A woman aged 82 will travel into space with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos later this month, reported AFP quoting Blue Origin, a private aerospace manufacturer in the US. According to local US media, 82-year-old Wally Funk aerospace pioneer was denied astronaut wings decades ago because of her gender.
The company said On July 20, Funk will be aboard the launch from West Texas and fly in the capsule for the 10-minute hop as an “honoured guest.”
Jeff Bezos will be be the first billionaire to go to space aboard a rocket that he has spent millions into developing. The 57-year-old is scheduled to launch into space on July 20, 15 days after he resigns from his position at Amazon. He will be the first passenger on the first crewed flight of the New Shepard, a rocket ship made by Blue Origin.
Bezos shared a video on his Instagram and wrote, “No one has waited longer. In 1961, Wally Funk was at the top of her class as part of the “Mercury 13” Woman in Space Programme. Despite completing their training, the program was cancelled, and none of the thirteen flew.”
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Jeff’s brother, Mark Bezos, will be accompanying him on the flight. Bezos has shared the news on Instagram, writing, “Ever since I was five years old, I have dreamed of traveling to space. On July 20th, I will take that journey with my brother. The greatest adventure, with my best friend.”
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New Shepard, a six-seater capsule, will blast off towards the edge of space. It will be an 11-minute flight and will travel above 60 miles off the surface of Earth.
