Ed Dwight Almost Made It To Space
At the age of 90, Ed Dwight, a trailblazing figure in space exploration history, is set to embark on a monumental journey to space aboard a Blue Origin spacecraft. A testament to resilience and determination, Dwight's upcoming voyage marks the realization of a dream deferred for over six decades. Originally slated to become the first Black astronaut in the 1960s, Dwight's aspirations were unfortunately hindered by the pervasive racism of the era. However, his unwavering spirit and dedication to the pursuit of space exploration have transcended the barriers of the past. Now, as he prepares to soar beyond Earth's bounds, Dwight's journey stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration, symbolizing the triumph of perseverance and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
Ed Dwight was supposed to be the first Black astronaut in space in 1961, but he never made it into the . Thanks to Blue Origin, Dwight will now be traveling into the Earth's atmosphere on their upcoming mission.
Dwight Was Tapped To Go To Space In 1961
In 2022, Dwight told CBS correspondent Jericka Duncan that when he initially heard from the Kennedy administration about his opportunity to go to space in 1961 that he "thought those dudes were crazy."
Dwight completed training in 1963, but he believes that systemic racism was to blame for his not being selected to travel to space. He explained:
So, all these White folks that I'm dealing with, I mean, my peers, the other guys that were astronaut candidates and the leadership was just horrified at the idea of my coming down to Edwards and the president appointing me to the position.
Blue Origin Offered Dwight A Chance To Travel To Space
Founded by Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin has sent more than 20 successful commercial flights into the atmosphere, many with celebrity clients onboard. For their flight in June 2024, Dwight will be on board - and he'll tie the record for oldest person in space. He shares that honor with Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner.
Space For Humanity
Dwight's $250,000 seat aboard the Blue Origin flight has been sponsored by the non-profit Space For Humanity. The trip will take Dwight 62-miles into the atmosphere for a few minutes, allowing passengers to experience total weightlessness as they get a view of our planet from space.
AP
