Wally Funk, the last surviving member of the Mercury 13 and the oldest woman to travel to space, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 87. Funk's remarkable journey began in 1961 when she and 12 other women underwent rigorous astronaut training. Despite their qualifications, they were denied the opportunity to fly in space due to gender discrimination. Funk's dream was realized in 2021 when she flew aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard.
Legacy of Wally Funk and the Mercury 13
Born on February 1, 1939, in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Funk developed an early passion for aviation. She graduated from Stephens College and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University. Funk became a professional pilot and flight instructor, breaking barriers as the first female flight instructor at a U.S. military base.
Funk was part of the First Lady Astronaut Trainees (FLATs), a group of women who aspired to become astronauts. Despite excelling in the same tests as their male counterparts, they were not selected for NASA missions. Funk's persistence paid off when she flew on Blue Origin's suborbital flight on July 20, 2021, at age 82, becoming the 26th person to fly beyond 50 miles of altitude.
Achievements and Recognition
Wally Funk's contributions to aviation were widely recognized throughout her life. She earned numerous accolades, including the Federal Aviation Administration’s Commercial Space Astronaut Wings and a Guinness World Record as the oldest woman in space. In 2020, she published her memoir, Higher, Faster, Longer: My Life in Aviation and My Quest for Space Flight, detailing her extraordinary career.
