Gold Collection’ ‘Stargazer’ Lottie doll is a creation of London-based toy manufacturer, Arklu, and is a collaboration with the European Space Agency, and winner of the space.com ‘Little Scientist’ Space Age Award at the New York Toy Fair 2015.
"Stargazer Lottie is visiting the International Space Station."
Six year old Abigail is the star of a short video by female filmmaker Elena Rossini about the girl who has designed the first doll to go into space. Stargazer Lottie is visiting the International Space Station with British ESA astronaut Tim Peake, travelling ahead on board Orbital ATK's “S.S. Deke Slayton II” Cygnus cargo spacecraft. Abigail’s idea for an astronomy themed doll to help other kids learn about space was the inspiration behind the Stargazer Lottie doll.
During her time on board the ISS, Stargazer Lottie will fulfil her mission to get kids interested in space. Supplemental materials are available to download from the lottie.com website, including biographies of notable women in astronomy, and educational activities created by UNAWE, the global science educational outreach programme.
Abigail explains her passion for space:
“Sometimes I look up and think…maybe I could go up there one day…or could I somehow see what’s up there, so maybe one day I will go and see many stars, even more than I saw from earth, and I will just say to myself …wow! How lucky am I to be living”
"Lottie has won several industry awards."
The Lottie doll line was launched in 2012 by Arklu cofounders Lucie Follett and Ian Harkin, has won several industry awards on account of its innovative focus on being a doll with a realistic body shape and emphasis on activities that stimulate imaginative play.
Lottie™ is an alternative ‘pro girl’ doll for children aged 3- 8 and is a positive take on childhood – she doesn’t wear make-up, jewellery or high heels and she can stand on her own two feet (...always a useful life skill for all girls, big and small!) She has soft, strokable hair and colourful clothes with high quality, quirky details. Unlike other fashion dolls, Lottie’s body is also properly ‘childlike.’ She has many adventures, from ballet, getting muddy outdoors and imaginative play to stargazing, fossil-hunting, horse-riding and robot building, all inspired by children.
