Wally Funk, last of Mercury 13 and oldest woman in space, dies at 87
Wally Funk, a pioneering aviator and the last surviving member of the Mercury 13, has passed away at age 87. Funk made history in 2021 by becoming the oldest woman to travel to space during a Blue Origin suborbital flight.
Why it matters
Funk's life and career serve as a significant historical touchstone for gender equality in aviation and the commercial spaceflight industry.
Aviator, advocate, and commercial astronaut Wally Funk, last of Mercury 13 and oldest woman in space, dies at 87 “I have been waiting a long time to finally get up there…”
3 Accomplished aviator and member of the "Mercury 13," Wally Funk exits from Blue Origin's New Shepard capsule after landing from a suborbital spaceflight on July 20, 2021. Credit: Blue Origin Accomplished aviator and member of the "Mercury 13," Wally Funk exits from Blue Origin's New Shepard capsule after landing from a suborbital spaceflight on July 20, 2021. Credit: Blue Origin Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Wally Funk, who in 2021 became the oldest woman to fly into space—60 years after she and 12 other women sought the same opportunity as NASA’s original astronauts—died on Wednesday at 87 years old.
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