Wally Funk
American Aviator, Commercial Astronaut

American Las Vegas, New Mexico, United States

Quick Info

Profession	American Aviator, Commercial Astronaut
Nationality	American
Date of Birth	01/02/1939
Age	87 years
Birthplace	Las Vegas, New Mexico, United States

Do you like Wally Funk?

You can vote only once.

Bio/Wiki

Full name	Mary Wallace Funk

Physical Stats & More

Height	170 cm
Eye Color	Hazel Brown
Hair Color	Gray

Educational Qualification(s)

Associate of Arts degree	Stephens College
Bachelor of Science degree	Oklahoma State University

Personal Life

Age (as of 2023)	84 Years
School	Taos, New Mexico
College/University	Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, Oklahoma State University
Hobbies	Riding Bike, Horse Riding, Hunting, Fishing

Relationships & More

Marital Status	Unmarried

Career

Flying Experience	19,000+ hours
Time in space	10 minutes 18 seconds
Selection	Blue Origin
Mission	NS-16
Awards, Honours, Achievements	At the age of 14, President Dwight Eisenhower sent her a letter of appreciation, after the National Rifle Association praised about her shooting results. In 1964, Stephen’s College honoured her with the Alumna Achievement Award. Received “Outstanding Female Pilot” trophy, the “Flying Aggie Top Pilot” and the “Alfred Alder Memorial Trophy” at Oklahoma State University (OSU). In 1965, she was listed as one of the “Outstanding Young Women in America. In the 1960s, Funk was listed in “Who’s Who in Young Women in America” and “Who’s Who in Aviation.” In 1968, she earned Airline Transport Rating, becoming the 58th woman in the United States to achieve this. In 1975, she was named Honorary Colonel by the Governor of Louisiana. In June 2010, she was inducted into the Oklahoma State University’s Aviation Hall of Fame. In 2017, her name was inscribed on the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum’s Wall of Honor. In 1964, Stephens College honoured her with the Alumna Achievement Award. Mercury 13 member - one of 13 women who passed rigorous astronaut fitness tests in the early 1960s First female flight instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma at age 20 First female FAA inspector (1971) First female in FAA's System Airworthiness Analysis Program (1973) One of first female air safety investigators at NTSB (1974) Oldest person to fly into space at age 82 (July 20, 2021) Oldest woman to travel into space Received astronaut wings from former Space Shuttle commander Jeff Ashby after Blue Origin spaceflight Inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame (2024)
Students Trained	3,000+
Space Flight Date	20/07/2021
Notable Firsts	First female FAA inspector (1971) First female in FAA's System Airworthiness Analysis Program (1973) One of first female air safety investigators at NTSB (1974) Oldest person to fly into space at age 82 (2021) Oldest woman to travel into space First female civilian flight instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma (age 20)

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Wally Funk is an American aviator and commercial pilot recognized as the oldest person to fly into space on July 20, 2021, during a suborbital trip with Jeff Bezos and two others.
2. She holds significant flying experience with 19,600 hours logged, boasting various aviation records, including being the first female civilian flight instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the first female air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board.
3. In the 1960s, Funk was part of the "Mercury 13" program aimed at training women for potential space missions, where she was the youngest member.
4. Throughout her career, Funk has trained over 3,000 individuals to fly various aircraft types, assisting pilots in different certifications and ratings.
5. Born in Taos, New Mexico, Funk spent most of her childhood there, where her parents operated a series of shops.
6. From a young age, Funk developed a passion for aviation, often crafting model planes from balsa wood.
7. Wally Funk chose not to marry during her lifetime.
8. Born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Funk developed a passion for aviation from an early age, attempting her first flight at age 8.
9. She received her astronaut wings from former Space Shuttle commander Jeff Ashby after her Blue Origin spaceflight.
10. In 2012, she put money down to be one of the first people to fly into space via Virgin Galactic before her Blue Origin opportunity materialized.
11. Wally Funk is an American aviator and commercial astronaut recognized as the oldest person to fly into space on July 20, 2021, during a suborbital trip with Jeff Bezos and two others.
12. She holds significant flying experience with over 19,000 hours logged, boasting various aviation records, including being the first female civilian flight instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and the first female air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board.
13. Her space flight on Blue Origin's New Shepard broke John Glenn's record as the oldest person to reach space, a record held for 23 years, though it was surpassed later in 2021 by William Shatner at age 90.

Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error