Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleWally Funk receives astronaut wings from Blue Origin’s Jeff Ashby, a former Space Shuttle commander, after her flight on Blue Origin’s New Shepard into space on July 20, 2021 in Van Horn, Texas (Getty)Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer and the oldest woman to launch into space, has died at the age of 87. She passed away on Wednesday in Grapevine, Texas, due to complications from recent falls and a leg infection. In the early 1960s, Funk was among 13 female pilots who underwent the same rigorous tests as NASA's all-male astronaut corps but was not selected for space travel at the time. Her lifelong dream was realized in 2021 when, at 82, she flew into space as an "honored guest" aboard Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin rocket. At the time of her flight, she held the record as the oldest person in space, a title later surpassed by William Shatner and Ed Dwight. In fullWally Funk death: Oldest woman to travel into space dies at 87More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Wally Funk dies after inspiring generations to never stop dreaming
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleWally Funk receives astronaut wings from Blue Origin’s Jeff Ashby, a former Space Shuttle commander, after her flight on Blue Origin’s New Shepard into space on July 20, 2021 in Van Horn, Texas (Getty)Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer and the oldest woman to launch into space, has died at the age of 87. She passed away on Wednesday in Grapevine, Texas, due to complications from recent falls and a leg infection. In the early 1960s, Funk was among 13 female pilots who underwent the same rigorous tests as NASA's all-male astronaut corps but was not selected for space travel at the time. Her lifelong dream was realized in 2021 when, at 82, she flew into space as an "honored guest" aboard Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin rocket. At the time of her flight, she held the record as the oldest person in space, a title later surpassed by William Shatner and Ed Dwight. In fullWally Funk death: Oldest woman to travel into space dies at 87More bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
