U.S.-based lawyer and politician Chief Owolabi Salis has achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the first Nigerian to travel into space beyond the Kármán line, the boundary separating Earth’s atmosphere from outer space, roughly 100 kilometers (62 miles) above sea level.

Salis was part of Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which successfully carried its crew on a suborbital flight before landing back at the company’s facility in West Texas. Friends, family members, and supporters were on hand to greet the returning astronauts with hugs, cheers, and emotional celebrations.

Emerging from the spacecraft wearing his flight suit and a traditional African cap, Salis stood out as the only Black astronaut in the crew. He dedicated his historic journey to victims of discrimination and civil rights violations, describing the moment as deeply meaningful and symbolic.

The NS-33 mission, known as Solstice-33, included six other crewmates: Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Jim Sitkin, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Leland Larson. Together, they experienced the breathtaking sight of Earth suspended in space, a perspective Salis said profoundly transformed him.

“Space is a humbling place,” he reflected. “All those leaders causing trouble on this planet should be sent to space, they would come back humbled and sober.”

Salis, who has traveled extensively across the globe, including journeys to the extreme reaches of the North and South Poles, called the spaceflight “an eye-opener.” He described the experience as “stupefying and emotionally overwhelming,” recounting how he gazed in awe at the cosmic panorama and felt as though his soul was transported into another dimension.

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“It drew me closer than ever before to my Maker, the invisible one whose mind designed this unfathomable universe,” said Salis, who also leads the Soul Maker’s Ministry Worldwide and is the author of Equitocracy: A Diversity-Based Democracy.

For him, the voyage was more than scientific exploration; it was a spiritual pilgrimage. “I went into space seeking answers about the mystery of existence and the soul,” he explained. “Floating like a bird, I saw our planet hanging in space, with no visible force holding it. That is profoundly mysterious.”

He continued, “If Earth can orbit so precisely, then a Spirit Being must be in charge. I believe that the true Controller of the Universe lives within us and connects to our souls. This Being may not be the same as those described in many of the religious texts on our planet.”

Salis said he hoped his journey would inspire Africans and people of African descent around the world to see the boundless possibilities before them and to encourage Black nations to invest in space science and technology.

“In embarking on this adventure, I wanted to fire the imagination of fellow Africans,” he said. “We must awaken from age-old slumber and join the global community in advancing space travel and scientific innovation. It’s time to lift the esteem of our race and accelerate development.”

Reflecting further on what he called “a humbling experience,” Salis challenged both political and religious leaders to look beyond their earthly ambitions.

“Those who boast of power should know that in space, your influence means nothing,” he said. “All those who thrive on creating chaos, and those who propagate empty vanities, should spend a day in space to understand who truly deserves our praise, the Almighty Lord of the Universe, the Maker and Owner of all souls.”