Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was denied the opportunity to become a NASA astronaut in the 1960s but later became the oldest woman to travel into space, has died at age 87. According to multiple reports, she passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening at her apartment in Grapevine, Texas.
Key Takeaways
Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who became the oldest woman to travel into space, has died at age 87. She passed away peacefully in her Grapevine, Texas apartment on Wednesday evening.
- Wally Funk was the first female flight instructor at Fort Sill and a member of the Mercury 13 program
- In 2021, she became the oldest woman to travel into space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard NS-16 mission
- She logged over 19,600 flying hours and taught more than 3,000 people how to fly
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▼Source Claims Check
2 Differences FoundAll 3 publishers report consistent facts across 2 key claims. 2 points of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause Of Death | 1 Difference | The Guardian and PBS report leg infection and falls as cause; CBS reports peaceful death | ▼ |
| Flying Hours | 1 Difference | The Guardian reports >19,600; CBS reports >30,000 flying hours | ▼ |
| Date Of Death | Broad Agreement | Died on Wednesday evening, April 2024 | |
| Mercury 13 Program | Broad Agreement | Funk was one of the Mercury 13 who completed rigorous tests but were denied astronaut roles. |
Cause Of Death
▼The Guardian and PBS report leg infection and falls as cause; CBS reports peaceful death
Flying Hours
▼The Guardian reports >19,600; CBS reports >30,000 flying hours
Date Of Death
Broad AgreementDied on Wednesday evening, April 2024
Mercury 13 Program
Broad AgreementFunk was one of the Mercury 13 who completed rigorous tests but were denied astronaut roles.
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
Funk had been dealing with health issues recently, including falls and a leg infection that 'took its toll,' as described by Duff O'Dell, the city councilwoman and close friend who was by Funk's side. The city of Grapevine shared on Facebook that Funk was a beloved resident whose extraordinary accomplishments left an enduring legacy.
Born on February 1, 1939, Funk dedicated more than seven decades to aviation. She received her flying license at Stephens College in Missouri and later became the first female flight instructor at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. In 1961, she volunteered for NASA's Women in Space program, known as the Mercury 13, where she outperformed many of her male counterparts but was ultimately denied the chance to become an astronaut due to gender biases.
Despite these setbacks, Funk continued to break barriers in aviation. She logged over 19,600 flying hours and taught more than 3,000 people how to fly. In 2021, at the age of 82, she finally realized her dream of traveling into space aboard Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin rocket. At the time, she was the oldest person to launch into space, though this record has since been broken by William Shatner and Ed Dwight.
Funk's accomplishments have been widely recognized and honored. In 2024, she was inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, among other prestigious honors. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted on X that Funk's passion for flight, perseverance, and love of exploration will continue to inspire generations of Americans.
How this summary was created
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