VAN HORN, Texas — Ed Dwight, America’s first black astronaut candidate, finally went into space after 60 years with Jeff Bezos’ rocket company on Sunday.
Dwight, an Air Force pilot, was endorsed by President John F. Kennedy as a candidate for NASA’s first astronaut corps. However, he was not chosen for the 1963 class.
At 90 years old, Dwight experienced weightlessness aboard the Blue Origin capsule during the 10-minute flight. He described it as a “life-changing experience.”
Upon exiting the capsule, Dwight expressed, “I initially thought, ‘I don’t really need this in my life.’ But now I need it in my life. I’m very happy.”
By taking the short flight from West Texas, Dwight became the oldest person in space, surpassing Star Trek actor William Shatner who went into space in 2021.
This was Blue Origin’s first crew launch in nearly two years after experiencing accidents in 2022. The booster crashed, but the capsule landed safely. Flights resumed in December last year without passengers, making this Blue Origin’s seventh spaceflight.
Joining Dwight on the flight were four entrepreneurs and a former accountant. The ticket prices were not disclosed, with Dwight’s seat sponsored in part by the nonprofit Space for Humanity.
Despite not being selected as a NASA astronaut in 1963, Dwight’s legacy in space exploration remains significant. He has dedicated his post-military career to art, creating sculptures that highlight Black history and are featured in memorials and monuments throughout the country. Some of his sculptures have even traveled into space.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
