Nigerian Staple Egusi Soup Blasts Off to Space Station

As of August 8, 2025, a Nigerian staple dish has reached new heights – quite literally. Egusi soup, a popular West African stew made with Egusi melon seeds, and its accompanying pounded yam, have been sent to the International Space Station (ISS) for scientific experiments.

The Egusi seeds, which are high in protein, were launched to the ISS last week as part of a partnership between NASA and private space firms. The Lagos-based company Space in Africa, founded by Temidayo Oniosun, is behind this historic mission. Oniosun believes this could mark a new era where space exploration reflects the diversity of our planet.

"When we talk about humans colonising other planets, this is not just an American mission or a European mission – this is a global mission," Oniosun explained. The experiments on the Egusi seeds will examine how they are affected by the microgravity and radiation of space, including potential changes to their DNA. Once the seeds return to Earth, researchers will monitor their post-space performance and germination.

This is seen as a crucial step in the development of sustainable food sources for long-term space missions, where frequent resupply may not be feasible. By including a food staple native to West Africa, the mission also aims to showcase the global nature of space exploration.