VAN HORN, Texas – Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate, will finally fly into space at 90 years old on Blue Origin’s next launch to the edge of space.
While Dwight was one of 26 people recommended to NASA by the Air Force to become astronauts, the agency did not select him.
It would take another 20 years before Guion Bluford Jr. became NASA’s first Black astronaut.
Dwight left the military in 1966 and started several businesses before dedicating his life to telling the story of Black history through sculpture.
Blue Origin has launched more than 30 paying customers above the Karman line, the internationally recognized boundary of space, for an 11-minute experience in zero gravity.
Blue Origin hasn’t disclosed the ticket price, but customers have paid between zero and $28 million for a seat.
The company has not announced a target launch date for the NS-25 mission from its West Texas launch site. »