Wally Funk and the future of female astronauts

Between 1960 and 1961, thirteen American women – all pilots – qualified as astronauts. The Mercury 13 passed the same physical tests as America’s first male astronauts, yet they never made it beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Wally Funk was one of them. Sue Nelson shares the story of the Mercury 13 and her friendship with Wally who, ever since, has been determined to get into space. It has been a surprisingly long journey from the sexism of the 1960s to current opportunities for women in the space industry. But for women, the future is bright and the first woman on the moon will soon become a reality. …