2019

  • WallyFunk
    Taos, New Mexico

    Mary “Wally” Funk

    Bachelor of Science, Oklahoma State University

    Adult Space Academy, 1991 and 2001

    From the time she jumped off her father’s barn wearing a Super Man cape at the age of 4, Mary “Wally” Funk dreamed of flying. She became a civilian flight instructor for the U.S. Army by the age of 20, and at 21, Wally volunteered for the Mercury 13, a group of women who underwent the same training as the Mercury Astronauts. While the Mercury 13 never got the chance to fly in space, her life’s work reflects Wally’s profound love of aeronautics. She became the first female Air Safety Investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board and was a long-time flight instructor. She has flown gliders, jumped from airplanes, won air races and served as a Goodwill Ambassador for flight all around the world.


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  • CaseyHarris
    Hometown: Ithaca, New York

    Casey Harris

    Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students, 2000 and 2001

    Casey Harris is the first Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students (SCIVIS) alumnus to be inducted into the Space Camp Hall of Fame. Fascinated with aviation since his godfather took him on an airplane ride as a young teen, Casey jumped at the chance to attend Aviation Challenge when he learned about SCIVIS. A two-time graduate and Top Gun award recipient, Casey said attending SCIVIS was “one of the most formative experiences” of his life. He continues his long-time interest with aviation and space, even giving his son the middle name “Orion.” The constellation is also the name of the second album by Casey’s band, X Ambassadors. Casey is the keyboardist in the successful rock band, whose members include his brother, Sam, on vocals and Adam Levin on drums.


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  • ChristinaKoch
    Jacksonville, North Carolina

    Christina H. Koch

    Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering; Bachelor of Science, Physics; Master of Science, Electrical Engineering, North Carolina State University

    Space Academy and Advance Space Academy 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996

    Five-time Space Camp graduate, Christian H. Koch is the fifth Space Camp alumna to fly in space. Christina launched to the International Space Station in March 2019 as a member of Expedition 59 and 60. She worked as an electrical engineer at Goddard Space Flight Center’s Laboratory for High Energy Physics before being selected as one of eight members of the 21st NASA Astronaut Class. She has worked in space science instrument development as well as serving as a research associate with the United States Antarctic Program. While board the ISS, she is expected to break the record for the longest single spaceflight for a woman.


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  • bethmoses
    Northbrook, Illinois

    Beth Moses

    Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering; Master of Science, Aerospace Engineering, Purdue University

    Adult Space Academy 1989

    Beth Moses’ trip to Adult Space Academy in 1989 included a memorable training session in the Underwater Astronaut Trainer. Then NASA-engineer turned best-selling author Homer Hickam was her trainer. Beth is now flying high as the Chief Astronaut Instructor and a commercial astronaut for Virgin Galactic, which is working to make commercial space travel a reality. Before joining Virgin Galactic, Beth was a senior engineer at NASA Johnson Space Center’s EVA Project Office. In her February 2019 flight aboard Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Unity, Beth became the first woman to reach space aboard a commercially launched space vehicle and is the first woman to receive the Federal Aviation Association’s commercial astronaut wings.


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