Nigeria has earned a spot in SERA’s Global Democratic Astronaut Mission, paving the way for its first citizen astronaut.
NASRDA said the initiative will let ordinary Nigerians compete for a place in space.
Nigeria has secured a guaranteed place in the Space Exploration and Research Agency’s Global Democratic Astronaut Mission, opening the door for the country’s first community-selected citizen to travel into space.
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) confirmed the development in a statement released by its Director of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr Felix Ale.
According to the Director-General of NASRDA, Dr Matthew Olumide Adepoju, the partnership marks a major step in Nigeria’s space ambitions beyond satellite operations. He said the agreement with SERA reflects Nigeria’s long-term vision of becoming an active participant in global human spaceflight.
“This partnership reflects our vision to expand Nigeria’s space presence beyond satellites to human spaceflight,” Adepoju said. “SERA’s democratic model ensures that Nigerian representation mirrors the dreams of our diverse population.”
The initiative, known as the Global Democratic Astronaut Mission, allows citizens from Nigeria, India, Indonesia, Brazil, and Thailand to compete for astronaut seats through SERA’s blockchain-powered platform on Telegram. A sixth seat will be open to applicants from other parts of the world.
Unlike conventional astronaut programs that often require advanced academic or military training, this mission will be open to ordinary citizens. Participants will complete a series of challenges, gain points, and receive votes from their communities to qualify.
SERA previously tested this model in 2022 when Victor Hespanha became South America’s first civilian astronaut after being selected through the platform to fly aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. The Nigerian edition of the program aims to build on that success.
Dr Anne Agi, President of the Learnspace Foundation, which helped broker the partnership between SERA and NASRDA, said the collaboration underscores inclusivity in space exploration.
“We’re connecting communities, institutions, and industry players to ensure Nigeria’s first human spaceflight is both historic and inclusive,” Agi said.
To ensure transparency, votes and results will be recorded on the TON blockchain, while selected astronauts will undergo Blue Origin’s standard safety training before embarking on their mission.
Max Crown, Chief Executive Officer of the TON Foundation, described the project as a major milestone in combining blockchain technology with public engagement.
“By launching on TON within Telegram, SERA is transforming space travel into a community-driven experience,” he said.
For Nigeria, this marks the country’s first opportunity to send a citizen into space through a democratic selection process, which officials described as a breakthrough in global representation and public participation in science.
NASRDA noted that the mission would not only strengthen Nigeria’s reputation in international space research but also inspire young scientists to pursue careers in astronomy, technology, and innovation.
