By Nancy Okojie,
Nigeria has taken a bold and historic step into the global space race by launching a democratic astronaut selection initiative. This unprecedented move, in partnership with the US-based Space Exploration & Research Agency (SERA), aims to send the nation’s first community-selected civilian astronaut into space.
The initiative is designed to democratize access to space exploration, shifting the selection process from elite institutions to public participation.
A New Model for Space Access
The program, unveiled on Tuesday by SERA and Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), allows ordinary citizens to compete for a guaranteed seat on a suborbital space flight, which is expected to be carried out aboard a Blue Origin New Shepard mission.
This approach dismantles the traditional requirements for astronauts, which often demand extensive military flight experience or advanced academic backgrounds. Instead, the Nigerian representative will be chosen through a transparent, community-driven process.
Open Application: Anyone aged 18 and above can apply through SERA’s Mission Control platform, a mini-app built on the TON Blockchain on telegram platform for transparent voting.
Community Support: Candidates will complete challenges to earn “SpaceDust” points and rally community support through the platform.
Democratic Vote: The final selection phase will culminate in a public vote, where Nigerians will collectively decide who secures the nation’s seat.
Furthermore, Sam Hutchinson, Co-founder of SERA, remarked that the Human Space Flight Programme with NASRDA is part of a broader mission to allow six astronauts from different nations, who have never been to space, to make their debut. According to Hutchinson, the Nigerian populace will select a candidate through an open democratic process managed by SERA.
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Joshua Skurla, the Co-founder of SERA, praised the event as a milestone for the African continent and assured that his team is committed to putting the first Nigerian astronaut in space. Speaking at the event, Victor Hespenia, the first SERA astronaut, emphasised that a trip to space could significantly impact young Nigerians by inspiring them to dream big and create space-based inventions valuable for the country’s growth. He stressed the importance of exposing young people to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to ensure Nigeria’s bright future in space. The partnership acknowledges and appreciates Nigeria’s achievements in space science and technology.
Advancing Nigeria’s Space Ambitions
For Nigeria, this partnership marks a crucial milestone in its space program, which has primarily focused on satellite development since its inception 25 years ago.
NASRDA and SERA Unite to Realise Nigeria’s Space Aspirations. In his remarks, Dr Matthew Adepoju, expressed his gratitude to the Minister for his support, stating that the agency takes pride in being Africa’s premier space agency—not just as a mere claim, but as a fact. He highlighted that the collaboration with SERA signifies the beginning of NASRDA’s efforts to achieve its dream of human space flight, a key objective of the National Space Policy and Programme. Dr Adepoju emphasised SERA’s crucial role in providing this collaborative opportunity and praised their mission to democratise space exploration and exploitation for all nations as a noble endeavour. He assured that NASRDA is committed to taking all necessary steps to send the first Nigerian into space through this partnership.
“This program is a pathway that ensures Nigerian representation reflects the diverse aspirations of our population,” Dr. Adepoju stated. He also noted that the partnership will come at no cost to the Federal Government of Nigeria, with SERA fully sponsoring the mission.
The move positions Nigeria, one of Africa’s leading space-faring nations, as a serious contender in the emerging global space economy, fostering new opportunities for scientific research and inspiring a new generation of scientists and entrepreneurs. Nigeria is one of five countries—including India, Indonesia, Brazil, and Thailand—to participate in this expanded democratic selection process.
