Wally Funk, Who Flew to Space in 2021, Dies at 87

Wally Funk died Wednesday at age 87 in her apartment at an assisted living facility in Grapevine, Texas. Funk was one of 13 female pilots who underwent the same tests as NASA’s all-male astronaut corps in the early 1960s. She never became a NASA astronaut.

In 2021 she traveled into space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket on an up-and-down flight from West Texas. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos selected her as an honored guest for the trip. At 82 she was the oldest person to go into space at the time.

Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O'Dell, who described herself as Funk's caregiver, said she was at Funk's side when she died. Funk had fallen a couple of times recently and had an infection in her leg, O'Dell said. "It took its toll," O'Dell stated.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted a statement Thursday on X. "Wally Funk never stopped believing that one day she would reach space. Her passion for flight, perseverance, and love of exploration will continue to inspire generations of Americans.

Godspeed, Wally," the post read.