Nigerian-born lawyer and politician, Owolabi Salis, has etched his name in history as the first Nigerian to travel into space, following a successful flight aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission.
The suborbital flight, operated by Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company, launched from West Texas on Sunday and marked a major milestone in both African and private spaceflight history.
Salis was one of six civilians aboard the NS-33 capsule, which ascended to an altitude of 105.2 kilometres, crossing the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary that marks the edge of space.
The entire mission lasted just ten minutes, offering passengers a brief but unforgettable view of Earth from above.
The crew also included Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin.
Together, they experienced a few minutes of weightlessness and observed the planet from the suborbital capsule’s windows before safely returning to Earth.
Speaking ahead of the flight, Salis described the mission as both a personal triumph and a symbolic gesture for a continent with limited presence in the global space race.
“This mission is more than just a trip into space,” he said. “It’s a spiritual journey, a call to inspire future generations.”
Salis also expressed hope that his journey would reignite conversations around space science in Africa and motivate young people across the continent to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
His achievement adds Nigeria to the list of countries with citizens who have reached space, and represents a bold step forward in Africa’s growing interest in space exploration.
