07/10/2026
Yesterday, we lost a true pioneer.
Today, we remember Wally Funk, the last surviving member of the Mercury 13 and one of the most inspiring figures in the history of human spaceflight.
In 1961, Wally successfully completed the same rigorous astronaut medical evaluations designed for NASA’s Mercury astronauts. She proved she had what it took to fly—but like the other women of the Mercury 13, she was denied the opportunity because women could not become military test pilots at the time.
Rather than giving up, Wally spent decades flying, teaching, mentoring, and inspiring thousands of pilots around the world.
In 2021, at the age of 82, she finally reached space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard, becoming the oldest person to fly to space at the time. More than sixty years after completing her astronaut testing, history finally recognized one of its pioneers.
Her story has inspired generations of explorers, including the creation of IIAS’ PoSSUM-13 outreach program, named in honor of the Mercury 13 and their extraordinary legacy.
At IIAS, we are proud to carry forward that legacy by inspiring the next generation of explorers.
Thank you, Wally, for your courage, your perseverance, and your lifelong dedication to aviation and spaceflight.
Rest in peace.
🚀 1939–2026
