Owolabi Salis, a US-based lawyer and political figure, has become the first Nigerian to go into space.

Salis was part of six private astronauts on Blue Origin’s NS-33 suborbital mission, launched from West Texas on June 29, 2025. The 10-minute ascent and descent marked a significant milestone in the democratisation of space travel, allowing civilians to experience space without the traditional astronaut training.

According to Space in Africa, the 10-minute suborbital journey took the crew beyond the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space, reaching an altitude of 105.2 kilometres above sea level.

Salis called it a spiritual journey and a call to inspire future generations, emphasizing the transcendent nature of the experience. “This mission is more than just a trip into space, it’s a spiritual journey, a call to inspire future generations,” he said before the flight.

He also aimed to inspire African youths about science, technology, and space exploration.

His fellow crew members were Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin.

Born in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Salis is licensed to practice law in Nigeria and the United States. He is the author of Equitocracy, promoting fairness and equity in governance. Salis is also the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic simultaneously.

He has a long-standing presence in Nigerian politics, having contested for the Lagos State governorship multiple times under various parties. After the 2019 elections, he challenged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s victory in court, but the tribunal dismissed his petition.