US-based lawyer and political figure, Owolabi Salis, has made history as the first African to voyage beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Salis was one of six private astronauts aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 suborbital mission, which launched from the arid plains of West Texas on June 29.
Joining him on the brief but groundbreaking flight were Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr, and Jim Sitkin.
According to Space in Africa, the flight crossed the Kármán line—the internationally recognized boundary of space—reaching a peak altitude of 105.2 kilometres above sea level.
The 10-minute mission, part of Blue Origin’s New Shepard programme, marks a new chapter in the democratisation of space travel. The initiative, led by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, allows civilians to experience space without undergoing traditional astronaut training.
Speaking before liftoff, Salis described the mission as more than a scientific feat:
“This mission is more than just a trip into space—it’s a spiritual journey, a call to inspire future generations,” he said.
He expressed hope that his milestone would ignite curiosity and ambition among African youths in the fields of science, technology, and space exploration.
A native of Ikorodu in Lagos State, Salis is a chartered accountant and attorney, licensed to practice in both Nigeria and the United States. He is also the author of Equitocracy, a political treatise championing justice and egalitarianism.
This is not Salis’s first encounter with the extraordinary. He previously set a record as the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic within the same calendar season—a rare geographical and logistical accomplishment.
In Nigerian politics, Salis has been a recurring figure, contesting Lagos State’s governorship under multiple parties. He ran for the PDP ticket in 2003 and 2007, under the Action Party of Nigeria the same year, and flew the Alliance for Democracy’s flag in the 2019 elections. After the 2019 race, he challenged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s victory, though his petition was ultimately dismissed.
With his latest celestial milestone, Salis now enters the global record books—blending political ambition with a pioneering spirit.