posted 05-19-2024 11:04 AM
   
A few weeks ago when I learned that Capt. Ed Dwight, USAF (ret.) was going to fly aboard a Blue Origin New Shepard spacecraft, I reached out to two friends that knew him because I wanted to commemorate this accomplishment. I had met Captain Dwight at a Shades of Blue eventin Washington, D.C. in 2016. Captain Willie Daniels of the Our Shades of Blue Foundation and Carl McNair contacted Dwight and his son who appreciated my thinking of him.  The patch is inspired by the shape of the insignia of the 412 Test Wing to which the Aerospace Research Pilots School belongs. In the upper left we see the aircraft symbol from the Test Pilot School representing Dwight's USAF career. In the lower right we see the New Shepard spacecraft at its apogee when those inside will experience weightlessness. At the top I have placed USAF wings but instead of the Astronaut Pin within the shield, I have drawn a feather which is inspired by the Blue Origin Astronaut Pin Dwight was awarded upon landing. His service branch and spaceflight designation are at the bottom. The top text reads: Shades of Blue Honors Captain Ed Dwight Jr. "Space Pioneer" on the diagonal line in the blue. The bottom text: 1st African American Astronaut Candidate. Congratulations to the Blue Origin Team on a successful return to flight. The patch is not yet available for purchase at this time. Inquiries about them should be emailed to Shades of Blue. | 
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