Nigeria’s First Civilian Astronaut: A Public Vote to Launch the Nation into Space

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In a groundbreaking partnership, Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has teamed up with the U.S.-based Space Exploration & Research Agency (SERA) to select the country’s inaugural community-chosen astronaut. This initiative represents Nigeria’s boldest step yet toward human spaceflight, underscoring its growing aspirations to participate in the rapidly expanding “offworld economy”.

A handful of superpowers, primarily the United States, Russia, and China, have dominated space exploration for generations. Traditionally, astronauts have been drawn from elite pools. The team comprises military aviators, researchers, and technical experts. However, SERA’s co-founders, Joshua Skurla and Sam Hutchison, are determined to shatter this longstanding paradigm.

“The space industry has remained stagnant in its cultural approach for over six decades,” Hutchison explained in an interview with TechCabal. “Government entities have consistently favoured the same profiles. At SERA, we are reversing this trend by allowing anyone to apply, while the community ultimately decides who gets to launch.

Positioning itself as a “space agency for the people, by the people”, SERA operates through its Mission Control platform, a Telegram mini-app built on the TON blockchain. Open to anyone 18 or older, participants can register as potential astronauts, suggest scientific experiments, or simply lend their support. The TON blockchain, created by Telegram’s founders, provides a decentralised layer-1 foundation that guarantees efficiency, scalability, and complete transparency throughout the selection. 

According to Star Connect,  aspiring candidates accumulate points known as SpaceDust by tackling challenges, promoting the programme, or pitching innovative ideas. Ultimately, the community votes transparently on the finalists, and the winner earns a coveted spot aboard Amazon’s Blue Origin New Shepard rocket.

In Nigeria, this provides an opportunity for ordinary citizens, such as schoolteachers in Abuja, university students in Enugu, or social media influencers in Lagos, to make history as the country’s first publicly selected astronaut.

Why target Nigeria at this pivotal moment? Nigeria has long been active in space endeavours, with NASRDA having successfully deployed multiple satellites over the last 20 years for purposes like communications and environmental surveillance. Yet, the country has never launched a human into orbit. Past ventures, such as Chief Owolabi Salis’s independently funded Blue Origin journey or the experimental dispatch of egusi melon seeds to space, operated outside official government channels.

“This collaboration perfectly supports our goal of advancing Nigeria’s space capabilities from satellite technology to manned missions,” stated Matthew Olumide Adepoju, NASRDA’s Director General. “SERA’s inclusive methodology ensures that our representative embodies the diverse dreams and demographics of our people.”

According to Business Journal, Anne Agi, President of the Learnspace Foundation, which facilitated the agreement, emphasises that it will foster connections among communities, academia, and businesses, while aligning Nigeria’s human spaceflight ambitions with worldwide efforts for collaborative discovery.

Redefining the astronaut archetype, SERA’s framework emphasises not just opportunities but meaningful outcomes. Take Victor Hespanha, a Brazilian engineer who became South America’s first private astronaut launched by SERA during its debut mission in 2022, achieving icon status through a community-backed flight that also revived national conversations about Brazil’s involvement in space, despite the earlier dispatch of a government-sent astronaut.

“Dispatching someone from outside the conventional scientific or defence circles allows them to encounter space through an ordinary lens, sharing insights that resonate and motivate the masses,” Hutchison noted.

SERA views this as essential, tapping into the “Overview Effect”—the transformative perspective shift astronauts describe upon viewing Earth from afar, which can ignite inspiration across societies. “When someone close to you, such as a neighbour, relative, or former classmate, embarks on a space journey, the dream becomes more accessible,” Skurla stated.

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Propelling Nigeria’s space economy forward, Hutchison cautions against inaction in the escalating space competition. Just three nations dominate more than 80% of space resources, including satellites, outposts, and facilities. Nigeria could miss out on the next global trade frontier if it remains idle.

The off-world economy is already taking shape, with private orbital stations in development and sectors such as data management and biotechnology eyeing space-based operations. Such advancements could address Nigeria’s time-sensitive issues, including malaria control and agricultural sustainability.

