Ghazali Ibrahim
In a groundbreaking moment for Nigeria and West Africa, egusi melon seeds sourced from Oyo State are set to be launched into orbit as part of an international agricultural science mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The mission, led by Nigerian space scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Temidayo Oniosun in collaboration with Jaguar Space and The Karman Project, marks the first time an agricultural product native to West Africa and any object from Nigeria will travel to space.
The egusi seeds will fly alongside three other culturally significant crops: Egyptian cotton, Armenian pomegranate, and Pakistani wheat.
The project, titled Emerging Space Nations: Space for Agriculture and Agriculture for Space, aims to study the effects of microgravity and radiation on traditional seeds to advance food production in space and improve climate-resilient agriculture on Earth.
Dr. Oniosun described the selection of egusi as both “a cultural and scientific milestone,” highlighting its role in Nigerian cuisine, rural economies, and food security.
“Egusi carries the story of our people. Taking it to space means taking a piece of Nigeria’s heritage into humanity’s future,” he said.
Jaguar Space will serve as the mission integrator and scientific coordinator, while The Karman Project oversees international leadership and outreach.
The historic launch is scheduled for July 31 at 12:09 PM EDT from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard NASA’s Crew-11 mission.
The spacecraft is expected to dock with the ISS on August 2, with the seeds returning to Earth by August 6 or 7.
Scientists will monitor how the egusi responds to the space environment to better understand food cultivation during long-duration space missions, while also applying findings to boost agricultural sustainability on Earth.
The initiative positions Nigeria at the forefront of a new wave of global space research, blending traditional agricultural knowledge with cutting-edge science.