Friday, July 16, 2021
Kaleb Tadpole Staff Reporter Six decades after being stripped of the opportunity because of her gender, OSU alum Wally Funk will finally take flight alongside Jeff Bezos in just one more week. She will join Bezos, his brother and the winner of the $28 million charity auction on July 20 aboard the New Shepherd rocket. Funk was one of 13 Mercury 13 women who in the 60’s underwent their NASA training but were ultimately not allowed to go into space because they were female. Now is finally her chance as she will join Bezos as his “honored
guest.” “No one has waited longer,” Bezos said via Instagram. “It’s time. Welcome to the crew, Wally.” At 82 years old, Funk will be the oldest person in space, beating John Glenn, who in 1998 set the record at 77 years old aboard the Discovery space shuttle. Funk was the youngest of the Mercury 13 women and had just graduated from OSU at the time she was denied the opportunity she deserved. In a 2018 interview with the Oklahoman, Funk said she chose OSU because of the Flying Aggie flight team. Funk also said the Flying Aggies did not discriminate
against women and allowed for equal opportunity within the program. After 60 years, Funk still has the same great attitude and has never given up on her dream. In just one week she will finally have the opportunity she has always deserved. “I’ll love every second of it. Whoooo! Ha-ha. I can hardly wait,” Funk said in an Instagram video posted by Bezos. Funk was the first female inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration and the first female air safety investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board. Funk and the 12 other women See Flight on pg.2
An OSU graduate is launching into space with Jeff Bezos soon.
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Chris Becker Spencer Sanders looks to take the next step in his development as the season approaches. LD Brown looks to be the starting running back for OSU in the midst of a crowded RB room.
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It has been a while since Oklahoma State had uncertainty at running back. Justice Hill and Chuba Hubbard’s consistency as starters over the past five years gave the Cowboys little debate on who
started, but with both now enjoying careers in the NFL, OSU has to ask the question. Who starts? The Cowboys have several options, but redshirt senior LD Brown appears to be the best option for the Cowboys. After taking his extra year of eligibility, and returning for his sixth season with OSU, Brown has a much needed level of understanding with how coach Mike Gundy and offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn operate the run game. Brown rushed for 437 yards See Running Backs on pg.4
Sanders’ development has taken off. “We’ve been very impressed with and excited about Spencer’s development. I feel like in the last two months that we have watched him over spring ball, he’s developed more than he has in two years,” Gundy said. Spencer SandSanders gives the ers has recovered, not credit to his developfrom an injury, but ment to quarterbacks from a lost spring. coach Tim Rattay, who Oklahoma State is going into just his coach Mike Gundy second season with the said Sanders was Cowboys. setback in his develop“I’m more than ment because of the grateful for coach lost spring and summer Rattay,” Sanders practices and condisaid. “He’s helped my tioning in 2020. Now footwork, he’s decision Sanders has been able making, my timing and to go through a full everything. With timspring and summer ing comes anticipation slate of workouts. he factored in probably
five more things by fixing one thing.” The knock on Sanders over his time as a starter is the turnovers. Sanders threw eight interceptions in 2020 and 11 in 2019, but throughout the offseason Sanders has been working on fixing those issues. “I would say operating the offense and decision making. I’ve come a long way with coach (Tim) Rattay over this season. He’s helped me progress phenomenally, and I can’t do anything but thank him,” Sanders said. “We’re going to see, I’m excited for the season.” sports.ed@ocolly.com