Former Air Force pilot, aged 90, is sent into space by Bezos.
Jeff Bezos' space enterprise, Blue Origin, is venturing back into the realm of space tourism, having not done so for nearly two years. Their newest journey began with a former military pilot seeking to become an astronaut.
Ed Dwight, a 90-year-old ex-US Air Force pilot, is the oldest individual ever to have been in space and reached this milestone half a century after his unsuccessful bid for NASA's astronaut team. This significant flight was achieved alongside five other passengers, who all made the journey from Texas in a capsule provided by Blue Origin.
Dwight currently holds this remarkable distinction as the oldest astronaut in history, surpassing William Shatner, who also graced the stars in 2021. Dwight has expressed that the expedition was an incredibly impactful experience for him.
An Aborted Dream
Dwight was the first African American person to be put forward for the US astronauts' squad. Back in the 1960s, he was backed by then-President John F. Kennedy. Unfortunately, Dwight, who had served in the military, was not chosen for the 1963 squad - one that comprised Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins. NASA didn't select Black astronauts until a full decade later.
This marked the first time Blue Origin had sent people into space in nearly two years, with this being their seventh time carrying space tourists. The sum the passengers must have paid for their flight was undisclosed. Space for Humanity partially sponsored Dwight's spot in the capsule.
Dwight left the US military in 1966 and went on to work for IBM, where he started his own construction company. He pursued higher education as well, eventually earning a master's degree in sculpture. A number of Dwight's creations have previously traveled in space.
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Jeff Bezos' company, Blue Origin, honored Jeff Dwight's childhood dream of space travel, given his previously unsuccessful bid for NASA's astronaut team in the 1960s. As a testament to the advancements in space exploration and inclusivity, Jeff Dwight, at 90 years old, became the oldest astronaut, surpassing Jeff Bezos' own astronaut passenger, William Shatner, from 2021.
Source: www.ntv.de
