U.S. Air Force Captain Edward J. Dwight Jr. was selected for the fourth class of Aerospace Research Pilots at Edwards Air Force Base, making him the first Black astronaut candidate. His appointment was seen as a significant step toward racial integration in the U.S. space program. However, Dwight was controversially dropped from the program in 1965, amid allegations of racial bias. Though he never flew in space, his selection paved the way for future Black astronauts.
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