A Nigerian-born lawyer and politician, Owolabi Salis, has made history as the first Nigerian to travel to space. Salis was one of six passengers aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which launched from West Texas on Sunday. The other passengers were Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin.
The suborbital flight, operated by Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company Blue Origin, lasted 10 minutes and reached an altitude of 105.2 kilometres, crossing the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space.
Speaking ahead of the mission, Salis described the journey as more than a space trip, calling it a spiritual experience and a call to inspire future generations. He expressed hope that the mission would spark greater interest in space exploration across Africa.
Born in Ikorodu, Lagos, Salis is a chartered accountant and attorney licensed to practise in both Nigeria and the United States. He is the author of Equitocracy, a book advocating for fairness and equity in democratic governance.
Salis had previously made headlines as the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic in the same season. He is also known in Nigerian politics, having contested multiple elections, including as the Alliance for Democracy’s governorship candidate in Lagos in 2019.
