Ed Dwight, First Black US Astronaut Candidate, Is Finally Heading To Space

Marc Griffin
·2 min read
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Ed Dwight, the first Black astronaut candidate, is ready to soar into space. On Thursday (April 4), Blue Origin revealed the crew for New Shepherd’s 25th mission. The crew will include Sylvain Chiron, Carol Schaller, Gopi Thotakura, Mason Angel, Kenneth L. Hess, and Dwight.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy handpicked Dwight as America’s first Black astronaut candidate. He completed his training in the Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS), but the trailblazer was never allowed to fly to space. In 1966, Ed Dwight left NASA, citing racial politics as a primary factor in his decision. The Air Force captain would later return to his duties as a regular officer. The icon then went on to forge a career in sculpturing. Some of his most notable work included depictions of famous Black leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Harriet Tubman.

Now, Dwight, 90, will finally get his moment on board the next New Shepard mission. The Kansas City native’s seat is sponsored by Space for Humanity and the Jaison and Jamie Robinson Foundation.

Captain Edward J Dwight (centre), the first African-American to have entered the Air Force training program from which NASA selected astronauts, pictured with fellow pilots at Edwards Air Force Base in California, circa April 1963.
Captain Edward J Dwight (centre), the first African-American to have entered the Air Force training program from which NASA selected astronauts, pictured with fellow pilots at Edwards Air Force Base in California, circa April 1963.

Each of the six crewmembers will bring a Club for the Future postcard during their journey. Blue Origin’s foundation was founded to uplift and inspire the next generation of students to study science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Club for the Future offered a statement regarding the space mission. They spoke to the astronauts, who are set to bring their students’ postcards into outer space.

“Club for the Future is proud to make space accessible to all humans through the Postcards to Space program,” the organization typed. “Anyone can draw or write their vision of the future on a postcard and Blue Origin will fly it to space and back on a future New Shepard mission. Club for the Future will then stamp them ‘flown to space’ and return them to the creator.”

Ed Dwight and Bill Nye attend National Geographic Documentary Films “The Space Race” DC/DOX Closing Night Event on June 17, 2023.
Ed Dwight and Bill Nye attend National Geographic Documentary Films “The Space Race” DC/DOX Closing Night Event on June 17, 2023.

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