ROOIBOS IN SPACE PROJECT: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the Rooibos in Space initiative?
Rooibos in Space is a collaborative Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and scientific research project that will send Rooibos seeds to the International Space Station (ISS) in October 2026. The initiative combines space science, agriculture and hands-on learning for South African learners through a real-world plant science experiment in microgravity.
2. Who is behind the project?
The initiative is a partnership between the South African Rooibos Council (SARC) and MaxIQ Space, with endorsement and support from the South African National Space Agency (SANSA).
3. Why Rooibos?
Rooibos is an indigenous South African crop grown primarily in the Cederberg region and is internationally recognised for its unique origin. Its agricultural and cultural significance makes it a suitable model for connecting local agriculture with global space science research.
4. What does the Rooibos in Space journey involve?
The Rooibos seeds follow a carefully coordinated international space mission. First, the seeds are prepared by MaxIQ Space and sealed inside a specialised Voyager Nanolab, where they are securely housed within a 3D-printed internal compartment designed for space transport. They are then delivered to US-based partner, Voyager Space, where they are integrated with other global student and research payloads and prepared for launch under a NASA-supported programme to the ISS.
The seeds are launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which carries a cargo spacecraft into orbit. After launch, the spacecraft travels at high speed around Earth before docking with the ISS, where astronauts receive and store the experiments in dedicated research modules.
The seeds remain on the ISS for approximately six weeks, exposed to microgravity and space radiation. They are then returned to Earth via a cargo spacecraft, which re-enters the atmosphere and splashes down in the ocean for recovery.
Once back in South Africa, the seeds are planted alongside Earth-based control samples, marking the beginning of the local agricultural phase of the experiment, where learners will monitor growth over an extended 18-month period through to maturity and harvest.
5. What will happen to the seeds in space?
Three batches of Rooibos seeds, representing three different treatment types, will be used in the experiment. For each batch sent to the ISS, a matching control batch will be kept on Earth for comparison:
Untreated (natural) seeds – seeds left in their original state, with no scarification or treatment applied.
Scarified seeds – the seeds are lightly scratched on the outside to allow water and air to penetrate more easily, helping them germinate and begin to grow.
Scarified and treated seeds – these seeds are first lightly scratched in the same way as above and then they are coated with a protective layer, which is a standard agricultural process, before planting. This coating helps protect the seeds from soil-borne diseases and pests, which supports healthy growth once planted.
The ISS batches will be exposed to microgravity and space radiation for several weeks before being returned to Earth for comparative analysis with their control counterparts. Microgravity and space radiation can place the seeds under different types of stress, which may alter how they grow and respond.
6. How many Rooibos seeds are travelling to space and how many will each participating school receive?
A total of 17 346 Rooibos seeds (approximately 74.2 g) will travel to the International Space Station. As part of the comparative planting study, each participating school will receive approximately 564 to 718 space-exposed seeds to plant and monitor alongside control seeds.
7. What is the scientific purpose of the experiment?
The study aims to assess whether exposure to space conditions influences seed germination, growth, resilience and yield. Results from the two treated seed batches will be compared against each other and against control seeds grown on Earth.
8. Who will conduct the planting experiment?
Learners from seven schools in the Cederberg region will plant and monitor the seeds on local Rooibos farms. A parallel experiment at Parklands College will generate additional comparative data and strengthen the overall.
9. Which schools are participating?
Seven schools in the Cederberg region are participating in the core agricultural study, with Parklands College conducting a parallel experiment. Their involvement connects the project both to the communities where Rooibos is traditionally cultivated and to a controlled urban research environment, enabling dataset comparative data collection across different settings.
10. What educational activities are included?
Participating learners will take part in a structured STEM enrichment programme covering:
• the scientific method
• space versus Earth growing conditions
• plant biology and sustainable agriculture
• data collection and analysis
• applications of space science in agriculture and industry
11. Can learners from outside the Cederberg participate?
Yes, learners across South Africa will be invited to design the official Rooibos in Space mission patch during July and August 2026, enabling broader national participation in the project.
12. Has plant research been conducted in space before?
Yes, multiple plant species, including lettuce, soybeans and peas, have been studied in space. These experiments help scientists understand how plants respond to microgravity, radiation and other space-related environmental factors.
13. Does space exposure create “super seeds”?
No, the aim is not to produce enhanced or “super” plants. The experiment is designed to observe and measure how different seed treatments respond to space conditions compared with Earth-based controls.
