:strip_icc()/i.s3.glbimg.com/v1/AUTH_59edd422c0c84a879bd37670ae4f538a/internal_photos/bs/2021/F/t/2liCBgTkKEKhswg4GAMw/000-9dn7hp.jpg "Jeff Bezos chose the 82-year-old astronaut to fly into space with him | Technique")
Wally Funk, 82, will be the “guest of honor” on the New Shepherd capsule كبسولة, which will take off from the desert in West Texas.
Funk was among the women who underwent NASA astronaut training in the 1960s, but who did not go to space and did not serve on the agency’s crew because of their gender.
At the time, all NASA astronauts were men.
Funk, a former pilot and flight instructor, was the first US Federal Aviation Administration inspector and the first air safety investigator for the US National Transportation Safety Board.
An undated photo shows space travel pioneer Wally Funk, who will travel to space with Jeff Bezos, on a Blue Origin flight – Image: Blue Origin via AFP
The capsule that will carry the passengers will separate from the thruster and will pass the Kerman Line, which has a height of about 100 km, which marks the boundary between the Earth’s atmosphere and space.
The flight will take 10 minutes – 4 of them are in space, where they will be able to feel the lack of gravity and observe the curvature of the Earth.
The trip will be attended by businessman, his brother Marc Bezos, Wally Funk and an as-yet-unnamed person – the last seat has been secured at auction and It cost 28 million US dollars.
At 82 years old, Funk will become the oldest person to go into space. The record-breaking record was set by John Glenn at the age of 77 when he flew on the space shuttle Discovery in 1998.
“It’s about time,” Bezos said on Instagram. “Welcome to the crew, Wally. We are delighted to have you on July 20 as our guest of honor.”
Jeff Bezos, founder of Blue Origin, inside a New Shepard capsule – Photo: Isaiah J. Downing/Reuters
The automated flight will be the company’s 16th flight, But it will be the first with humans on board.
The launch of Blue Origin’s New Shepard system in West Texas on July 20 will be an important moment as US companies embark on a new era of private commercial spaceflight.
The reusable rocket system is named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space in 60 years.
Space travel pioneer Wally Funk will be taking part in a Blue Origin flight from Bezos. image from file. Photo: Mark Ralston/AFP
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Oliver Ashford is a contributor to Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting that helps readers stay informed about current affairs and developments that matter. With an emphasis on accuracy, relevance and accessibility, Oliver aims to present useful information and engaging stories in a straightforward manner, making complex topics easier for readers to understand and follow.