Wally Funk, the accomplished pilot who became the oldest person to fly to space in 2021, died at the age of 87. Funk passed away on July 8 at her home in Grapevine, Texas, as reported by The New York Times. Her death marks the end of a life dedicated to aviation and breaking barriers for women in aerospace.
The Mercury 13 program and a dream deferred
In the early 1960s, Funk participated in the Woman in Space Program, where she and 12 other women (later known as the Mercury 13) underwent the same physical and mental tests as the Mercury Seven astronauts. As the youngest member, Funk ranked third among candidates and was the only one to pass all tests. Despite their outstanding performance, NASA did not accept any of the Mercury 13 as astronauts. John Glenn and Alan Shepard flew to space, while the women were grounded. Funk applied multiple times to NASA's astronaut program after it opened to women in 1978, but was unsuccessful.
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A record-breaking aviation career
Becoming a professional pilot in 1957, Funk logged over 19,600 flying hours and taught thousands of people to fly. She was the Federal Aviation Administration's first female inspector and the first woman to work as an air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board. In 1995, she was inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame. Her pioneering spirit and determination inspired many, as reflected in the tributes shared on social media platforms like Meta Threads, which recently reached 500 million monthly users.
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Spaceflight at 82 with Blue Origin
After decades of waiting, Funk finally traveled to space in 2021 on the first crewed flight of Blue Origin's New Shepard. At 82, she became the oldest person in space, breaking a record held by John Glenn for 23 years. William Shatner surpassed her a few months later at age 90, and Ed Dwight claimed the record in 2024. Funk's journey was a symbolic victory for women who fought for a place in space exploration. Her legacy lives on in future generations of astronauts and pilots, and her story continues to inspire anyone who believes dreams can come true at any age.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/2211828/aviation-pioneer-space-travel-record-breaker-wally-funk-dies
