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Set of McDonald's Young Astronaut Happy Meal Toys

Specifications

Set of McDonald's Young Astronaut Happy Meal Toys

Category

Recreation

Classification

CHENHALL - Recreational Objects - Toys - Toy

Object Origin
Producer:

McDonald's Corporation

Date Manufactured:

1986

Physical Characteristics

Object Description: Set of four (4) McDonald's Young Astronaut Happy Meal toys, including the Apollo Command Module (.822, Object A in dimensions), Cirrus (.823, Object B), Space Shuttle (.824, Object C), and Argo Land Shuttle (.825, Object D). Each toy is in its original clear plastic bag and comes with a sticker sheet to add details to the toy. A diagram showing where to place specific stickers is on the back of every sticker sheet. Apollo Command Module is a gray...

Materials:

plastic

Measurements: Object A:
    Length: 5 in, Width: 6.25 in, Depth: 0.75 in
    Weight: 0.024 lbs
Object B:

Credit

Gift of Jeff and Marilyn Escue, 1996.18.822-.825

Display Status

Not On View

Set of McDonald's Young Astronaut Happy Meal Toys

About: Set of McDonald's Young Astronaut Happy Meal Toys

About: Set of McDonald's Young Astronaut Happy Meal Toys

These colorful Young Astronaut Happy Meal toys were distributed by McDonald’s in 1986 to encourage children to seek out careers in science, space exploration, and other science-related fields. In 1984, the Reagan Administration created the Young Astronaut Council (YAC). This organization directed NASA, the Office of Private Sector Initiatives, and National Space Institute (with help from the National Science Teachers Association and other educational and aerospace groups) to promote a greater proficiency, curriculum, and interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) by using the popularity of space as the underlying theme. YAC targeted 1980s youth through popular culture mediums such as comics, Saturday morning cartoons, and toys. Marvel Productions entered a contract with YAC to create a cartoon and comic based around the YAC mission statement.


The cartoon and comic were set to be named Young Astronaut. Initially, the project faced delays due to disagreements between YAC, which sought scientific accuracy, and Marvel, which preferred a more imaginative space adventure approach. Unfortunately, the entire project was scrapped following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986. Although the project with Marvel was cancelled, YAC continued to promote the Young Astronaut brand with contracts with Pepsi, Coleco, and McDonald’s. In October of 1986, McDonald’s released a set of Young Astronauts Happy Meals. Each meal came with one of four space-themed toys, representing both YAC’s pursuit of scientific accuracy and Marvel’s preference for the imaginary. Two of the toys were based on real NASA spaceships: Apollo Command Module and Space Shuttle. The other two toys were fictional space vehicles named Argo Land Shuttle and Cirrus, a vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

Additional information

Copyright information

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