Blue Origin fulfills dream of former NASA candidate on successful crewed flight after nearly 2-year pause
- Blue Origin successfully completed its first crewed flight in almost two years.
- Former NASA candidate Ed Dwight realized his dream of reaching space after being rejected 60 years ago.
- The historic journey marked a significant achievement for the space industry and personal fulfillment for Dwight.
The New Shepard rocket and capsule launched at 9:36 a.m. CT from Blue Origin's site in West Texas. This was Blue Origin's seventh crewed flight. The capsule carried six passengers, including Dwight, a 90-year-old retired Air Force Captain who almost became the first Black astronaut in the United States. President John F. Kennedy recommended Dwight for NASA in 1961, but he was not selected. After leaving the Air Force in 1966, Dwight pursued a career in the private sector and became a sculptor in Denver. Passengers on the flight experienced about three minutes of weightlessness and saw Earth from space before the capsule landed with parachutes a few thousand yards from the launch pad. The nonprofit Space for Humanity, with support from the Jaison and Jamie Robinson Foundation, sponsored Dwight's $500,000 ticket to space. Dwight's crewmates included venture capitalist Mason Angel, French entrepreneur Sylvain Chiron, software engineer Kenneth Hess, retired accountant Carol Schaller, and Indian aviator Gopi Thotakura. Blue Origin had a two-year break in crewed flights after a failed mission in September 2022. The rocket's engine nozzle failed due to high atmospheric pressure, causing the rocket to crash. However, the company had previously completed 22 successful missions, including six crewed flights. The successful flight in May 2023 fulfilled Ed Dwight's dream of reaching space after being rejected by NASA 60 years ago.