Ed Dwight Was The First Black Astronaut Candidate For NASA. Here's Why He Never Flew

All week, On Second Thought has shared stories about people whose unsung contributions to the Apollo 11 mission 50 years ago. One of those pioneers is 85-year-old Ed Dwight . The Kennedy administration was focused on winning the space race, while integrating the South. Former President John F. Kennedy chose Dwight — handsome, charismatic and skilled Air Force officer to be the first African American astronaut.