Owolabi Salis Makes History as First Nigerian in Space

Nigerian-born lawyer and politician, Owolabi Salis, has made history by becoming the first Nigerian to travel into space.

On June 29, 2025, Salis was one of six passengers aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which launched from West Texas. The flight included Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin.

As reported by Space in Africa, the mission lasted approximately 10 minutes and soared past the Kármán line—the internationally recognized boundary of space—reaching an altitude of 105.2 kilometres.

With this achievement, Salis joins an exclusive group of civilian astronauts who have flown with Blue Origin’s New Shepard program, the private spaceflight venture founded by Jeff Bezos.

Ahead of the launch, Salis called the mission both a scientific endeavour and a deeply personal experience.

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“This is more than just a journey into space,” he said. “It’s a spiritual mission, a beacon to inspire generations to come.”

He also voiced his hope that the flight would help spark a greater interest in space exploration throughout Africa.