Science

At 90, Pioneer Misses First Black Astronaut Title But Gains Space Trip

Apr 26, 2024 1 min read

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At the age of 90, Edward J. Dwight Jr. is poised to become the oldest person to travel into space aboard a Blue Origin rocket. His upcoming flight aboard the New Shepard rocket, which has yet to be scheduled, will break the current age record set by Star Trek actor William Shatner. Despite his age, space health expert Dorit Donoviel has expressed confidence that the short, 11-minute duration of the flight will mitigate any significant health risks associated with G forces that are known to affect the body in space.

Dwight, who was the first African American selected as a potential astronaut but did not fly, will claim this new record more than three decades after Guion Bluford Jr. became the first African American in space in 1983. The cost of Dwight's historic flight is undisclosed, but his seat is sponsored by Space for Humanity with additional backing from the Jaison and Jamie Robinson Family Foundation. The Blue Origin spaceflight, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is designed to limit long-term effects of orbital and deep-space missions, offering a safer experience for passengers like Dwight.

#african-american #space

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