Home / Science / Denied Nasa Dream, Wally Funk Flew to Space at 82
Denied Nasa Dream, Wally Funk Flew to Space at 82
10 Jul
Summary
- Pioneering pilot Wally Funk died at 87 after a life in aviation.
- She was denied astronaut status by NASA but flew with Blue Origin.
- Funk was the oldest woman to travel to space at age 82.
Wally Funk, a celebrated aviation pioneer and the oldest woman to travel to space, has died at the age of 87. Funk passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening in Grapevine, Texas. Her death was announced by a close friend and city councilwoman.
Born on February 1, 1939, Funk dedicated over seven decades to aviation. She was among the first women to undergo rigorous astronaut testing as part of the privately funded Mercury 13 program in 1961. Despite excelling in these tests, the program was cancelled, and NASA did not admit female astronauts until 1978.
Funk made multiple attempts to join NASA's astronaut corps but was unsuccessful. Undeterred, she continued her extensive flying career, accumulating over 19,600 flying hours and teaching thousands to fly. She also served as a Federal Aviation Administration inspector.
In 2021, at the age of 82, Funk finally realized her lifelong ambition by flying into space on Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin rocket. This mission made her the oldest woman to travel to space, a testament to her enduring spirit and determination. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations in aviation and space exploration.
