Summary: Owolabi Salis, a U.S.-based Nigerian lawyer, made history as the first Nigerian to travel to space, joining Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission launched from West Texas on June 29, 2025. In an interview on TVC’s Your View, Salis explained that he considered the journey a spiritual pilgrimage, adding that he had already visited over 100 countries including the North and South Poles. His motivation stemmed from a desire to explore the divine beauty of the universe, which he believes enhances one’s spiritual standing.
Salis attributed his courage to embark on the spaceflight to his faith as a member of the Soulmaker Ministry, a spiritual group that emphasizes the soul as the primary link to life. According to him, life begins when the soul is given by the Creator, who he described as distinct from any deity mentioned in global religious texts. He emphasized that the soul connects humans directly to the unseen and unknowable Lord of the universe.
Recounting the experience, Salis detailed the extensive training process at the Astronaut Village in Texas and described how bad weather postponed the original launch dates of June 21 and 22. The launch finally happened on June 29. He and the other astronauts wore diapers due to the lack of bathroom access during flight. Symbolically, he carried alligator pepper and bitter kola onboard, which he linked to seriousness and spiritual preparedness.
In space, Salis described feeling a sense of spiritual detachment, as though his soul was temporarily leaving his body. Witnessing Earth from space left him in awe of the planet’s mystery. He used the time to pray for global peace and communicate with the Almighty, whom he believes is neither the God of the Bible, the Allah of the Quran, nor any deity known in traditional or modern religions. Salis insisted that the Lord of the universe is an unseen force unlike any described in religious literature.
