For the first time ever, an Egusi melon seed cultivated in Oyo State will be launched into space as part of a major international agricultural research mission set for take off to the International Space Station (ISS) on July 31, 2025.
The mind blowing mission, lead by Nigerian space scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Temidayo Oniosun, will see a seed native to West Africa featured in a space experiment, making history for the region.
The seed will be onboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida, as part of the Crew-11 mission. It will travel alongside other culturally important crops from nations including Egypt, Armenia, and Pakistan in a scientific study aimed at observing how traditional seeds behave and grow in microgravity conditions.
“This is the first time an object from Nigeria is going to space,” said Dr. Oniosun, who is leading the mission as Principal Investigator. “By representing Nigeria, and West Africa, on a global platform of space research, the mission also underscores the importance of indigenous crops.”
This landmark project is the result of a collaboration between Dr. Oniosun, The Karman Project, and Jaguar Space. After the seed’s return from orbit, it will be examined through a series of scientific tests. Dr. Wagner Vendrame from the University of Florida will head the post mission research, which includes some biological processes like; in vitro germination, spectral imaging, metabolic profiling, and gene expression studies.
