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…”
The article is a respectful, factual obituary detailing the subject's professional achievements.
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