Wally Funk Will Launch on Two Space Flights

The aviation pioneer's remains will head to orbit and deep space around the upcoming New Year.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Space

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a geometric monolith silhouette set against a navy blue void with sparse starlight. — Aviation pioneer Wally Funk will return to orbit as her remains are launched on two memorial space flights scheduled for the upcoming New Year. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Aviation pioneer and astronaut Wally Funk will return to space as her remains are set to launch on two separate flights around the New Year. The memorial space flights are being coordinated by the company Celestis to honor Funk's lifelong dream.

Why it matters

The mission fulfills a long-held desire expressed by Funk to return to space, allowing the historic aviator to reach new heights post-mortem. This tribute highlights the growing availability of space burial services as a way to honor those who dedicated their lives to flight.

The commemorative mission involves two distinct trajectories, with one flight orbiting Earth and the second entering deep space. The flights are set to carry the remains of the 87-year-old aviation pioneer.

The players

Wally Funk

She was a pioneering aviator and astronaut who broke numerous barriers in the field of aviation.

Celestis

This company specializes in coordinating memorial space flights that carry cremated remains into orbit or beyond.

Duff O'Dell

Serving as a caretaker for Funk, O'Dell facilitated the arrangements for these final space-bound memorial flights.

The details

Caretaker Duff O'Dell booked the memorial flight tickets for Funk in September 2026. These flights aim to fulfill the late astronaut's final wish to return to the stars after a lifetime spent as an aviation pioneer.

Wally Funk died at age 87 in Summer 2026.
A celebration of life was held in early September 2026.
The two space memorial flights are scheduled for around the New Year.

Deeper Dive

The use of Celestis memorial space flight services reflects a broader trend toward commercializing access to space for non-governmental purposes. This mission follows a pattern set by previous Celestis deployments that utilize commercial launch vehicles to carry memorial remains.

As space memorial services become more common, individuals interested in space flight may find new opportunities for end-of-life planning. These missions demonstrate how private companies are increasing public access to launch vehicle capacity.

The takeaway

The return of Wally Funk to space serves as a final recognition of her historic contributions to the aviation industry. Families seeking similar tributes can observe how memorial flight scheduling aligns with existing commercial satellite launch windows.