Dwight was an Air Force pilot when President John F. Kennedy championed him as a candidate for NASA’s early astronaut corps. But he wasn’t picked for the 1963 class.
VAN HORN, Texas — Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate, finally rocketed into space 60 years later, flying with Jeff Bezos’ rocket company on Sunday.
The brief flight from West Texas made Dwight the new record-holder for oldest person in space — nearly two months older than “Star Trek” actor William Shatner was when he went up in 2021. Dwight was among the potential astronauts the Air Force recommended to NASA. But he wasn't chosen for the 1963 class, which included eventual Gemini and Apollo astronauts, including Apollo 11’s Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. NASA didn’t select Black astronauts until 1978, and Guion Bluford became the first African American in space in 1983. Three years earlier, the Soviets launched the first Black astronaut, Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez, a Cuban of African descent.
Blue Origin Flight Ed Dwight Astronaut Ed Dwight Blue Origin Ed Dwight Colorado Ed Dwight Denver Ed Dwight Jfk Ed Dwight Sculptor First Black Astronaut First Black Astronaut Candidate
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate, finally goes to space 60 years laterEd Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate, has finally made it to space 60 years later, flying with Jeff Bezos’ rocket company. The 90-year-old Dwight blasted off from West T…
Read more »
America's first Black astronaut candidate, Ed Dwight, reaches space at 90Ed Dwight, who was America's first Black astronaut candidate in the 1960s, finally experienced space travel at the age of 90. Dwight was part of a Blue Origin flight.
Read more »
Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate, becomes oldest person to reach spaceThe Associated Press
Read more »
Ed Dwight, America's first Black astronaut candidate, finally goes to space 60 years laterEd Dwight, America's first Black astronaut candidate, has finally made it to space 60 years later, flying with Jeff Bezos’ rocket company.
Read more »
Ed Dwight, America's first Black astronaut candidate, finally goes to space 60 years laterEd Dwight, America's first Black astronaut candidate, finally rocketed into space 60 years later, flying with Jeff Bezos' rocket company on Sunday.
Read more »
Ed Dwight, America's first Black astronaut candidate, finally goes to space 60 years laterEd Dwight, America's first Black astronaut candidate, finally rocketed into space 60 years later, flying with Jeff Bezos' rocket company on Sunday.
Read more »