Egusi Becomes First Nigerian Item Sent to Space in Historic SpaceX Mission
For the first time in history, Nigeria is sending an item into space—and it’s a popular food ingredient known as egusi seeds. The melon seeds, widely used in Nigerian soups, are now making headlines around the world as they prepare to enter orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The egusi seeds were sourced from Oyo State and selected for a special agricultural science mission called “Emerging Space Nations: Space for Agriculture and Agriculture for Space.” The mission aims to study how important crops from different cultures respond to space conditions like microgravity and radiation.
This groundbreaking project is being led by Dr. Temidayo Oniosun, a Nigerian space scientist and entrepreneur. The seeds are set to launch on July 31 at 12:09 PM (EDT) from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, with docking expected on August 2 at the International Space Station.
In an official statement, Dr. Oniosun shared his excitement: “This is the first time any object from Nigeria will enter orbit. Egusi was selected to represent Nigeria for both its cultural and scientific relevance.”
The mission is being carried out in collaboration with Jaguar Space (which serves as the mission integrator and science coordinator) and The Karman Project, a global organization that supports inclusive space exploration. Dr. Oniosun serves as Nigeria’s principal investigator for the mission.
Other countries are also sending culturally significant seeds for the study, including Egyptian cotton, Armenian pomegranate, and Pakistani wheat. All of these seeds will undergo a series of experiments aboard the International Space Station to better understand how they react in space.
According to Oniosun, the mission is not just about space—it also has real value for life on Earth. By observing how seeds grow in space, scientists hope to learn how to improve climate-resilient farming back home. He explained, “This initiative is designed to better understand how to grow food during long-duration space missions and improve food systems on Earth.”
He added that egusi was chosen because it plays a key role in Nigerian cuisine, food security, and rural economies. Its journey to space highlights its nutritional importance and could help open up new opportunities for agricultural research and global collaboration.
The mission is a major step forward for Nigeria’s space ambitions, placing the country in the spotlight as part of a new era where traditional knowledge and modern science work together.
As the world watches egusi enter orbit, Nigerians are celebrating a proud moment that combines culture, innovation, and a bold vision for the future.
