In a significant scientific achievement, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has announced Nigeria’s involvement in NASA’s Crew-11 Mission, launching today from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The mission includes six indigenous Nigerian crop seeds—okra, cowpea, guinea corn (sorghum), amaranth, maize, and melon—selected for their nutritional and agricultural importance.
According to NASRDA, this mission, featuring the World Seeds Payload, represents a pioneering international agricultural experiment led by Jaguar Space, with contributions from 11 countries, including Nigeria.
The seeds will be examined aboard the International Space Station (ISS) under microgravity conditions to investigate their behavior, resilience, and potential for future space-based farming—research vital for addressing climate resilience, global food security, and agricultural innovation beyond Earth.
Olayinka Fagbemiro, NASRDA’s Assistant Director of International Cooperation and Linkages, will represent Nigeria at the launch. She has overseen every aspect of the country’s participation, from seed selection to logistics and international engagement.
“This marks our first biological payload on a crewed NASA mission to the ISS,” she stated.
Fagbemiro emphasized that this initiative not only validates years of local research on plant life in simulated space environments but also highlights NASRDA’s expanding role in global scientific collaboration. The mission exemplifies inclusive, culturally relevant space research and underscores the leadership potential of emerging space nations like Nigeria in shaping humanity’s future beyond Earth.
