Experienced American Aviator and Goodwill Emissary: Wally Funk
Wally Funk, a renowned aviation pioneer and original member of the Mercury 13, made history on July 20, 2021, as she became the oldest person to fly in space. Funk was one of the crew members aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-16 mission, a significant milestone for private commercial space travel.
Born on February 1, 1939, in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Funk's fascination with planes and aircraft began at a young age. By the time she was 7, she was building model planes from wood. Her parents, who owned a variety store, took her to see a Douglas DC-3 up-close when she was just one year old, sparking a lifelong passion for aviation.
Funk received her first flying lesson when she was 9 years old and went on to attend Stephens College, a private women's college in Columbia, Missouri, after leaving high school early. Despite her gender, which limited her to taking classes like home economics in high school, Funk's determination never wavered.
Funk's career in aviation spanned decades. She worked as an air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board from 1974 to 1985, obtained her flight inspector rating from the Federal Aviation Administration, and served as a field examiner for the FAA. Funk also participated in various air races during her career.
Funk's most significant achievement came in July 2021 when she was announced to be on the first flight of New Shepard, Blue Origin's suborbital launch vehicle. On July 1, 2021, this groundbreaking news was made official. The flight marked New Shepard's first human flight and was a milestone for private commercial space travel, as well as for Funk's long-standing dream of going to space.
Funk was not alone on this historic journey. She flew alongside Jeff Bezos, Mark Bezos, and Oliver Daemen. This flight cemented Funk's place as a trailblazer in the world of space travel, following in the footsteps of the Mercury 13, a group of women trained to fly in space in the 1960s but who never had the opportunity until this flight.
Despite multiple rejections from NASA, Funk's spirit remained undeterred. She volunteered for the "Women in Space" program at the age of 21 and became an officer for the "Flying Aggies" program at Oklahoma State University. Funk's perseverance and dedication to her dreams make her an inspiration to all.
[1] "Wally Funk, 82, to become oldest person in space during Blue Origin flight." BBC News, 1 July 2021. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57574963 [2] "Wally Funk, the Mercury 13 astronaut who never flew in space, is going to the final frontier." Washington Post, 1 July 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2021/07/01/wally-funk-mercury-13-blue-origin-spaceflight/ [5] "Wally Funk, the last Mercury 13 astronaut, is going to space." CNN, 1 July 2021. https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/01/us/wally-funk-blue-origin-spaceflight-trnd/index.html
- Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer and a member of the overlooked Mercury 13 program, contributed to aviation safety through her work as an air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board from 1974 to 1985.
- Wally Funk's fascination with aviation and space-and-astronomy dates back to her childhood, where she was exposed to science early on, building model planes from wood at the age of 7.
- As a proponent of health-and-wellness and women's health, Wally Funk continues to shatter barriers in the realm of technology, becoming the oldest person to fly in space on July 20, 2021, aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-16, thereby catalyzing advancements in private commercial space travel.
