South African Rooibos seeds prepare for historic journey to the International Space Station

A piece of the Cederberg is preparing to go where no South African indigenous plant seed has gone before, with thousands of Rooibos seeds set to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a groundbreaking scientific experiment, ***Cape {town} Etc ***reports.

The project, known as Rooibos in Space, has reached an important milestone after 17 346 seeds were officially farewelled ahead of their journey to the United States.

The seeds will travel alongside South African school and university science experiments, with the mission offering researchers and learners an opportunity to investigate how the country’s iconic plant responds to conditions beyond Earth.

The farewell was hosted by US Consul General in Cape Town Allison Areias, marking another step towards a mission that combines space research, local agricultural knowledge and education. Although the experiment is still months away from launch, its potential significance reaches well beyond the space programme.

From left, MaxIQ Space co-founders Bjarke Gotfredsen and Judi Sandrock, US Consulate Cape Town Public Affairs Officer, Sam Werberg and SA Rooibos Council (SARC) seed technician, Cyril Ngqwala, with the Nanolab that will carry the Rooibos experiment and other school and university experiments to the ISS. Picture: Supplied

Weighing approximately 74.2 grams, the Rooibos seeds will first be transported to Voyager Technologies in Texas, where preparations for the spaceflight will take place. The seeds have been divided into three groups to help researchers understand how different treatments influence their performance after exposure to space conditions.

These include untreated seeds, scarified seeds and seeds that have been scarified before receiving a protective agricultural coating. The experiment will be housed in a specialised Nanolab, a compact research facility designed to carry scientific experiments aboard spacecraft and the ISS.

Once in orbit, the seeds will be exposed to microgravity and space radiation before returning to Earth for further investigation. The mission is scheduled to travel aboard the Cygnus NG-25 commercial resupply spacecraft, with launch currently expected between December 2026 and January 2027.

The original October launch window was changed following adjustments to the Voyager and NASA flight schedules, including changes to crew and resupply arrangements.

Cederberg learners will help study the returning seeds

The real scientific work will continue after the seeds return to Earth. Following an expected four to six weeks in space, the seeds will be planted in collaboration with schools in the Cederberg, the natural home of Rooibos, and Parklands College.

Learners and researchers will compare the space-exposed seeds with control seeds that remained on Earth. Over 18 months, they will monitor germination, growth patterns and plant development, looking for differences that could help explain how exposure to space conditions affects the seeds.

The approach also brings an unusual opportunity into the classroom, with participating learners being involved in an actual scientific investigation, rather than simply learning about space science from textbooks. This will allow learners to gain practical experience in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The initiative has already encouraged youth participation through a national Mission Patch competition, which invited young people between the ages of 12 and 18 to design a patch representing the mission.

Taking a uniquely South African plant beyond Earth

For the South African Rooibos Council (SARC), the project represents an opportunity to explore the science behind a plant that has deep roots in the country’s agricultural and cultural landscape. Dawie de Villiers, director of SARC, described the milestone as an exciting moment for the industry and everyone who has followed the initiative.

‘The scientific objective is to explore what will happen to the Rooibos seeds when they are exposed to conditions beyond Earth.’

– Dawie de Villiers, director of SARC

The experiment is also a meeting point between traditional agricultural knowledge and modern research. Cyril Ngqwala, a Rooibos seed technician who has been involved in preparing the experiment, said working with the seeds and assembling the Nanolab had been a particularly rewarding experience.

‘We have prepared the seeds in different conditions so that, when they return, we can compare their performance with seeds that have remained on Earth.’

– Cyril Ngqwala, a Rooibos seed technician

The project is particularly significant because it will mark the first time a seed from a South African indigenous plant has been sent into space for this type of research. Rooibos is naturally adapted to the unique growing conditions of the Cederberg, making it an interesting subject for scientists investigating how plants respond to extreme environments.

Whether the space journey produces noticeable differences in germination or growth remains to be seen. However, the findings could provide valuable insights into the resilience and development of the indigenous plant. The Rooibos in Space initiative was conceived by SARC and developed in partnership with MaxIQ Space.

Further updates about the mission will be made available here, as the seeds move closer to their scheduled launch.

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Picture: Supplied

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