Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) today achieved a milestone in international space research, participating in the historic Crew-11 Mission launched from the NASA Kennedy Space Centre.
This Crew-11 Mission carries the groundbreaking World Seeds Payload, an international agricultural experiment, which includes Nigeria’s contribution of six indigenous crop seeds, namely okra, cowpea, Guinea corn (sorghum), amaranth, maize, and melon for the launch.
Championed by Jaguar Space, the World Seeds Payload had 11 participating countries, with each contributing to a vital study aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The Nigeria’s selected seeds were chosen for their critical nutritional and agricultural benefits and following their selection, the seeds will undergo study in microgravity to understand their behaviour, with the aim of advancing research in climate resilience, global food security, and the long-term viability of agriculture in space.
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The agency’s Assistant Director of the International Cooperation and Linkages Department and Nigeria’s Project Lead for this initiative, Ms. Olayinka Fagbemiro, represented the country at the event.
She has been instrumental in the project, overseeing seed selection, documentation, logistics coordination, and serving as the institutional representative from the planning stages through to today’s launch.
The six seeds from Nigeria were formally delivered to the United States following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NASRDA and Jaguar Space.
The participation in the mission by the NASRDA availed Nigeria unique opportunity to validate years of internal research conducted by its Department of Physical and Life Sciences on similar seeds under simulated gravity conditions while the World Seeds Payload stands as a demonstration of inclusive, culturally grounded space research, showcasing the leadership roles that emerging space nations like Nigeria could play in shaping humanity’s future.
Researchers and agribusiness experts believe that the NASRDA’s feat is remarkable as it is the first time Nigeria’s biological payload was flown aboard a crewed NASA mission to the ISS, underscoring the agency’s commitment to leveraging space science for Nigeria’s sustainable development and fostering global scientific collaboration with the country.
