Nigeria Historic Space Travel Mission Realized As NASRDA & SERA Partner To Democratize Travel

OBED ATUORA

The Chief Uche Nnaji led Federa Ministry of Innovation, Science and
Technology (FMIST) through its Agency, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), has taken a monumental step towards making space travel accessibe to Nigerians by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Space Exploration & Research Agency (SERA).

This colaboration marks a significant milestone in achieving SERA’s mission for globa participation in space exploration.

For too long, space has been an exclusive domain, with over 80% of astronauts
hailing from just three countries. These same nations control nearly 80% of in
space infrastructure. SERA is committed to changing this dynamic by ensuring
space is accessibe to everyone, reflecting the rich diversity of ife on Earth.
As part of this groundbreaking mission, SERA has reserved six seats on an
upcoming New Shepard launch. This initiative will see six individuals (from six countries), potentialy becoming the first astronauts from their respective
countries.

“We are happy to report that Nigeria has been selected. Nigeria’s selection for this historic opportunityalignswith the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and highights the country’s growing significance in the gobal space community. The inclusion of a Nigerian astronaut will mark a proud moment for the nation, showcasing its
advancements and ambitions in space exporation.”

“To further engage and inspire, SERA is inviting its members to propose and
select scientific experiments for the mission crew to perform in space. The areas of experimentation include:

1. Cellular Biology: Autonomous experiments exploring the effects of
microgravity on biological ce structures.

2. Fluid Dynamics: Astronaut-tended experiments investigating innovative ways to study fluids in space.

3. Human Physiology: Wearable sensor-based experiments examining the effects
of sub-orbital flight on the human body.

The MOU signing ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday, June 19th, 2024, by the
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, comes at a
momentous time as NASRDA celebrates its 25th anniversary. There couldn’t be a
more fitting tribute to this milestone than the launch of this historic event.
Human space flight has been a cornerstone objective of Nigerias National Space Policy and Program (NSPP), approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in
2001. Although the first human space flight was planned for 2018, this initiative propels Nigeria back on track, albeit six years behind schedule.

“Stay tuned as we embark on this exciting journey to democratize space,
celebrate diversity, and make history together. Join us in supporting this
monumental leap for Nigeria and the globa space community” the Ministry said.