Owolabi Salis Makes History as Nigeria’s First Space Traveler
Owolabi Salis, a Nigerian-born lawyer and politician, has etched his name in history as the first Nigerian to venture into space. He was one of six passengers aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which took off from West Texas on a Sunday.
Joining Salis on this stellar journey were Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin. The suborbital flight lasted a brief but breathtaking 10 minutes, reaching an altitude of 105.2 kilometers and crossing the famed Kármán line, the recognized boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.
Ahead of the launch, Salis described the trip as a deeply spiritual experience and expressed his hope that it would ignite a passion for space exploration across Africa.
Hailing from Ikorodu, Lagos, Salis boasts a diverse background as a chartered accountant and a licensed attorney in both Nigeria and the United States. He previously made headlines as the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic within the same season.
In addition to his adventurous exploits, Salis has been active in Nigerian politics, having run for governor of Lagos State under the Alliance for Democracy in 2019. His journey into space marks yet another remarkable chapter in a life defined by breaking barriers and reaching new frontiers.