American aviation pioneer Wally Funk has died at 87. She gained worldwide recognition for becoming the oldest woman to fly into space, marking a historic milestone in human spaceflight.
In 1961 Funk was selected for the “Mercury 13” program, an effort to train women for NASA’s Mercury missions. Although the program never led to a flight, it laid important groundwork for the eventual inclusion of women in crewed space missions.
Funk’s historic spaceflight occurred in July 2021 when she rode Blue Origin’s New Shepard sub‑orbital vehicle. At 82, she became the oldest woman to reach space, completing a six‑minute flight that crossed the Kármán line at roughly 100 km altitude.
Beyond her flight, Funk’s career spanned roles as flight instructor, test pilot, and co‑founder of Women in Aviation International, an organization dedicated to advancing women in aerospace and related fields.
Her lifelong advocacy for gender equality in aviation and space has left an enduring legacy, inspiring future generations of female astronauts and pilots.