Nigerian-born U.S.-based lawyer, politician, and author, Chief Owolabi Salis, has etched his name in history as the first Nigerian to travel beyond the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space, located 100 kilometers (62 miles) above sea level.
Salis achieved the historic feat aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 suborbital flight, which successfully launched and returned to the company’s spaceport in West Texas.
The flight, named Solstice-33, featured a six-member crew and marked another milestone in the growing accessibility of private space travel.
Clad in his astronaut suit and proudly donning a traditional African cap, Salis emerged from the spacecraft beaming with pride and embraced by cheering friends, family, and well-wishers who had gathered to celebrate the momentous occasion.
As the only Black astronaut on the mission, Salis said he dedicated the historic achievement to victims of discrimination and civil rights violations around the world.
“Space is a humbling place. All those leaders causing troubles on this planet should be sent to space—they will be humbled and sober,” Salis said, visibly emotional after the landing.
Salis, a widely traveled visionary who has previously explored the extreme polar regions of both the North and South Poles, described his voyage into space as “stupefying, spiritually overwhelming, and profoundly transformative.”
“As I floated in zero gravity, gazing upon the planet mysteriously suspended in space, I felt drawn closer than ever before to the Almighty,” he remarked. “The journey was both a scientific adventure and a spiritual pilgrimage.”
The accomplished lawyer, who also serves as the Spiritual Leader of Soul Maker’s Ministry Worldwide, said his time in space provided profound insights into the mysteries of existence, the soul, and the divine.
“If our planet can remain suspended and revolve in such perfect order, then surely a spirit being—an invisible, all-powerful Creator—is behind it. That realization has reaffirmed my belief that this Being is far beyond the depictions offered in many religious books,” he explained.
Beyond the personal revelations, Salis said his voyage was driven by a desire to inspire Africans and the global Black diaspora to embrace science, technology, and space exploration.
“This experience is a clarion call to Africans and Black nations across the world to awaken from centuries of technological slumber. We must rise to take our rightful place in global scientific advancement,” he said.
Salis hopes his historic journey will spur African governments, institutions, and youth to engage more deeply in space science and research, stressing that the Black race has “limitless potential” yet to be fully realized.
During his reflections, Salis delivered a sobering critique of world leaders and religious figures who, in his view, misuse their earthly influence.
“In space, all the power you think you hold means nothing. The vastness of the cosmos strips away your ego and reminds you of your insignificance,” he said.
He added:
“Religious leaders and magicians spreading vanities should experience space to realize the only true spirit being is the Almighty Creator of the Universe—the Lord of Diversity and Maker of all souls. And that Being may not be what has been misrepresented in many holy books.”
A Legacy of Firsts
Salis is not new to historic milestones. Before this voyage, he made headlines as the first Black African to explore both polar extremes of the Earth, further solidifying his status as a global adventurer, scholar, and spiritual seeker. He is also the author of Equitocracy: A Diversity-Based Democracy, a widely acclaimed political philosophy book advocating inclusive governance.
With this latest achievement, Chief Owolabi Salis joins the elite ranks of space travelers and becomes a symbol of inspiration for millions—especially across Africa and the Black diaspora—proving that the final frontier is within reach, even for those from communities historically excluded from scientific progress.
“This journey was better experienced than imagined,” Salis said. “And I hope it is only the beginning—for me, and for Africa.”
