Owolabi Salis, a Nigerian lawyer, has made history by becoming the first from Nigeria to travel to space. He joined Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which launched from West Texas on Sunday, June 29. Blue Origin is a private space company founded by Jeff Bezos, the creator of Amazon.
The space trip lasted about 10 minutes and went past the Kármán line, which is the point where Earth’s atmosphere ends and space begins. The spacecraft reached a height of 105.2 kilometers. Salis was not alone on the journey. Other people on board included Carl Kuehner, Jim Sitkin, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Allie Kuehner.
Before the flight, Salis explained that the mission was more than just a trip to space. He said it was a spiritual journey for him and that he hoped it would inspire young people and future generations, especially those in Africa, to believe in themselves and explore new paths.
This isn’t Salis’s first major adventure. He is already known for being the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic in the same season. His achievements continue to break boundaries and encourage others to dream big and take bold steps.
