A Nigerian-born lawyer and seasoned politician, Owolabi Salis, has etched his name in the annals of history as the first Nigerian to travel to space.
Salis was among six civilian passengers aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which launched from West Texas, USA, on Saturday, June 29, 2025.
The spaceflight, operated by Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company, Blue Origin, took the crew on a suborbital journey that soared beyond the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space. The 10-minute flight reached a peak altitude of 105.2 kilometres, officially qualifying the passengers as space travellers under international spaceflight standards
Salis’ crewmates on the New Shepard rocket included Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin. In an emotionally charged statement before liftoff, Salis described his voyage as one with deeper significance. “This mission is more than just a trip into space, it’s a spiritual journey, a call to inspire future generations,” he said.
He added that he hoped the mission would spark curiosity and commitment to space exploration among Africans, especially the youth.
