Nigerian-born lawyer, Owolabi Salis, has made history as the first Nigerian to journey into space. The milestone was achieved aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which successfully launched from the company’s West Texas launch site on Sunday.
Salis was one of six passengers selected for the suborbital flight, which lasted approximately 10 minutes and reached the edge of space before making a safe return to Earth. The mission, carried out by Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company, marks the seventh successful human spaceflight for Blue Origin’s New Shepard programme.
The NS-33 capsule reached an altitude of more than 100 kilometres, crossing the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space. Passengers experienced a brief period of weightlessness before descending under parachutes back to the Texas desert.
Salis’ participation in the mission is historic, not only for Nigeria but also for broader African representation in commercial spaceflight. While several astronauts of African descent have flown with NASA and other government-backed missions, Salis is the first Nigerian citizen to be part of a privately funded human spaceflight.
Reacting to the journey, Salis described the experience as transformative. “It was more than just a personal milestone,” he said in a post-flight statement. “This flight represents a message of possibility for Nigeria and Africa. We are capable of reaching new frontiers in science, technology, and exploration.”
A dual-qualified lawyer in Nigeria and the United States, Salis has built a career spanning law, politics, and philanthropy. He has previously run for governor in Lagos State and is known for his advocacy on equitable access to education and opportunity for underprivileged communities. His selection for the Blue Origin mission was linked to his longstanding support for education, innovation, and cross-cultural engagement.
The NS-33 crew also included passengers from the United States and Europe, representing various fields such as science, media, and entrepreneurship. Blue Origin has continued to expand the accessibility of spaceflight to civilians through its suborbital programme, which uses reusable rocket technology.
Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has congratulated Salis, noting that his participation “marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s engagement with space and science diplomacy.”
Salis’ journey into space may be brief in flight time, but its significance for representation, inspiration, and national pride is enduring.
