‘I felt like my soul was leaving my body’—Salis.
Owolabi Salis has described his recent journey to space as “a spiritual journey,” urging African youth to embrace exploration beyond Earth’s limits and see the universe as a gateway to deeper understanding.
[…] Salis said the experience aligned with his exploration of “spiritual geography” and his belief that divinity can be found in all parts of the Earth.
First Nigerian in Space: I Felt Like My Soul Was Leaving My Body – Salis
We were all flying and orbiting like birds. We could see the planet suspended through the window.
Owolabi Salis, Citizen Astronaut/US-Based Lawyer and Politician pic.twitter.com/412mpbeZoy— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) July 4, 2025
“I felt like a soul was leaving the body. Then when you unstrap yourself from the seat, you start floating like a bird.”
Describing the view of Earth from space, Salis added, “You see the planet Earth suspended in space. It’s a small place, and that’s where people are making trouble and fighting each other. I recommend world leaders be flown to space. One or two days up there will humble them.”
According to him, the space trip marked the continuation of a life-long quest for discovery. Salis had previously traveled to both the North and South Poles becoming the first Black African to do so in a single season before applying to join Blue Origin’s spaceflight program.
While he declined to disclose how much he paid for the mission due to a non-disclosure agreement, he noted, “It’s expensive, and it’s not considering the security, equipment, and people involved.”