Ed Dwight has officially made history!
On May 19, Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-25 launched its first human flight in nearly two years, which Dwight was onboard for — making him the oldest person to go to space at age 90, according to ABC News.
As previously reported by AFROTECH™, the former Air Force captain made history in 1961 after being selected by President John F. Kennedy as the first Black astronaut candidate in the U.S. But after completing the Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS) and receiving a recommendation from the U.S. Air Force to move forward, he wasn’t selected for the NASA Astronaut Corps — missing out on the opportunity to fly to space.
However, now over 60 years later, Dwight has reached the monumental milestone.
“You’ve waited a long time for this opportunity and all of us who stand on your shoulders could not be happier,” Charles Bolden, the first Black NASA administrator, told the outlet. As an astronaut, Bolden himself served on four missions to space. “I know how much you have dreamed about this and I want you to take some time while you are flying to suck it all up and take it all in. You deserve every moment of this. You’ve been a role model and mentor for many of us for so long and we’re with you there in spirit.”
Dwight’s seat on the spacecraft was sponsored by nonprofit Space for Humanity and the Jaison and Jamie Robinson Foundation.
“Long time coming,” Dwight said after the flight.
He continued, “It was absolutely terrific. I thought I really didn’t need this in my life but now I need it in my life. I am ecstatic. It was a life-changing experience. Everybody needs to do this.”
Launched from West Texas, New Shepard NS-25’s six-astronaut crew included Dwight, Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, and Gopi Thotakura.
Prior to the historic space flight, Dwight was an entrepreneur and most recently a sculptor, creating monuments that commemorate Black historical leaders. Over 130 of his pieces of work are featured in museums in the U.S. and Canada, as previously shared by AFROTECH™.
