Wally Funk: Space Pioneer at 82 | Sacramento News

Wally Funk, the fearless aviation trailblazer and oldest person to ever fly to space at 82, has passed away at 87. Her historic Blue Origin flight in 2021 wasn’t just a personal triumph—it was a decades-long fight for equality, echoing her early role in the Mercury 13, the pioneering women NASA sidelined. Beyond space, she shattered glass ceilings as the first female FAA inspector and NTSB air safety investigator. Celebrated by her hometown of Grapevine as a global symbol of perseverance, her legacy continues to ignite dreams in young girls chasing science, aviation, and the stars. 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/6d6049ec888f6b96