A United States-based lawyer and politician, Chief Owolabi Salis, has made history as the first Nigerian to travel to space above the Karman line, the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space, located at an altitude of 100 kilometres above sea level.
Beyond the milestone, Salis used the journey to fly the African flag higher, wearing a traditional African-made cap over his astronaut jacket and dedicating his flight to victims of discrimination and civil rights violations.
“The world must open up space science to Africans. I wore my cap to represent our culture and show that Africans also belong here,” he said.
The Blue Origin rocket, which carried the astronauts into suborbital space, touched down safely at the tarmac of the exotic space village in Western Texas after the historic mission.
Salis, the only black in the NS-33 crew, also called Solstice-33, joined six other astronauts: Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Jim Sitkin, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Leland Larson.
“Space is a humbling place. Leaders causing troubles in this planet should be sent to space; they will be humbled and sober,” said Salis.
The high-flier and global visioner, who has criss-crossed virtually all continents, described the experience as “humbling, stupefying and overwhelming, beholding the universe in its awe-inspiring splendour, and delightful cosmic spectacle.”
“It was for me an eye-opener, widening my vista, drawing me closer, more than ever towards my maker, whose creative mind fashioned the mystery of the universe,” added Salis, who also serves as the spiritual leader of the Soul Maker’s Ministry Worldwide.
