By Peter Omopo
July 1, 2025 – Lagos, Nigeria — Nigerian-born lawyer and politician, Owolabi Salis, has etched his name in history as the first Nigerian to travel to space, joining the crew of Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which successfully launched from West Texas, United States, on Sunday.
Salis was part of a six-member civilian crew aboard the New Shepard suborbital spacecraft, operated by Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. The historic flight lasted approximately 10 minutes, reaching an altitude of 105.2 kilometres, surpassing the Kármán line—the internationally recognised boundary of space.
The other crew members on the flight included Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin.
Ahead of the mission, Salis described the journey as deeply meaningful, stating, “This mission is more than just a trip into space—it’s a spiritual journey, a call to inspire future generations.”
His flight marks a significant milestone for Nigeria’s presence in space exploration, sparking pride among citizens and the global African diaspora.
