The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with United State’s Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA), on Human Space Flight programme to send the first Nigerian to space.
Signing the MoU today in Abuja, the Director-General of NASRDA, Dr Matthew Adepoju, said it is the agency’s efforts towards implementation of its mandate of human space flight.
He explained that
“The Human Space Flight programme is one of the cardinal objectives of National Space Policy and Programme. It was with this in mind that we established the Department of Physical and Life Sciences about three years ago to forge this mandate,”
Speaking, the Co-founder of SERA, Mr Sam Hutchison, said the human space flight programme will allow Nigerians to choose who they want to send to space.
“The application process will be open to anybody in Nigeria who is up to 18 years of age, there are no other qualifications required” he said.
“You will be able to sign up and then encourage others to vote for you, as part of democratic process, the Nigerian people will select four potential astronaut candidates before a final selection process.
“The important thing to understand is that anybody can apply, you don’t have to be a scientist, mathematician, engineer,” Hutchison said.
He maintained that the selection process would be open and fully run by SERA platform where anybody would be welcome to apply.
He said Nigeria was chosen because it indicated serious intent in regard to future space exploration.
Hutchison noted that the programme was to raise awareness among young people in Nigeria, pointing out that if they get into science, technology, engineering and mathematics, they can go to space.
“There are billions of dollars being invested in the commercial development of in-space activities and Nigeria should be part of it,” Hutchison said.
Speaking on the MoU signing, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, said that the National Space Policy and Programme (NSPP), approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2001, identified human space flight as one of its three pillars.
“According to the 25-year roadmap approved in 2005 for the implementation of the NSPP, our first human space flight was scheduled for 2018. This means we are about six years behind schedule,” Nnaji said.
He commended SERA for the opportunity provided for Nigeria through the human space flight collaboration.
He charged the public and private sectors to work towards achieving aspirations without compromising international reputations
