ED DWIGHT

    In 1961, Edward Joseph (Ed)  Dwight hoped to become the first Black astronaut in space. But he never made it. Now, at 90 years old, Dwight will get the chance to finally experience space onboard Blue Origin’s upcoming mission into Earth’s atmosphere.

    Dwight was selected by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to enter an Air Force training program known as the path to NASA’s Astronaut Corps.

         After completing the program in 1963, the Air Force recommended he join the corps, but he wasn’t selected and entered private life in 1966.

       His dream of going to space fell by the wayside for more than 60 years. But Dwight has been selected as one of the six civilians to travel to the edge of space on the next Blue Origin flight in June.

     After his flight training and subsequent leave from the Air Force, Dwight dedicated his life to creating sculptures that depict iconic figures in Black history. More than 130 pieces of his work have been exhibited in museums and installed in public spaces.

     His seat on the Blue Origin flight – which is believed to cost $250,000 – is sponsored by the nonprofit Space for Humanity, which helps send citizens to space.

    The space trip takes the civilians about 62 miles away from Earth and into the atmosphere for a few minutes of weightlessness and a view of space and Earth.