Owolabi Salis, Nigerian-Born Lawyer Becomes First Nigerian in Space Aboard Blue Origin Mission
Nigerian-born lawyer and politician Owolabi Salis has made history by becoming the first Nigerian to travel to space.
Salis was one of six civilians aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard-33 (NS-33) mission, which successfully launched on Sunday from the aerospace company’s West Texas site.
The spaceflight, operated by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, is part of the company’s growing portfolio of suborbital missions aimed at making space tourism more accessible.
The NS-33 capsule soared beyond the Kármán line the internationally recognized boundary of space giving its crew members a few minutes of weightlessness and a breathtaking view of Earth.
Owolabi Salis, who is known for his legal career and past political aspirations, expressed profound excitement before the launch.
Speaking in a pre-flight interview, he described the journey as a “personal dream” and “a symbol of the unbounded potential of Nigerians around the world.”
“This journey is not just about me,” he said. “It’s about breaking boundaries and inspiring generations of Africans to reach for the stars literally.”
The NS-33 mission marks Blue Origin’s return to crewed launches after a brief pause in operations. The flight lasted approximately 10 minutes, during which the crew capsule separated from the booster, ascended beyond 100 kilometers, and safely parachuted back to Earth in the West Texas desert.
Salis’ participation in the mission is expected to ignite a wave of interest in STEM education and space exploration within Nigeria and across the continent. Already, tributes and congratulatory messages are pouring in from Nigerian leaders, scientists, and the diaspora community.
Owolabi Salis is a U.S.-based Nigerian attorney who has run for political office in both Nigeria and the United States. Known for his philanthropic work and advocacy for youth empowerment, Salis now adds “space traveler” to his list of groundbreaking accomplishments.
With this historic journey, Salis joins a rare group of African-born individuals who have made it to space and becomes a national icon for space ambition in Nigeria.
