Aviation pioneer Wally Funk, who trained as an early female astronaut, dies at 87
Aviation Legend Wally Funk Passes Away at 87 After Decades of Breaking Barriers
Aviation pioneer Wally Funk who trained – Wally Funk, a trailblazing aviator who dedicated her life to aviation and space exploration, has died at the age of 87. The pioneering woman, who volunteered as part of NASA’s pioneering “Women in Space Program” back in 1961, passed away peacefully at her residence in Grapevine, Texas, on Wednesday evening. According to Mona Quintanilla, a spokesperson for the city, Funk’s passing marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in American aviation history.
“Wally was a beloved Grapevine resident whose extraordinary accomplishments and generous spirit left an enduring legacy,” the city announced in a heartfelt statement. “The City of Grapevine proudly recognizes Wally Funk, whose extraordinary career has inspired generations by breaking barriers in aviation and space exploration. Funk continues to serve as a global symbol of determination, perseverance, and excellence.”
A Life Dedicated to Flight
Born Mary Wallace Funk on February 1, 1939, she devoted her entire existence to becoming a remarkable pilot who created numerous firsts throughout her remarkable journey. Her passion for aviation began early, and by the time she was just 16 years old, she was attending Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. During her time there, Funk joined the women’s flying club and successfully earned her pilot’s license within a year, according to records from the Lonestar Flight Museum in Houston.
Even when commercial airlines rejected her applications after she obtained her Airline Transport Pilot rating, Funk remained undaunted. Her persistence eventually led her to become the first female flight inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration and the first female investigator for the National Transportation and Safety Board. These groundbreaking positions paved the way for countless women who would follow in her footsteps.
The Mercury 13 Journey
Funk’s most famous chapter began in February 1961 when she became a member of NASA’s “Mercury 13” program. This privately funded initiative aimed to prepare women for potential roles in the agency’s earliest space missions. The thirteen remarkable women in this program completed all the rigorous training and testing that the seven male astronauts selected by NASA had to undergo for the Mercury spaceflight program.
Among her peers, Funk emerged as the youngest woman to graduate from the program. In a promotional video for space technology company Blue Origin in 2021, she recalled being told that “had done better and completed the work faster than any of the guys.” Her dedication was so intense that she even spent 10 hours and 35 minutes inside a sensory deprivation tank during one Mercury 13 test, surpassing the performance of famed astronaut John Glenn.
“I got ahold of NASA four times, and said ‘I want to become an astronaut,’ but nobody would take me,” Funk said. “I didn’t think I would ever get to go up. Nothing has ever gotten in my way. They say, ‘Wally, you’re a girl, you can’t do that.’ I said, ‘Guess what, doesn’t matter what you are, you can still do it if you want to do it,’ and I like to do things that nobody’s ever done before.”
Decades of Achievement and Ultimate Recognition
Despite her exceptional performance and tireless efforts, Funk and the other women in the Mercury 13 program were ultimately denied their chance to become astronauts. It wasn’t until January 1978 that NASA finally selected its first class of female astronauts. Within that historic group, Sally Ride made history as the first American woman to travel to space in June 1983.
Funk’s personal dream of reaching the stars was finally fulfilled half a century after her initial Mercury 13 training. Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos chose her as an “honored guest” to join him and his brother Mark on a New Shepard suborbital journey in July 2021. At 82 years old, Funk became the oldest woman to ever travel to space.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to finally get it up there, and I’ve done a lot of astronaut training through the world — Russia, America — and I could always beat the guys on what they were doing because I was always stronger and I’ve always done everything on my own,” Funk said during a post-flight news conference. “I want to go again, fast. I loved every minute of it. I just wish it had been longer.”
During the remarkable 11-minute flight, Funk experienced several moments of weightlessness and marveled at the profound darkness of space. The journey held special significance as Bezos revealed that they had brought along the goggles that Amelia Earhart wore when she completed her historic transatlantic flight.
“I like to think that if Amelia were here, she’d be very, very proud of Wally,” Bezos said.
A Legacy of Inspiration
Beyond her space achievements, Funk accumulated extensive experience as a pilot, logging more than 19,600 flying hours throughout her career. She also taught over 3,000 individuals how to operate both private and commercial aircraft. Her confidence in her abilities was legendary, as evidenced by her playful remark in the 2021 Blue Origin promotional video: “Everything the FAA has, I’ve got the license for. And I can outrun you.”
Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O’Dell, a close friend of Funk, expressed the community’s deep admiration in a statement: “Wally Funk’s unwavering determination proves that dreams have no expiration date. Her courage, resilience, and groundbreaking achievements continue to inspire young people — especially girls — to pursue careers in science, aviation, and space exploration. Grapevine is honored to call Wally Funk one of our own.”
Blue Origin honored Funk’s memory in a post on X Thursday, describing her as “a pioneer in every sense of the word.” Her remarkable journey from a young woman earning her pilot’s license to becoming the oldest woman to travel to space serves as an enduring testament to the power of perseverance and the belief that age and gender should never limit one’s aspirations.