AmazonFounder Jeff Bezos on Thursday invited 82-year-old cosmonaut Wally Fanke (Wally Funk) to fly into space aboard the Blue Origin spaceship New Shepard on July 20.
Fangke will make its first manned flight with Bezos, his brother Mark (Mark Bezos) and the winner of the auction, who paid $28 million for the opportunity, Blue Origin announced. At present, the name of the winner of the auction has not yet been announced.
In 1961, Wally Finke participated in the training of the NASA Mercury 13 space program, which was among the best among 13 female astronauts, but the program was later cancelled.
Sixty years later, she was finally able to realize her dream. "No one is waiting longer, it's time," Bezos said in a post on social media. Welcome to join us, Wally. "
The 82-year-old Fangke will be the oldest person ever to fly into space. Blue Origin said she and the other crew, including Bezos and his brother, complied with all Blue Origin's requirements for the mission.