Owolabi Salis, a prominent Nigerian politician and lawyer, has made history by becoming the first Nigerian to journey into space. Salis was a passenger aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which successfully launched from West Texas on Sunday, June 29.
The brief but historic flight, lasting approximately 10 minutes, carried Salis and five other individuals – Carl Kuehner, Jim Sitkin, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Allie Kuehner – beyond the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. The mission reached a peak altitude of 105.2 kilometres.
Prior to his groundbreaking trip, Salis articulated that the mission was “more than just a trip into space.” He described it as a “spiritual journey, a call to inspire future generations,” underscoring the profound significance he attached to the endeavour.
This achievement adds to Salis’s already impressive list of pioneering feats. He previously made history as the first Black African to travel to both the Arctic and Antarctic regions within the same season, showcasing his adventurous spirit and commitment to pushing boundaries.
