Nigerian lawyer makes history as first African in space
Nigerian lawyer makes history as the first African in space.Owolabi Salis, a lawyer and politician from Nigeria, has achieved the distinction of being the first Nigerian in space.
Salis was one of six individuals on Blue Origin’s NS-33 suborbital flight, which successfully launched from West Texas on Sunday.
This brief yet historic journey, operated by Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company, lasted 10 minutes and reached an altitude of 105.2 kilometers, surpassing the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.
Along with Salis, the crew included Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin.
Ahead of the launch, Salis described the mission as something beyond a personal milestone. “This mission transcends merely traveling to space; it represents a spiritual voyage and a call to inspire future generations,” he stated. He also hoped that his journey would ignite interest in space exploration throughout Africa.
Originally from Ikorodu, Lagos, Salis works as a chartered accountant and is a licensed attorney in both Nigeria and the United States. He is also the author of "Equitocracy," a book that promotes equity and fairness in governance.
Salis previously garnered attention as the first Black African to explore both the Arctic and Antarctic in the same season. Additionally, he has been involved in Nigerian politics, having run for various elections, including the 2019 Lagos State governorship election with the Alliance for Democracy.
His groundbreaking spaceflight marks another significant milestone in his diverse career and establishes a new benchmark for Nigerian involvement in space exploration.
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