Connect with us
https://tickernews.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/AmEx-Thought-Leaders.jpg

Money

Wally Funk: the female trailblazer who’s the oldest person to go to space

Published

on

Earlier today, Wally Funk became the oldest person to ever go to space, aboard the historic New Shepard space flight. But who is Wally Funk?

Earlier today, Wally Funk was among the crew that blasted into space aboard Jeff Bezos’ New Shepard. The Amazon founder was also onboard, alongside his brother Mark and the 18-year old son of Somerset Capital Partner’s CEO. At 82, Funk is the oldest person to ever go to space.

While the focus of the historic flight has mainly been on Bezos as the second billionaire to go to space, it was also a momentous occasion in space travel. More specifically, who is allowed to venture beyond earth.

The much-anticipated trip marked a number of milestones, including the first un-piloted suborbital flight with an all-civilian crew. It was also the first crewed launch for Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. As well as the oldest, the crew also included the youngest person to ever reach space.

After landing Funk said, “I’ve been waiting a long time to finally getting up there.”

I loved it,” she said. “I want to go again, fast!”

Wally Funk is the oldest person to ever go to space at 82 years old. She missed out on going to space during the 60s because she’s a woman.

A long-delayed dream

After the flight, Funk described feelings of gratitude for finally seeing her long-delayed dream come true. However, she said that the aircraft didn’t quite go high enough to see the world.

“I saw darkness, I thought I was going to see the world, but we weren’t quite high enough,” she said. However, she didn’t seem too phased by this, saying the flight was “great”.

“I felt like I was just lying down, just lying down — and I was going into space.”

“I’ve done a lot of astronaut training through the world, Russia, America, and I could always beat the guys on what they were doing because I was always stronger, and I have always done everything on my own,” she said.

A lifetime of achievements

By the age of 22, Funk had earned top grades in aviation college and was a certified pilot. She was the first female civilian flight instructor at a US military base at a time when it systematically excluded women.

Funk’s lifetime goal was to become one of the first female astronauts. She was actually one of the was one of the 13 female pilots who trained to go to space in the 60s’, but she missed the chance back then due to her gender. At 24, she was the youngest of these ‘Mercury 13 women’.

She excelled across the board during her training with NASA, sometimes even surpassing the men who were selected. During one test, Funk was placed in a sensory deprivation tank. She remained there for more than 10 hours before the researchers finally brought her out, because they wanted to go home.

Natasha is an Associate Producer at ticker NEWS with a Bachelor of arts from Monash University. She has previously worked at Sky News Australia and Monash University as an Online Content Producer.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Money

Trump’s tariffs disrupt Australia’s trade, impacting economy

Donald Trump’s trade tariffs could negatively disrupt Australia’s economy, impacting exports like beef and canola oil amid global trade tensions.

Published

on

Donald Trump’s trade tariffs could negatively disrupt Australia’s economy, impacting exports like beef and canola oil amid global trade tensions.

In Short

Trump’s trade tariffs threaten Australian exports, notably canola oil and beef, with China’s retaliatory export curbs exacerbating the situation.

A full trade war could drastically impact Australia’s iron ore industry and currency stability, complicating its trade relations amidst rising global competition.

Donald Trump’s new trade tariffs could have adverse effects on Australian exports, including canola oil, beef, and critical minerals.

China has implemented retaliatory export curbs on metals essential for technology, raising concerns as China controls much of the global supply. While the US may seek alternatives in countries like Australia for strategic minerals, tensions with Canada complicate this shift.

However, a full-scale trade war would negatively impact Australia’s largest commodity export, iron ore. A weakening Chinese economy could reduce demand for steel-making materials, harming Australia’s trade interests. Trump’s potential expansion of tariffs on aluminium and steel poses additional risks to local manufacturers amid fears of cheap imports undermining the market.

The beef industry could also face disruption. As the US cattle herd declines, tariffs might disrupt Australian beef exports, leading to price hikes. Conversely, Canada could increase canola exports to non-US markets, intensifying competition for Australian oilseed farmers.

Furthermore, the recent tariff announcements have caused fluctuations in the Australian dollar, which hit low levels against the US dollar initially. Subsequent relief for Canada and Mexico caused a brief recovery, yet ongoing tariff disputes could negatively impact the currency’s stability.

Continue Reading

Money

Trump’s tariffs raise prices on Chinese imports

Trump’s new 10% tariff on Chinese imports could raise prices for electronics, clothing, cars, and home appliances in the US.

Published

on

Trump’s new 10% tariff on Chinese imports could raise prices for electronics, clothing, cars, and home appliances in the US.

In Short

President Trump has imposed a 10% tariff on imports from China, potentially increasing costs for US consumers on electronics, clothing, cars, and appliances. The National Retail Federation urges negotiations to mitigate price hikes while analysts predict significant increases in product prices.

President Donald Trump has implemented an additional 10% tariff on imports from China, which could potentially rise further.

This move is likely to result in higher prices for various goods in the US, particularly consumer electronics, clothing and textiles, cars, and home appliances.

In 2023, the US imported $427 billion worth of goods from China. Notably, consumer electronics sales included substantial imports of cellphones and laptops. The Consumer Technology Association estimates that tariffs could raise laptop prices by up to 68%, video game consoles by 58%, and smartphones by 37%.

In clothing and textiles, imports amounted to $19.6 billion in 2023. Retailers may increase prices of apparel and accessories due to these tariffs.

Cars are affected as well, with US imports of car parts valued at $14.6 billion. Analysts suggest that domestic automakers sourcing parts from China may be compelled to raise prices.

Home appliances also face price increases. The National Retail Federation projected that the average price of a basic fridge could rise from $650 to $776.

The NRF has urged all parties to negotiate solutions to strengthen trade relations and avoid passing costs on to American consumers.

Continue Reading

Money

Cryptocurrency drops amid Trump’s trade war concerns

“Cryptocurrency Prices Plunge Amid Market Uncertainty from Trump’s Trade War Impact”

Published

on

“Cryptocurrency Prices Plunge Amid Market Uncertainty from Trump’s Trade War Impact”

Cryptocurrency markets have experienced a significant downturn amid concerns over ongoing trade tensions.

The fluctuations in value seem closely tied to Donald Trump’s trade policies.

Investors are reacting to uncertainty surrounding international trade agreements.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have seen sharp declines in recent days.

Analysts suggest that the instability in traditional markets is influencing investor sentiment in cryptocurrencies.

This latest slide raises questions about the resilience of digital currencies in volatile economic environments.

Market observers are monitoring the situation closely for further developments.

Traders are advised to exercise caution given the risk associated with current market conditions.

Potential impacts on the broader economy could also influence the cryptocurrency landscape.

Overall, the situation reflects growing anxiety among investors regarding future market stability.

Continue Reading

Trending Now