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In a significant step toward making space exploration more globally inclusive, a Nigerian firm has sent Egusi melon seeds, a West African culinary staple, on a trip to the International Space Station (ISS).
The seeds are expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean on Saturday, after which scientists will begin experiments on the first West African food to be tested in space.
According to Temidayo Oniosun, founder of the Lagos-based firm Space in Africa, this mission could mark a new era where space exploration reflects the planet’s cultural diversity.
“When we talk about humans colonising other planets, this is not just an American mission or a European mission—this is a global mission,” he told AFP.
The experiment is part of ongoing efforts to explore growing food in space, a crucial aspect of long-term space travel where resupply missions are not practical.
The seeds were launched to the ISS last week on a SpaceX flight as part of a partnership with NASA.
Researchers from the University of Florida and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Nigeria will now study the seeds to see how they were affected by exposure to space and zero gravity. They will also monitor the seeds’ germination and growth once they are planted on Earth.
Oniosun noted that the project has generated more excitement within Nigeria than previous satellite launches, largely because of the cultural significance of Egusi seeds.
The seeds are high in protein and are used to make popular soups and stews across West and Central Africa.
Oniosun believes the mission is more than a symbolic gesture, stating that “the future of humanity among the stars must reflect the diversity and richness of life on Earth.”
