CLEVELAND — When Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, and his Blue Origin rocket blast into space July 20th, it will fulfill the lifelong dream of one of the other passengers on board.Mary Wallace Funk, known as "Wally," was one of 13 women who trained to be astronauts 60 years ago, in the privately funded Mercury 13 program. And she will be among those on board tomorrow.
Back in the 1960's seven men trained to become America's first astronauts. And so did thirteen women, although their training was privately-funded by the "Women in Space" program. Financed by Jacqueline Cochran, a pilot and businesswoman. Dr. William Randolph Lovelace developed tests for NASA astronauts. The physician conducted the training for the women's program.
Back then, NASA only recruited military test pilots into the space program. In other words: men.
"While all of the 13 were themselves pilots and had a lot of awards and recognition to their name, they were not allowed to become military test pilot,” Sara Fisher, Executive Director International Air and Space Museum.
The group would be called The Mercury 13, and some even came to Cleveland for training at NASA.
“They underwent the same psychological and physiological tests as the Mercury 7,” said Fisher.
In many cases, the women’s matched or exceeded the men's results, like Jean Hixon, a World War II pilot and flight instructor who later became an Akron schoolteacher.
The youngest of the group: Wally Funk, whose parents had to sign a permission slip for her to attend training.
Her enthusiasm for flight, still apparent during a trip to the museum and NASA Glenn just a few years ago.
“It was awesome when Wally was here in March of 2019. I was the lucky one to drive her around. We went on a tour of NASA Glenn. Wally was like a kid in a candy store she was so excited,” said Marcy Frumker, Museum Trustee.
Perhaps because Mercury 13 wasn’t an ‘official astronaut program’ the women’s stories have faded a bit from history. Museum staffers plan on
Those at the museum plan on righting that.
“We want to share the story because they paved the way for the women who are a part of Origin Blue, who are a part of Virgin Galactic, who are a part of NASA,” said Fisher.
It’s a story ready for the next chapter, with Wally Funk on board and finally heading into space.
“We are just going to be elated. Finally, after 60 years in the making, Wally is finally going to become an astronaut,” said Fisher.
At 82, Funk is also set to break the record tomorrow -- for the oldest person in space. Ohio's own John Glenn was 77 when he flew on the Space Shuttle.
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