First Nigerian to Travel to Space, Owolabi Salis
Owolabi Salis
First Nigerian to Travel to Space, Owolabi Salis
U.S.-based Nigerian lawyer and politician, Owolabi Salis, has made history as the first Nigerian to journey into space. He was one of six passengers aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which successfully launched from West Texas on June 29, 2025.
The suborbital flight, part of Blue Origin’s New Shepard program founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, reached a peak altitude of 105.2 kilometres, surpassing the Kármán line, the internationally accepted boundary of space.
Salis was joined by fellow civilian astronauts Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin. The entire mission lasted about 10 minutes, marking a significant step forward in the expanding era of private space travel.
Owolabi Salis Makes History as First Nigerian to Travel to Space
Before liftoff, Salis described the mission as a profound personal experience. “This mission is more than just a trip into space,it’s a spiritual journey and a call to inspire future generations,” he stated. He expressed hopes that his flight would spark wider interest in space exploration across Africa.
Born in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Salis is a chartered accountant and licensed attorney in both Nigeria and the United States. Known for pushing boundaries, he previously became the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic within the same season.
Salis also has a prominent political history in Nigeria. He contested the Lagos State governorship under multiple platforms: the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2003 and 2007, the Action Party of Nigeria (APN) in 2007, and the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 2019. Though he challenged the outcome of the 2019 election, his petition was ultimately dismissed.
