As part of Nigeria’s growing footprint in international space research, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is proud to announce its participation in the Crew-11 Mission, scheduled for launch today from the NASA Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida. This mission carries the World Seeds Payload, a groundbreaking international agricultural experiment spearheaded by Jaguar Space, with contributions from eleven countries, including Nigeria.
Nigeria’s contribution to this landmark mission includes six indigenous crop seeds—okra, cowpea, Guinea corn (sorghum), amaranth, maize, and melon—selected for their nutritional and agricultural significance. These seeds will be studied aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to explore their behavior under microgravity, contributing to research on climate resilience, food security, and the future of agriculture in space.
Representing NASRDA at the launch is Olayinka Fagbemiro, Assistant Director, International Cooperation & Linkages Department, NASRDA, Project Lead for Nigeria on this initiative. Her responsibilities have spanned seed selection, documentation, logistics coordination, and institutional representation from the early planning stages through to the current launch phase. The seeds were delivered to the United States following the signing of a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NASRDA and Jaguar Space.
This mission marks a historic first for NASRDA, with Nigeria’s biological payload flying aboard a crewed NASA mission to the ISS. It reinforces NASRDA’s commitment to applying space science toward sustainable development and global scientific cooperation.
Participation in this project allows NASRDA to validate years of research on similar seeds conducted in simulated gravity by its Department of Physical and Life Sciences.
The World Seeds Payload exemplifies inclusive, culturally grounded space research, and highlights the leadership role that emerging space nations like Nigeria can play in shaping the future of humanity beyond Earth.
Payload showing the different Nigerian crop seeds being flown to space in the collaboration between Jaguar Space and NASRDA under the Emerging Space Nations – Space for Agriculture and Agriculture for Space initiative.