Wally Funk, who waited six decades to reach space, dies at 87

NPR | By Kathryn Fink,

Janaya Williams

Published July 10, 2026 at 4:25 PM CDT

Pilot Wally Funk has died at 87. Denied the chance to become a NASA astronaut, she finally reached space at age 82 aboard a Blue Origin flight.

Kathryn Fink

Kathryn Fink is a producer with NPR's All Things Considered.

Janaya Williams