Wally Funk, Aviation Pioneer and Oldest Woman in Space, Dies at 87
Wally Funk, a trailblazing aviator who became the oldest woman to travel into space, has died at age 87.
Funk was a member of the Mercury 13, a group of female pilots who underwent testing for NASA's early space program in the 1960s. Despite their qualifications, the program was cancelled, and Funk was not permitted to become an astronaut at that time.
Decades later, in July 2021, Funk finally reached space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-18 flight at age 82, setting the record as the oldest woman to travel into space. Jeff Bezos himself presented her with her astronaut wings following the suborbital flight.
Throughout her career, Funk accumulated thousands of flight hours and held numerous aviation records. She remained an advocate for women in aviation and space exploration, inspiring generations of future astronauts and pilots.