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ED DWIGHT<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In 1961,\u00a0Ed<\/strong>ward Joseph (Ed) <\/strong>\u00a0Dwight<\/strong> hoped to become the first Black astronaut<\/a>\u00a0in space. But he never made it. Now, at 90 years old, Dwight<\/strong> will get the chance to finally experience space onboard\u00a0Blue Origin’s upcoming mission<\/a>\u00a0into Earth’s atmosphere.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dwight<\/strong> was selected by President John F. Kennedy<\/strong> in 1961 to enter an Air Force training program known as the path to NASA’s Astronaut Corps.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His dream of going to space fell by the wayside for more than 60 years. But Dwight<\/strong> has been selected as one of the six civilians to travel to the edge of space on the next Blue Origin flight in June.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After his flight training and subsequent leave from the Air Force, Dwight<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n