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US flight pioneer and oldest woman in space, Wally Funk, dies
🇩🇪 Germany /Culture & Society

US flight pioneer and oldest woman in space, Wally Funk, dies

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • US flight pioneer Wally Funk, who became the oldest person to fly into space at age 82, has died.
  • Funk passed away peacefully at her home in Grapevine, Texas, from natural causes.
  • Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, expressed sorrow over her death, remembering her "unwavering determination."

Wally Funk, a pioneering aviator and the oldest woman to travel to space, has died at the age of 82. She passed away peacefully at her home in Grapevine, Texas, on Thursday night, surrounded by loved ones, succumbing to natural causes.

We are deeply saddened by the death of Wally Funk.

— Blue OriginExpressing condolences on the passing of Wally Funk.

Funk made history in 2021 when she flew aboard Blue Origin's "New Shepard" spacecraft, setting a record as the oldest individual to journey into space at that time. The US space company, founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, shared its deep sorrow over her passing, stating, "We were honored to be part of her journey."

Beyond her spaceflight achievement, Funk was a trailblazer in aviation. She was the first woman to serve as a safety inspector for the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the first flight instructor for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In the 1960s, she participated in a training program for women aspiring to become astronauts, though she was not selected for a mission at that time.

We were honored to be part of her journey.

— Blue OriginReflecting on Wally Funk's historic spaceflight.

Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O’Dell remembered Funk's "unwavering determination," noting that her "groundbreaking achievements" brought pride to the city. O’Dell added that Funk's life served as an inspiration, proving that "dreams have no expiration date."

Wally Funk's unwavering determination proves that dreams have no expiration date.

— Duff O’DellRemembering Wally Funk's inspiring spirit and achievements.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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