#ed dwight

Capt. Edward J. Dwight at Edwards Air Force Base, 1963. He flew to space last week at the age of 90.

Ed Dwight has finally made it to space, more than 60 years after he made headlines as the United States' first Black astronaut [candidate].

The now 90-year-old former Air Force Captain lifted off on Sunday (May 19) on Blue Origin's 25th New Shepard sub-orbital mission. Launching with five other passengers, Dwight reached 66 miles (106 km) high, qualifying him as an astronaut based on altitude standards originally set by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the world's governing body for human spaceflight records, and recognized by the Association of Space Explorers.

“Needless to say, I am overwhelmed," said Dwight before Sunday's launch. "This opportunity is a once in a lifetime [one] and that I will cherish for the rest of my life.” (x)

Meet Ed Dwight, USAF Veteran, Sculptor, and a real American hero. Sculptor and USAF veteran Ed Dwight made history May 19, 2024, breaking actor William Shatner’s record as the oldest person to go into space. He was supposed to make history decades ago as the first African-American in space. He was selected for astronaut training in 1961, but due to the social prejudices of the time, NASA chose…

After serving as a military fighter pilot and becoming the first African American astronaut trainee, Ed Dwight left the military and turned his focus to art in the 1970s. His sculptures and public art projects depict events in Black history and the contributions of African Americans to the country’s development.

President Ford received this piece by Dwight, “Hands That Picked Cotton Now Can Pick Our Public Officials,” as a gift from Ed Brown in 1989. His daughter Susan accepted it on his behalf for his participation in passing the extension of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. A paperweight accompanying the sculpture has an inscription from his remarks upon signing the bill on August 6, 1975: “The right to vote is at the very foundation of our American system and nothing must interfere with this very precious right.”

After he became the first American to walk in space in June 3, 1965, astronaut Ed White received a deluge of fan letters. Because of the similarity of their names, some of the letters were addressed to Ed Dwight, a USAF test pilot Captain, and the first African-American to complete USAF’s astronaut training programme, Although he was not selected for NASA’s astronaut group in 1963, it was obvious by the amount of mail addressed to him that many thought he had. Ed White gathered all the letters (two boxes) addressed to Ed Dwight and delivered them personally. Seeing the amount of fan mail Capt. Dwight received, Ed White remarked, “Now I understand how important it is for you to go into space”.  (Chasing the Moon, 2019, Robert Stone and Alan Andres).

After astronaut Elliot See’s death in February 28, 1966, Ed White and his family made several visits to the See family. On one such visit, Ed “climbed up the huge pine tree” at the back of their house to hang a rope swing for See’s children to play with. It was - See’s oldest daughter Carrie recalled - “something a father would do for his children.” (Fallen Astronauts, 2003, Colin Burgess)

In April 1964, a fire broke out at Neil and Janet Armstrong’s home. Their neighbour Ed White came rushing in with a water hose. Janet later recalled seeing him bound their six foot fence to get to them. Ed then helped rescue the Armstrong children and property until the arrival of the fire services. (First Man. 2005, James Hansen).