After his groundbreaking inaugural space expedition, 90-year-old Ed Dwight found himself in the company of three retired Black NASA astronauts who expressed their gratitude for his pioneering efforts that paved the way for their own journeys into orbit. They hailed his recent voyage aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-25 spacecraft as a significant step towards achieving equity and fairness in the realm of space exploration.
After being selected by President John F. Kennedy as the first Black astronaut candidate for the prestigious Aerospace Research Pilot School, Dwight had to wait over six decades to finally achieve what was denied to him all those years ago. On Sunday, he accomplished this long-awaited milestone.
Upon his return to Earth, he received a warm reception from retired NASA astronauts and Space Shuttle veterans Leland Melvin, Charles Bolden, and Bernard Harris. They expressed their admiration and gratitude, acknowledging that their own accomplishments were made possible by building upon his groundbreaking achievements.
Melvin, who flew on two space missions aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis, expressed his satisfaction with the inclusion of Ed Dwight’s story in the history books. “Now, we have achieved justice by ensuring that Ed Dwight’s journey into space is documented,” he shared with ABC News.
After President Kennedy assigned him to the Aerospace Research Pilot School and received a recommendation from the Air Force, Dwight was unfortunately not selected for the NASA astronaut corps following Kennedy’s assassination.
After retiring from public life in 1966, Dwight embarked on a new journey as an entrepreneur. However, his true passion lay in sculpting historic Black figures. In an interview with ABC News, he candidly admitted that leaving the Air Force had left him with a lingering sense of unfulfilled dreams, particularly his aspiration to become an astronaut.
Dwight expressed his frustration, stating that he has always been able to complete his projects successfully. However, he found himself facing a daunting challenge that seemed insurmountable. He described it as a perplexing and overwhelming question mark that loomed over him. In such situations, it is common for individuals to dismiss the problem and convince themselves that it is unnecessary.
As the number of supporters and fans grew, they started urging him to seize the opportunity. This prompted him to carefully consider the importance of bringing it to the forefront of his mind.
Dwight explained that he realized the importance of having it because he needed to complete the task.
Dwight, along with five other individuals, embarked on a space journey from the desolate Texas desert on Sunday, courtesy of the New Shepard spacecraft. The sponsorship for Dwight’s flight was provided by the nonprofit organization, Space for Humanity.
According to Dwight, a retired Air Force captain, his main interest did not lie in the weightlessness experienced from zero G-force gravity. He mentioned that he had already experienced plenty of that during his training in the 1960s.
“I was eager to gaze beyond,” Dwight expressed. “I received advice from several individuals I hold in high regard, suggesting that if I were given the option of experiencing weightlessness for approximately 10 minutes or simply observing, it was concluded that the act of looking held far more significance for me, as I possess an innate curiosity.”
In awe of the sheer magnificence of the Earth, he exclaimed, “When you truly take the time to observe this extraordinary planet, it’s absolutely mind-blowing. It’s truly a perspective-altering experience.”
Dwight expressed how the experience had a profound impact on his life and recommended that every elected leader in Congress should have the opportunity to witness Earth from outer space.
Dwight emphasized the importance of global unity and the consequences of destroying our planet. He suggested that if people were to witness the vastness of the world from above, through multiple flights around the globe, they would realize the urgent need to preserve it.
As I watched Dwight finally achieve his goal, I couldn’t help but think about the doors that could have been opened for Black Americans had he become an astronaut six decades ago. Harris, who flew on two NASA Space Shuttle missions, shared this sentiment, recognizing the missed opportunities that could have been afforded to individuals like Dwight.
“I was 13 years old when I first set my sights on becoming an astronaut, inspired by the likes of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin,” Harris reminisced. “It was a dream that seemed distant, especially since I didn’t see anyone who looked like me in that field. But imagine if Ed had actually taken flight! It would have made such a profound impact on my life.”
Harris turned to Dwight, who was seated next to him, and expressed his emotions, saying, “Seeing you lift off today brought tears to our eyes. We truly value both what you accomplished today and what you did for us in the past.”
Seeing Dwight go to space “filled a hole,” said Bolden, who flew on four Space Shuttle missions before becoming the first Black Administrator of NASA.
“We were in desperate need of this,” emphasized Bolden, praising Dwight as a role model for young individuals, demonstrating that with “persistence,” any objective can be accomplished.
When ABC News asked Dwight what he still had on his bucket list, he chuckled and compared his space voyage to “getting a taste of honey.”
“I want an entire jar of that,” Dwight exclaimed. “I would love to experience orbit. That’s my ultimate dream.”
