Nigeria is set to choose its next space envoy through an innovative and inclusive astronaut selection initiative unveiled today by the Space Exploration & Research Agency (SERA).
This groundbreaking program encourages citizens from Nigeria, India, Indonesia, Brazil, and Thailand to democratically elect their space representatives via a secure blockchain-based voting system.
By shifting away from the conventional astronaut recruitment model-often limited to candidates with military experience or advanced scientific degrees-SERA’s Mission Control platform on Telegram opens the door for anyone within the partner countries to apply and rally community support for their candidacy.
Joshua Skurla, co-founder of SERA, highlighted in a statement endorsed by Dr. Felix Ale, Director of Media and Corporate Communications at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), “Following the triumph of SERA’s first space mission in 2022, we are expanding this democratic space access initiative to five nations simultaneously, plus an additional global seat. Nigeria’s representation means that any individual, regardless of background, can become their nation’s voice in space through community endorsement.”
This model builds upon SERA’s prior success with Victor Hespanha, who was chosen by the SERA community to become South America’s inaugural civilian astronaut aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard. That mission not only validated the selection framework but also demonstrated a worldwide enthusiasm for participatory space exploration. For Nigeria, this initiative marks a pivotal moment to advance its growing space ambitions.
Although Nigeria has made strides in space through NASRDA and witnessed Chief Owolabi Salis’s privately funded Blue Origin flight, SERA introduces the country’s first pathway for civilians to reach space via community selection.
Dr. Matthew Olumide Adepoju, NASRDA’s Director General, remarked, “This collaboration aligns perfectly with our goal to broaden Nigeria’s space footprint beyond satellite technology into human spaceflight. SERA’s democratic model ensures that Nigerian representation in space truly mirrors the diverse hopes and dreams of our people.”
Dr. Anne Agi, President of the Learnspace Foundation-which facilitated the partnership between SERA and NASRDA-underscored the initiative’s wider significance: “Our mission is to connect communities, institutions, and industries, making Nigeria’s human spaceflight journey not only historic but inclusive and integrated within the global movement for shared exploration.”
The selection mechanism operates through SERA Mission Control, a Telegram mini-application built on the TON Blockchain, ensuring transparent and tamper-proof voting. Applicants engage in various challenges to accumulate “SpaceDust” points, competing for their nation’s guaranteed astronaut seat. The blockchain foundation safeguards the integrity of the process while enabling worldwide participation through the user-friendly Telegram interface.
“We’re democratizing access to space for individuals who never thought it was within their reach,” said Sam Hutchison, SERA co-founder. “Whether a schoolteacher in Abuja or a digital creator in Lagos, anyone can vie for Nigeria’s space seat by mobilizing community support rather than relying solely on academic qualifications.”
For the upcoming Blue Origin mission, six seats are reserved: five for the partner countries and one open to applicants globally. The program also features a Science Platform where communities can propose and vote on experiments, fostering decentralized scientific research opportunities.
SERA addresses the longstanding underrepresentation of developing nations in space travel. Despite over 800 individuals having ventured into space since 1961, none from Nigeria, India, Indonesia, Thailand, or many other developing countries have flown as community-selected civilian astronauts, even though these nations represent billions worldwide.
Max Crown, CEO of the TON Foundation, stated, “SERA Mission Control redefines space exploration for today’s social media generation. By launching on TON within Telegram, SERA transforms space travel from an abstract dream into an engaging, community-powered reality.”
This platform stands as one of the most ambitious consumer-facing applications on the TON Blockchain, illustrating practical Web3 use cases beyond finance. Its transparent voting system ensures fairness, while gamified elements encourage ongoing user engagement.
Applications are now open via the SERA Mission Control Telegram app, with details on voting and selection timelines forthcoming. Those chosen will complete Blue Origin’s standard safety training ahead of their space missions.
