“EGUSI BLASTS OFF! NIGERIA’S ICONIC SEED TO MAKE HISTORY IN SPACE, PAVING WEST AFRICA’S PATH TO STELLAR FUTURE”
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–IN a groundbreaking milestone for Nigeria and West Africa, Egusi melon seeds sourced from Oyo State are poised to travel to the International Space Station (ISS).
The mission is part of a multinational agricultural science project that blends traditional knowledge with cutting-edge space research, led by Nigerian space scientist, Dr. Temidayo Oniosun.
This marks a historic first: it will be the first time an agricultural product native to West Africa will be sent to space, and also the first Nigerian object ever to enter Earth’s orbit – a symbolic and scientific leap forward for the nation.
The space mission is being spearheaded by renowned Nigerian space scientist and entrepreneur, Dr. Temidayo Oniosun, in collaboration with Jaguar Space and The Karman Project – two major international partners in space innovation and outreach.
The Egusi seed will travel to the ISS alongside three other culturally important crops: Egyptian cotton, Armenian pomegranate, and Pakistani wheat. Together, these seeds form part of a research initiative focused on the future of food in space.
Titled, “Emerging Space Nations: Space for Agriculture and Agriculture for Space”, the mission is designed to examine how traditional seeds from emerging space nations respond to conditions in orbit – specifically, microgravity and space radiation.
Scientists aim to observe the biological effects of space travel on these seeds. Their findings could help develop sustainable agriculture solutions for long-duration space missions and improve climate-resilient farming techniques here on Earth.
Egusi was selected to represent Nigeria because of its deep cultural importance, nutritional value, and economic impact. A staple in Nigerian cuisine, Egusi also plays a significant role in food security and rural livelihoods across the country.
Sending Egusi to space highlights its untapped research potential. It not only promotes Nigeria’s agricultural heritage but also encourages international collaboration and space-based innovation centered on indigenous crops.
With this mission, Nigeria steps into a pioneering role in global space research – where traditional knowledge meets advanced science to shape the future of food, sustainability, and cross-cultural space exploration.
Project Partners
Jaguar Space – Mission Integrator and Scientific Coordinator
The Karman Project – International Leadership and Outreach
Temidayo Oniosun – Principal Investigator (Nigeria)
Current Mission Timeline
Crew-11 Launch: July 31, 2025 – 12:09 PM (Florida-local time)
Docking to ISS: August 2, 3:00 PM (US Eastern Time)
Crew-10 Undock from ISS: August 5 or 6 (Time TBD)
Crew-10 Earth Return (Splashdown): Expected August 6 or 7
Rocket and Launch Details
Location: Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA
Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9 Rocket
Provider: SpaceX
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