Wally Funk, Aviation Pioneer and Oldest Woman in Space, Dies at 87

Wally Funk, a trailblazing figure in the aerospace industry, passed away on Thursday at the age of 87. She gained widespread recognition in 2021 when she became the oldest woman to travel to space. Funk died in her assisted living apartment in Texas, USA, following complications from falls and a leg infection, as reported by the Associated Press. In the 1960s, Funk was among 13 women who underwent astronaut training with NASA, though they were excluded from space missions due to their gender. In 2021, at 82 years old, she was a "guest of honor" on Blue Origin's inaugural crewed suborbital flight, sharing the journey with the company's founder, Jeff Bezos. This made her the oldest person to travel to space at the time, a record later surpassed by William Shatner and Ed Dwight, both aged 90. Funk's extensive career included roles as a pilot, flight instructor, and she was the first woman to serve as an inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and an air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Blue Origin lauded her as a pioneer in every sense, expressing honor for her journey and confidence that her story will inspire future explorers. Her caregiver described Funk as exceptionally optimistic, noting her determination in overcoming obstacles and dismissals from men who doubted her capabilities.