Wally Funk Finally Soars to Space | Irvine News

Presented by The Plant Daddies — rare specimen trees, living art, and hand-carved limestone vessels and fountains for extraordinary spaces. Showrooms in Los Angeles and Irvine. Listeners of Irvine News Today receive 10% off with code LANEWS10. theplantdaddies.com/lanews Wally Funk, the pioneering aviator and trailblazer who became the oldest person to travel to space at 82 aboard Blue Origin, has passed away at 87. Once denied a chance to fly with NASA despite being one of the first female astronaut trainees, she finally soared into orbit in 2021 — fulfilling a lifelong dream. A member of the legendary “Mercury 13,” she proved her mettle against the odds, embodying resilience and passion for flight. Even as she faced health challenges in her final years, her spirit remained unbroken. Her legacy lives on as a beacon of perseverance, proving that dreams can soar at any age. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/575c7df0cfbad229