14. Why is this important for South Africa?
The project:
• strengthens STEM education and learner engagement
• supports awareness of careers in science and technology
• connects South African agriculture to global space research
• highlights innovation at the intersection of space science and farming
15. What role does the South African Rooibos Council (SARC) play in the project?
SARC initiated the project concept and represents the Rooibos industry, helping connect agriculture, science and education through this initiative.
16. What role does MaxIQ Space play?
MaxIQ Space leads implementation of the space mission components and educational programme, including coordination of scientific activities and learner engagement.
17. What role does the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) play?
SANSA provides endorsement and support, helping align the initiative with South Africa’s national space science and STEM development priorities.
18. Where was the initiative launched?
The project was launched on 16 July 2026 at Parklands College’s Innovation Centre in Cape Town.
19. When will the seeds return to Earth?
The seeds are expected to return after several weeks in orbit, after which planting and analysis will likely begin in February 2027.
20. What are the key stages in the Rooibos plant lifecycle and how will learners follow its growth from nursery to harvest in the Rooibos in Space project?
Learners will track the full development of Rooibos from seed to harvest, with the process beginning in February to March, when the seeds will be planted in nurseries or seedbeds. This stage is critical, because the seeds are very small and sensitive. Nurseries provide controlled temperature, moisture and protection from pests, ensuring the best possible conditions for germination.
From June to August, once winter rains arrive in the Cederberg region and temperatures are cooler, the young seedlings are transplanted into the fields. This timing is important, because winter conditions reduce heat stress and provide the soil moisture needed for strong root establishment. Learners are likely to monitor survival rates, early root development and seedling vigour during this phase.
As the plants grow, learners will continue tracking key growth stages, such as germination success, seedling establishment, root development and early shrub formation, comparing space-exposed and control plants over time.
Rooibos is a slow-growing shrub adapted to nutrient-poor soils, which means it prioritises deep root development in its early stages rather than rapid above-ground growth. This long developmental phase is one of the key scientific interests of the project.
Finally, after approximately 18 months, the plants reach maturity and the first harvest typically takes place between January and April. At this stage, the shrubs are strong enough to withstand cutting and regenerate for future harvests.
21. What insights is the SARC hoping to gain from the Rooibos in Space experiment?
The South African Rooibos Council is hoping to better understand how exposure to space conditions, such as microgravity and increased radiation, may influence seed germination, early plant development and overall plant resilience.
By comparing space-exposed seeds with Earth-based control groups, the experiment will help identify whether there are any measurable differences in germination rates, growth patterns, root development or stress responses. These findings could provide new insights into plant adaptation under extreme conditions and contribute to both agricultural research on Earth and future discussions around growing plants in space environments.
Beyond its scientific outcomes, the project is designed to inspire the next generation of scientists, innovators and problem-solvers. By involving learners from the Cederberg in a real-world experiment linked to the International Space Station, it provides access to authentic scientific data for analysis, helping them understand experimental design, biological variation and the intersection between space science and sustainable agriculture.
The initiative also introduces key concepts in space science, plant biology and research methodology while building critical thinking and analytical skills. In doing so, it demonstrates how a crop deeply rooted in their own communities can form part of cutting-edge international scientific research, opening up new possibilities for learners’ future pathways in STEM.
22. Could this lead to future space-agriculture research in South Africa?
Yes, the initiative contributes to building local capability, interest and awareness in space-related agricultural research and STEM innovation.
23. Will Rooibos be the first South African or African plant to go to space?
While Rooibos is not the first African plant to go to space, it is the first indigenous South African plant to be included in a space-based research programme. Historical records show that African plant species have featured in space experiments before, including Kalanchoe (a succulent genus native to Madagascar and parts of tropical Africa), which was sent to space as early as 1979 aboard the Soviet Salyut 6 station.
More recently, African crops have begun to appear in modern space science initiatives. In 2025, egusi melon seeds from Nigeria were sent to the ISS as part of the Earth Seeds for Space Initiative, representing one of the first known instances of an African agricultural product included in a contemporary ISS research programme.
Within this context, Rooibos joins a growing group of African-origin plants contributing to space-based agricultural research, alongside initiatives involving countries, such as Madagascar and Nigeria.
24. When will the Rooibos seeds travel to space?
The seeds have been booked on an October 2026 flight to the International Space Station. However, space launch schedules are inherently dynamic and may be subject to change – an exact launch date has not yet been confirmed.
25. How can the public follow the project?
Updates will be shared via the South African Rooibos Council as the mission progresses. The public can follow developments at www.sarooibos.co.za, on social media via @RooibosCouncil (Facebook) and @SARooibosCouncil (Instagram), and through QR codes on official project materials linking directly to the Rooibos in Space project page.