After the spaceflight, 90-year-old Ed Dwight said, “It’s been a long time.”
Ed Dwight, America’s first black astronaut candidate, announced his latest trip to space on Sunday as Blue Origin launched its new Shepard NS-25 spacecraft, completing the first manned flight since 2022. He became an elderly person.
Dwight, 90, made his first space trip in more than 60 years after President John F. Kennedy appointed him to the elite Aerospace Research Pilot School (the Air Force program from which NASA astronauts are selected) in 1961. . Despite being recommended by the Air Force, Dwight was not selected to join the NASA astronaut corps after Kennedy’s assassination.
The new Shepard NS-25 was Blue Origin’s seventh crewed spaceflight. With this flight, Dowai became the oldest person to fly to space and back.
“It’s been a long time,” Dwight said as he emerged from the capsule after landing in a remote Texas desert on Sunday, pumping his fist.
Dwight said, “It’s been really amazing. I didn’t think I really needed it in my life, but now it’s in my life. I’m really excited.” “It was a life-changing experience. Everyone should do this.”
The New Shepard NS-25 took off from Texas at 10:36 a.m. ET with five other passengers on board.
This was Blue Origin’s seventh crewed flight, but the first since the Federal Aviation Administration canceled its space tourism program after it failed mid-flight during an unmanned research mission in September 2022.
After entering private life in 1966, Dwight worked as an entrepreneur for ten years before becoming a sculptor of historical black figures.
Dwight’s seat on the plane is sponsored by the nonprofit organization Space for Humanity.
Charles Bolden, the first black NASA administrator and an astronaut himself who flew on four missions, wished Dwight well on his flight late Saturday.
“You’ve all waited a long time for this opportunity, and all of us standing on your shoulders couldn’t be happier,” Bolden told ABC News, emphasizing the word “long.” “I know how much you’ve dreamed of this, and I want you to take a moment during the flight to absorb it all, take it all in. I want you to experience every moment of this.” You were a role model and a mentor.” Many of us have been together for a long time and we are with you in spirit. ”
The launch slot opened at 8:30 a.m. Central Time from West Texas.
Dwight was joined by Mason Angell, founder of venture capital fund Industrious Ventures. Sylvain Chiron, founder of Brasserie Montblanc. Kenneth Hess, software engineer and entrepreneur. Carol Schaller, former accountant. and Gopi Sotakula, aviator and founder of Preserve Life Corporation.
Actor William Shatner was the oldest person to ever fly in space. Dwight was 90 years and 206 days old when he boarded his last Blue Origin flight on October 13, 2021. Dwight will be 90 years and 253 days old on Sunday.
At 77 years old, John Glenn is the oldest person to actually be launched into orbit. Blue Origin flew about 100 miles above Earth and NASA’s definition of space, directly above the Karman Line, and Glenn flew an additional 160 miles above the Earth in 1998 on the Space Shuttle Discovery.
ABC News’ Gina Sunseri contributed to this report.
