82-year-old trailblazing woman pilot to go to space with Jeff Bezos

Wally Funk, who is one of the 13 women who passed NASA’s astronaut training program in the 1960s, will be aboard the July 20 launch from West Texas, flying in the capsule as an “honored guest.”

Hyderabad: Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos will be joined by 82-year-old woman aviator Wally Funk this month on the first crewed spaceflight for Bezos’s company Blue Origin.

 

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Wally Funk, who is one of the 13 women who passed NASA’s astronaut training program in the 1960s, will be aboard the July 20 launch from West Texas, flying in the capsule as an “honored guest.” She will join Jeff Bezos, his brother and the winner of a $28 million charity auction, as the first people to ride a New Shepard rocket.

At 82, Funk will be the oldest person ever to travel into space, Blue Origin said in an announcement on Thursday.

Announcing on his social media platforms as well, Jeff Bezos shared a video with Wally Funk on his official Instagram account and captioned it: “No one has waited longer. In 1961, Wally Funk was at the top of her class as part of the “Mercury 13” Woman in Space Program. Despite completing their training, the program was cancelled, and none of the thirteen flew. It’s time. Welcome to the crew, Wally. We’re excited to have you fly with us on July 20th as our honored guest. #GradatimFerociter (sic).”

In the video, Bezos is seen describing the trip to Funk with some details and then asking her what would be the first thing she would say after landing. “I would say, ‘Honey that was the best thing that ever happened to me!'” replies an exuberant Funk who immediately is seen throwing her arms around the laughing tech mogul.

When Wally was informed about her boarding the first, she describes how “fabulous” she felt about the announcement and excitedly saying “Finally!” and “I can hardly wait,”. Wally Funk says she is finally getting the chance to go to space after 60 years of acing astronaut tests.