Wally Funk Will Launch on Two Future Space Flights
Aviation pioneer Wally Funk’s remains will be carried on two space missions scheduled for around the New Year.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Space
The cremated remains of astronaut Wally Funk will be launched on two separate space flights around the New Year. The missions, which fulfill Funk's expressed desire to return to space, will include one flight into deep space and one orbiting Earth.
Why it matters
This memorial initiative marks the final mission for an aviation pioneer who spent her career pushing the boundaries of flight. It highlights a growing commercial sector focused on space-based memorial services for individuals with historic ties to the aerospace industry.
The remains of the 87-year-old astronaut are split for two distinct trajectories, doubling the standard single-payload mission profile. These flights are coordinated through Celestis, which manages the logistics of securing space on commercial launch vehicles.
The players
Wally Funk
An aviation pioneer and astronaut who throughout her life advocated for and achieved significant milestones in spaceflight.
Celestis
A private space services firm that coordinates the placement of cremated remains on commercial space launch missions.
Duff O'Dell
The caretaker for Wally Funk who managed the arrangements for her final space flight memorial bookings.
The details
The process involves the secure containment of cremated remains for integration into commercial launch vehicles capable of both Earth-orbital and deep-space trajectories. Caretaker Duff O'Dell arranged these bookings through Celestis, a company that specializes in providing space memorial services by utilizing excess capacity on commercial spaceflight launches. Once the launch window opens around the New Year, the remains will be deployed according to the mission's flight path to achieve either orbit or deep-space transit.
Timeline
Wally Funk died in the Summer of 2026 at age 87.
A celebration of life ceremony took place in early September 2026.
The two space flights are expected to occur around the New Year.
The Tech Race
The launch extends the Celestis memorial space flight program by diversifying mission profiles to include both orbital and deep-space trajectories. This effort represents a maturing segment of the commercial launch market that leverages secondary payload capacity for non-traditional aerospace applications.
This development allows for the fulfillment of personal aerospace legacies through commercial flight access. Individuals interested in memorial services can monitor the Celestis schedule for upcoming mission opportunities following the New Year launch.
The takeaway
This mission honors the career of a historic aviator through the use of commercial aerospace infrastructure. Observers should track the upcoming New Year launch window for confirmation of mission success and trajectory deployment.
Further reading
For more on the development of commercial orbital transit, explore our coverage in Space.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KERA.
