Rooibos seeds to ISS

The Rooibos in Space programme, conceptualised by the South African Rooibos Council (SARC) and delivered in collaboration with MaxIQ Space and the South Africa — South African National Parks (SANSA), will send Rooibos seeds to the International Space Station (ISS) in October 2026. The seeds will be exposed to microgravity and space radiation for several weeks before returning to Earth, where they will be planted alongside control seeds in a comparative study examining germination, growth, resilience, and yield. The experiment will be conducted by learners from seven schools in the Cederberg region, with a parallel experiment at Parklands College. The initiative combines space-based plant science with STEM education, aiming to engage learners in real scientific research and contribute to understanding plant biology in space for future long-duration missions.