Owolabi Salis, a Nigerian born attorney originally from Ikorodu, Lagos, made history on Saturday June 29 when he joined five others on a suborbital spaceflight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.
Now based in New York City, Salis became one of only a few Nigerians to travel beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
The launch took place at 9:39 a.m. CDT from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas, marking the aerospace company’s 13th passenger carrying flight and its 33rd mission overall.
Salis flew alongside fellow crew members Allie and Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr. and James Sitkin.
The flight, which carried six passengers including Chief Owolabi Salis, the first Nigerian on such a journey, soared past the Kármán line (100 km or 62 miles) to reach an apogee of 105.2 km (345,044 feet), offering the crew a breathtaking view of Earth and a life changing experience of weightlessness.
Their 10 minute journey into space offered a stunning view of the planet’s curvature and several minutes of zero gravity.
Among the group, Carl Kuehner was designated Blue Origin’s 70th astronaut and, by seat assignment, became the 750th person ever to fly into space, according to the Association of Space Explorers.
The crew, who nicknamed themselves “The Solstice 33” in reference to their originally planned June 21 launch date, experienced a slight delay due to unfavorable weather before finally taking off on Saturday.
In addition to the six tourists, the mission carried over 1,000 postcards created by students and the public as part of Blue Origin’s “Club for the Future” initiative, aimed at inspiring younger generations about space exploration.
Although the price for a seat on the flight remains undisclosed, passengers reportedly include professionals from various fields including law, environmental activism, real estate development and public transport leadership.
Background
Diaspora NG reports that Salis is well respected for his legal expertise, philanthropy and community service. He has over three decades of experience in law, finance, accounting and general consulting.
Salis works as a political consultant in addition to his legal practice, frequently traveling between the United States and Nigeria. He is the founder of the Niger Delta Peoples Development, a nonprofit organization that supports various other worthy causes.
Salis Law, the international law firm he manages, was established in 1992 and moved to New York in 2002. Based in Brooklyn, the firm provides legal services in various practice areas including personal and private wealth management. It offers clients comprehensive protection through detailed drafting, escrow management, structural development and trust services.
Additionally, Salis Law is recognized for its work in education financing, emergency funding, estate administration, large debt recovery and democratic development. Salis leads a team of legal experts providing innovative solutions to clients worldwide.
An alumnus of the Kongo campus of Ahmadu Bello University, which houses the faculties of law and administration, Salis holds both a Bachelor and Master of Science degree in Accounting from the same institution.
In his spare time, Salis enjoys a wide range of hobbies. He is a voracious reader dedicated to staying current on the latest legal and financial trends.