Through this SERA alliance, Nigeria is staking its claim as a key player in the evolving space landscape. As one of only three West African nations with an operational satellite, alongside Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, Nigeria is gearing up to replace its current one by 2028.

The selection process unfolds in three stages, commencing on September 30 with the announcement, inviting all Nigerians aged 18 and above to join via the SERA Mission Control app.

Phase one is open registration, where individuals can apply as candidates, experiment proposers, or backers. Next comes the campaign stage, which involves community mobilisation, task completion, and vote gathering. It culminates in the selection phase with a nationwide public vote to determine the seat holder. The chosen astronaut will undergo Blue Origin’s rigorous training ahead of an 11-minute suborbital trip, which will feature four minutes of weightlessness.

“A timeline for the concluding phase one will be shared later,” SERA indicated.

At its core, Skurla and Hutchison aim for a societal paradigm shift. “The term ‘astronaut’ often evokes ‘that’s not for someone like me,'” Hutchison observed. “We’re here to rewrite that narrative.”

Should it succeed, Nigeria’s endeavour could galvanise future innovators, business leaders, and visionaries, potentially prompting public calls for increased funding for space initiatives, as per Hutchison.

Max Crown, CEO of the TON Foundation, hailed SERA Mission Control as “space exploration tailored for the social media era.” He added, “By integrating with TON on Telegram, SERA evolves space travel from an abstract idea into a vibrant, participatory adventure driven by the community.”

The introduction of community-selected astronauts and partnerships, such as NASRDA-SERA, could significantly boost space tourism prospects in Nigeria and across Africa. In Nigeria, it might spark “astrotourism hubs,” such as visitor centres at NASRDA facilities or simulated space experiences in cities like Abuja and Lagos, drawing domestic and international visitors eager for educational adventures. 

This project diversifies Nigeria’s tourism beyond cultural and wildlife attractions, potentially increasing revenue by attracting tech-savvy millennials and STEM enthusiasts. On a continental scale, Africa’s tourism sector—valued at over $200 billion pre-COVID—could evolve with space-themed initiatives, positioning countries like Nigeria as gateways to the “offworld economy”. 

Successful missions might inspire pan-African space tourism collaborations, such as orbital viewing packages or ground-based observatories, enhancing ecotourism ties and job creation. However, risks include high costs and environmental concerns from rocket launches, which could deter eco-conscious travellers unless mitigated through sustainable practices. 

Overall, it promises to elevate Africa’s global image as an innovative destination, potentially adding billions to tourism GDP by fostering unique, high-value experiences.

Dive deeper into cutting-edge tech and innovation stories—explore our collection of articles on space exploration, African advancements, and global partnerships today for more inspiring reads!

FAQs

1. What is the NASRDA-SERA partnership about?  

The partnership between Nigeria’s NASRDA and U.S.-based SERA aims to select Nigeria’s first civilian astronaut through a community-driven public vote, marking the country’s entry into human spaceflight using Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.

2. How can Nigerians apply to become astronauts?  

Anyone aged 18 or older can register via SERA’s Mission Control Telegram mini-app as a candidate, experiment proposer, or supporter. Candidates earn SpaceDust points through challenges and ideas, leading to a community vote on finalists.

3. What is the “offworld economy” mentioned in the article?  

The offworld economy refers to emerging commercial activities in space, including private stations, satellite infrastructure, and industries like biotech and data storage shifting operations to orbit, which Nigeria aims to join for economic growth.

4. How could this initiative affect Nigeria’s space programme?  

 It could expand beyond satellites to human missions, inspire public investment, foster inclusivity, and position Nigeria as a leader in West Africa’s space efforts, potentially addressing local challenges like food security through space-based research.

5. What is the overview effect, and why is it important here?  

The overview effect is the profound cognitive shift astronauts experience seeing Earth from space, often leading to greater environmental awareness. SERA emphasises it to make space relatable, inspiring everyday people and motivating broader societal engagement in exploration.