Rooibos plant seeds on course for launch into space

South Africans know that rooibos tea is simply out of this world – and in a few months’ time, this will become a literal reality.

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For the first time in history, more than 17 000 rooibos plant seeds will be flown to the International Space Station (ISS) for scientific experimentation.

ROOIBOS: FROM SA TO NASA

As part of the South African Rooibos Council’s (SARC’s) “Rooibos in Space” initiative – in collaboration with MaxIQ Space – a total of 17 346 rooibos seeds will be flown to the ISS located over 400 kilometres above Earth’s surface.

According to IOL, the seeds will be transported to Voyager Technologies in Texas. Here, the seeds will be prepped for spaceflight and subsequently placed within a compact laboratory module known as a Nanolab.

The Nanolab will then be placed aboard the Cygnus NG-25 commercial resupply spacecraft. Originally, the launch was slated for an October launch. As of writing, the spacecraft is set to launch between December 2026 and January 2027 following a change in the Voyager/NASA flight schedule.

PURPOSE OF EXPERIMENTS

Rooibos is the pride and joy of South African culture. The tea made from this indigenous plant is chock-full of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, plus it’s caffeine-free.

Now, rooibos will serve an important role in space science. Thanks to the Nanolab’s compact nature, researchers aboard the ISS will be able to carry out experiments on the seeds. This includes exposing them to microgravity and space radiation.

Because the seeds are divided into three groups – untreated seeds, scarified seeds, and seeds that have been scarified and treated with a protective agricultural coating – the researchers can examine the contrast between each group’s performances.

Researchers aboard the ISS can examine the contrast between each seed group’s performances. Image: Pexels

After four-to-six weeks, says the SARC, the seeds will return to Earth – specifically, returning to Mzansi. Back on home soil, they will be planted alongside a group of control seeds. This will form part of “a comparative study examining germination, growth, resilience and yield.”

“The experiment will be carried out by learners from seven schools in the Cederberg region – the birthplace of Rooibos. Working with local rooibos farms, learners will collect and analyse data as part of a structured scientific investigation. A parallel experiment at Parklands College will provide additional comparative data.”

ROOIBOS: A NEW FRONTIER

The implications of this groundbreaking initiative are great. It gives us an opportunity to learn more about the rooibos plant’s capabilities. What’s more, it will also push the boundaries of science.

“Rooibos has long been part of South Africa’s agricultural heritage,” says Dawie de Villiers, SARC director. “This project places it within a broader scientific context, where plant biology, space research and education intersect. It also reflects the importance of investing in scientific literacy and skills development for the next generation of researchers and innovators.”

Are you excited about South Africa’s unique foray into space travel? Let us know in the comments below!

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