Aviation pioneer Wally Funk, who trained as an early female astronaut, dies at 87

Aviator Wally Funk Dies at 87 After Historic Space Journey

A Life of Breaking Barriers

Aviation pioneer Wally Funk who trained as one of the first female astronauts has died at 87. The celebrated aviator, who originally volunteered for NASA’s Women in Space Program in 1961, passed away peacefully at her Grapevine, Texas home on Wednesday evening. Mona Quintanilla, a city spokesperson, announced the news with deep respect for Funk’s contributions to both aviation and space exploration.

Quintanilla shared a heartfelt tribute honoring Funk’s memory: “Wally was a beloved Grapevine resident whose extraordinary accomplishments and generous spirit left an enduring legacy.” The official statement continued, noting that “The City of Grapevine proudly recognizes Wally Funk, whose remarkable career has inspired generations by breaking barriers in aviation and space exploration.”

From Student Pilot to Space Traveler

Born Mary Wallace Funk on February 1, 1939, she spent her entire life pursuing excellence in aviation, creating a path paved with numerous firsts. Her journey began at an impressively young age when she enrolled at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, at just 16 years old. According to records from the Lonestar Flight Museum in Houston, Funk joined the institution’s women’s flying club and successfully earned her pilot’s license within a year of beginning her studies.

Despite facing rejection from major airlines after obtaining her Airline Transport Pilot rating, Funk remained undaunted. Her perseverance led her to become the first female flight inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration, followed by her appointment as the first female investigator for the National Transportation and Safety Board. These milestones established her as a trailblazer in government aviation roles.

“Wally Funk’s unwavering determination proves that dreams have no expiration date,” said Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O’Dell, a close friend of Funk, in a statement. “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.”

The Mercury 13 Journey and Space Dreams

Funk accumulated extensive flight experience throughout her career, logging more than 19,600 flying hours and personally instructing over 3,000 individuals in both private and commercial aircraft operations. Her confidence in her abilities was evident when she once joked during a 2021 promotional video for Blue Origin: “Everything the FAA has, I’ve got the license for. And I can outrun you.”

However, her ultimate aspiration extended beyond Earth’s atmosphere. In February 1961, Funk became one of thirteen women selected for NASA’s privately funded “Mercury 13” program, designed to prepare women for potential participation in the agency’s earliest space missions. These remarkable women completed all training and testing requirements that the seven male astronauts chosen by NASA had undergone.

“I got ahold of NASA four times, and said ‘I want to become an astronaut,’ but nobody would take me,” Funk recalled. “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.”

During her Mercury 13 training, Funk demonstrated exceptional capabilities, spending 10 hours and 35 minutes inside a sensory deprivation tank during one critical test, surpassing the performance of renowned astronaut John Glenn. She also became the youngest woman to complete the program, later noting in the Blue Origin video that she “had done better and completed the work faster than any of the guys.”

A Dream Finally Realized

Despite her outstanding qualifications, Funk and the other Mercury 13 women were ultimately denied astronaut status. NASA did not select its first class of female astronauts until January 1978, and Sally Ride made history as the first American woman in space in June 1983.

Funk’s long-awaited opportunity arrived half a century later when Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos invited her as an “honored guest” for a New Shepard suborbital flight in July 2021. At 82 years old, she became the oldest woman to travel to space. During the 11-minute journey, Funk experienced moments of weightlessness and marveled at the vast darkness of space.

“I’ve been waiting for this my whole life,” Funk said during the flight. “I’m so happy to be here. I’m so grateful to Jeff and Blue Origin for giving me this opportunity. This is what it’s all about — pushing boundaries and reaching for the stars.”