History was made by Adonis Pouroulis from Paphos, the first Cypriot of the Diaspora who participated on December 20 in the 37th mission of New Shepard by Blue Origin, raising the Cypriot flag in Space.
Adonis Pouroulis, a Cypriot born in South Africa, became the first Cypriot of the Diaspora and the first native resident of Paphos to travel beyond Earth’s atmosphere. He participated in the 37th New Shepard mission by Blue Origin and the company’s 16th human spaceflight, marking a milestone for Cyprus and the global Cypriot community.
The launch took place from Blue Origin’s facilities in West Texas, accompanied by Michaela Benthouse, Joey Hyde, Hans Koenigsmann, Neil Milch, and Jason Stansel. The mission was historic for other reasons as well, as for the first time a wheelchair user crossed the Karman Line, internationally considered the boundary of space.
Commenting on the achievement, Adonis Pouroulis emphasized that space travel was a lifelong dream: “I always wanted to travel to space and see the world from above, and it is a great honor to have finally fulfilled this dream,” he stated.
With his space code name “Zorba”, Adonis Pouroulis aims to inspire greater Cypriot participation in space exploration and innovation. After the flight, he and the other crew members danced Zorba, symbolically honoring his cultural heritage. “It was a proud moment to incorporate my culture into this historic journey and raise the flags of Cyprus and South Africa in celebration,” he added.
Adonis Pouroulis, an entrepreneur, investor, and mining engineer with over 30 years of experience, leaves his mark on the world of energy and natural resources, focusing on critical metals and sustainable solutions internationally. Through Pella, he has played a central role in founding, financing, and developing many natural resource companies across Africa, such as Petra Diamonds, Rainbow Rare</ strong >Earths, Alufer Mining, Toro Gold, Benzu Resources, Chromex and Trinity Metals. The companies founded or supported by the Cypriot entrepreneur and Pella have raised over </ strong >2 billion US dollars. He continues to hold various executive and advisory roles across his investment portfolio.
His journey does not stop here; the entrepreneur is committed to education and responsible, sustainable development of natural resources, combining knowledge and vision for long-term environmental and social impact.</ strong > In January 2026 , he will participate in the Cyprus Diaspora Forum to share experiences from his historic space flight and discuss the future of innovation , sustainability , and exploration . </ p > 
