Ed Dwight's contributions are finally being celebrated and acknowledged in a new National Geographic documentary, “The Space Race.” This documentary spotlights Dwight, who almost made history in the 1960s, as he was set to become the first Black astronaut. Unfortunately, Ed Dwight never made it to space, but he did pave the way for those who would come after him. This is his story.Suggested read: Maintaining the Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen for the Future

Ed Dwight: How His Love for Space Began

Ed Dwight grew up in Kansas during the 1930s, during a time when segregation was very prevalent. As a child, he would watch planes in his spare time and was fascinated with pilots. It was this early experience that sparked his interest in joining the Air Force. Ed Dwight had dreams of becoming the first Black astronaut. In fact, he often went to marvel at the planes and gawk at the pilots when he was younger. Dwight remembers one memorable experience where he was asked to clean an airplane for a dime. This is truly the moment where it all began. When Dwight went to college, another sign appeared to him. It was the image of a downed Black pilot in Korea in his college's newspaper. As soon as he came to the realization that Blacks were being allowed to fly, he wanted to fly.

Ed Dwight Astronaut, a Dream That Almost Was

Shortly after college, Dwight joined the Air Force. It was during his time there that Dwight was excelling. Soon, the White House had him joining a test pilot program at Edwards Air Force Base. Here, Dwight made a name for himself, and it was his hard work and determination that propelled his interest in working at NASA. In fact, Dwight describes his first flight as, “The most exhilarating thing in the world, you free as a bird.” The White House was looking for an African American man to join the Aerospace Research Pilot School. Ed Dwight was the only one who met the criteria: 1,500 hours of flying jet airplanes, a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering, and three consecutive “outstanding” ratings from military superiors. This secured him the honor of being an Arizona State University notable alumni. However, Dwight faced discrimination, despite his accomplishments and even securing the endorsement of President Kennedy.Related read: The USS Arizona Memorial Honors Pearl Harbor Heroes

A Letter and an Opportunity Taken Away

In November of 1961, Ed Dwight received a letter containing an invitation that made his dream of becoming an astronaut come true. Dwight joined, and his image graced the cover of popular Black magazines across the U.S. People were sending him letters of support and celebration. However, he came face-to-face with a different response during training. Many of the officers were hostile, resenting his inclusion in the program. His progress in the program was under scrutiny by Civil Rights Division lawyers, and in 1963, he wasn't one of the 14 NASA astronauts. In a matter of days, Dwight was stationed at Wright-Patterson in Ohio in 1964, but was never able to become an astronaut. Despite this, Dwight continued his love for learning and earned his Masters of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the University of Denver. After graduation, he began a career as an artist, creating sculptures of great figures from Black history. Fun fact: Many of his sculptures have been flown into space!

Watch “The Space Race” Documentary on Disney+ & More

"The Space Race" documentary streamed Monday, February 12th on National Geographic. Now, it is available on both Disney+ and Hulu to stream at anytime. In the documentary, astronaut Bernard Harris, who was the first Black man to walk in space in 1955, talks about the difference it might have made if Ed Dwight became an astronaut in the tumultuous ‘60s. Be sure to check out this influential documentary.Read next: Coast Guard Honors Legacy of NFL Legend Emlen Tunnell