Air Force Captain Ed Dwight, a potential NASA astronaut in the 1960s, will now be part of a Blue Origin spaceflight with Jeff Bezos’ space venture. Dwight was initially chosen by President John F. Kennedy to be part of a program leading to NASA’s astronaut corps but was passed over due to racial discrimination. He became a sculptor after resigning from the Air Force as a captain in 1966. Dwight’s life story is featured in a National Geographic documentary titled “The Space Race.” It would take another two decades before Guion Bluford Jr. became NASA’s first Black astronaut in 1983. Dwight’s flight will be sponsored by Space for Humanity and the Jaison and Jamie Robinson Foundation.
Blue Origin’s next crewed flight will include six individuals, one of whom is Air Force Captain Ed Dwight. The others include Mason Angel, Sylvain Chiron, Kenneth L. Hess, Carol Schaller, and Gopi Thotakura. Each spaceflier will carry a postcard to space on behalf of Blue Origin’s Club for the Future, an educational initiative aimed at involving students in the company’s space program. This mission will mark the 25th New Shepard flight, including six crewed missions and 18 uncrewed missions since 2015. Blue Origin’s flight arrangements are private, and the cost for customers to take part has not been disclosed.
Blue Origin has previously included pioneering astronauts on its crew list, such as Wally Funk, a member of the “Mercury 13” group of women fliers who missed out on joining NASA’s early astronaut corps. Dwight could become the oldest person to reach space, aiming to surpass William Shatner’s record. Blue Origin has not announced the flight date for NS-25, where Dwight and the other participants will travel. Jeff Bezos stated that demand for private space sales is high, with the company approaching $100 million in sales already. Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, plans to lead an all-female crew on a suborbital flight in the future.
With Blue Origin’s upcoming crewed flight, a diverse group of participants, including business founders and entrepreneurs, will join Air Force Captain Ed Dwight. Each individual on the flight list brings a unique background and experience to this mission. Blue Origin’s Club for the Future initiative aims to engage students in educational activities related to the space program, including sending digital postcards on New Shepard missions. The company’s private flight arrangements have seen significant demand, with sales approaching $100 million after the first crewed flight in 2021.
Dwight’s journey from almost becoming NASA’s first Black astronaut in the 1960s to joining a Blue Origin spaceflight showcases his resilience and determination. The inclusion of a diverse group of individuals on the NS-25 flight highlights the various backgrounds and experiences that contribute to space exploration. Blue Origin’s commitment to promoting education through initiatives like the Club for the Future demonstrates the company’s focus on inspiring the next generation of space explorers. As the company continues its private spaceflight operations, the upcoming mission with Dwight and others will mark a significant milestone in the history of space travel.
