South Africa has launched the Rooibos in Space programme, which will send rooibos seeds to the International Space Station in October 2026.
The project links space-based plant research with agriculture and practical science, technology, engineering and mathematics education for South African learners.
The South African Rooibos Council developed the initiative with MaxIQ Space, while the South African National Space Agency supports it. Organisers launched the programme at Parklands College’s Innovation Centre in Cape Town on 16 July 2026.
Seeds Will Spend Six Weeks In Orbit
MaxIQ Space will prepare three batches of rooibos seeds and secure them inside a specialised Voyager Nanolab.
The payload will travel from Cape Canaveral aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 cargo mission before reaching the ISS, according to the council’s official programme information.
The seeds will remain in orbit for about six weeks. During that period, microgravity and space radiation will expose them to conditions different from those on Earth.
After their return, researchers will compare the space-exposed seeds with matching control samples. The study will examine germination, growth, resilience and yield.
The planting phase will likely begin in February 2027. Learners will then monitor the plants for about 18 months through maturity and the first harvest.
Cederberg Learners Will Lead The Experiment
Learners from seven schools in the Cederberg, where most rooibos grows, will plant and monitor the seeds on local farms.
Parklands College will conduct a parallel experiment, giving the Rooibos in Space programme additional data from an urban research setting.
The programme also includes lessons on plant biology, sustainable agriculture, data collection and the scientific method.
MaxIQ Space began educator onboarding in May 2026. It also provided schools with curriculum-linked materials and practical experiments ahead of the mission.
“Rooibos has long been part of South Africa’s agricultural heritage,” SARC director Dawie de Villiers said.
He said the project places the crop within a wider scientific discussion involving plant biology, space research and skills development.
Space Project Opens National Participation
Learners outside the Cederberg can participate by entering a national competition to design the official mission patch during July and August 2026.
SANSA’s Thandile Vuntu said initiatives of this kind can build awareness of the skills required for careers in space science. He also highlighted the value of cooperation between government, education, agriculture and the scientific sector.
The Rooibos in Space programme has booked an October 2026 flight. However, organisers have not confirmed an exact launch date, and space schedules remain subject to change.
The South African Rooibos Council will publish updates covering the flight, learner activities and later research milestones.