Ed Dwight: The Man Who Hoped to be the First Black Astronaut Finally Gets his Chance
In 1961, Ed Dwight, an ambitious African American Air Force pilot, nurtured a dream of becoming the first Black astronaut. However, despite his qualifications and President Kennedy’s support, his aspirations were thwarted. After decades of waiting, 90-year-old Dwight will finally get a taste of space on Blue Origin’s upcoming mission.
Blue Origin, a leading space exploration company founded by Jeff Bezos, has been making headlines for its successful commercial flights into the Earth’s atmosphere. Now, it’s inviting Dwight, who could have been America’s first Black astronaut, for a journey to the edge of space.
Dwight embarked on his journey towards the stars when he was selected for an Air Force training program known as the path to NASA’s Astronaut Corps in 1961. Although his training was successful, he faced discrimination and challenges that eventually led to his withdrawal from the program in 1966.
Despite the setbacks, Dwight remains optimistic and is eager to finally realize his dream of space travel. This optimism makes him a valuable participant in Blue Origin’s June mission.
Blue Origin has already conducted 22 successful commercial flights to space. Some of the notable passengers include Bezos himself, Michael Strahan, and William Shatner. The latter, at 90 years old, holds the title of the oldest person to travel to space—a title Dwight will now share with him.
After his time in the Air Force, Dwight turned his focus to creating sculptures that celebrate iconic figures in Black history. His work, which includes more than 130 pieces, has been showcased in museums and public spaces worldwide. Now, his extraordinary journey from a potential astronaut to a renowned artist will be crowned with a flight to the edge of space.
Dwight’s seat is sponsored by the nonprofit Space for Humanity, which aims to send ordinary citizens to space. In the past, they’ve sponsored the flight of Katya Echazarreta, the first Mexican-born American woman to travel to space. The organization believes in the transformative power of space travel to inspire individuals and enable them to see our planet in a whole new light.
The upcoming Blue Origin flight is set to take Dwight and five other civilians approximately 62 miles away from Earth, offering them a few minutes of weightlessness and a breathtaking view of space and Earth.
