- Salis achieved the historic milestone on June 29, 2025, when he joined Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which crossed the Kármán line
- His groundbreaking achievement has been hailed worldwide as an inspiration for Africa and a significant step forward in showcasing Nigerian excellence on the global stage.
Chief Owolabi M. Salis, a United States–based Nigerian lawyer, chartered accountant, and philanthropist, has been officially listed on Wikipedia as the first Nigerian to travel to space.
Salis achieved the historic milestone on June 29, 2025, when he joined Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which crossed the Kármán line—the internationally recognized boundary of space—reaching an altitude of over 100 km before returning safely to Earth.
With this feat, Salis has become the 702nd human in history to journey into space, earning him recognition not only from Wikipedia but also from Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), which described his flight as a proud moment for the country’s space aspirations.
Beyond space exploration, Salis is also renowned as the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic in the same season, and as the author of Equitocracy, a political philosophy book advocating fairness and social equity.
His groundbreaking achievement has been hailed worldwide as an inspiration for Africa and a significant step forward in showcasing Nigerian excellence on the global stage.
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