Discover how South African rooibos seeds will travel to the ISS, supporting plant research and a hands-on STEM programme for local learners.
Rooibos in Space is a South African science and education programme that will send rooibos seeds to the International Space Station in October 2026. After several weeks of exposure to microgravity and space radiation, the seeds will return to Earth for comparison with control samples grown under normal conditions.
At BOS, rooibos is more than an ingredient. It is part of where we come from. It is the plant that inspired everything we make, a quietly extraordinary thing that grows in one small corner of the world and nowhere else. So when we heard that South Africa’s indigenous rooibos plant was heading to the International Space Station, we knew it was a story worth sharing. This one is bigger than a cup of tea.
What Is the Rooibos in Space Programme?
The Rooibos in Space programme was officially launched at Parklands College’s Innovation Centre in Cape Town in July 2026.
It is a scientific research and STEM education initiative that places South African agriculture at the intersection of space research, sustainable farming and local innovation.
The programme was conceptualised by the South African Rooibos Council in partnership with MaxIQ Space, with support from the South African National Space Agency (SANSA).
Together, these organisations are creating an opportunity to investigate how exposure to space may affect rooibos seeds while giving South African learners direct experience of a genuine scientific research programme.
STEM refers to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Through this initiative, these subjects move beyond the classroom and become part of a real-world experiment involving one of South Africa’s most distinctive indigenous plants.
Why Are Rooibos Seeds Going to Space?
Rooibos grows naturally in the Cederberg region of South Africa. Its scientific name is Aspalathus linearis, and its natural growing area is remarkably limited compared with many other commercially cultivated plants. It is this uniqueness, rooted so specifically in South African soil that makes it such a compelling subject for international scientific research.
The Rooibos in Space programme will investigate how exposure to microgravity and space radiation may affect the seeds.
The seeds are scheduled to travel to the International Space Station in October 2026. They will remain in space for several weeks before returning to Earth.
Once back on South African soil, the space-exposed seeds will be planted alongside matching control seeds that remained on Earth. Researchers and participating learners will then compare their germination, growth, resilience and eventual yield. The comparison will help the project team examine whether the journey into space produced any measurable differences between the two groups.
What Will Happen to the Rooibos Seeds?
Three differently prepared batches of rooibos seeds will make the journey, each treated in a specific way to allow for meaningful scientific comparison.
The first batch travels in its completely natural, untreated state. The second batch has been scarified which means it is lightly scratched on the outside to help water and air penetrate the seed more easily, supporting germination. The third batch has been scarified and then coated with a protective agricultural treatment to guard against soil-borne diseases and pests once planted.
For each batch sent to space, a matching batch stays on Earth. That comparison, same seeds, same preparation, different environments – is where the science lives.
How Will South African Learners Participate?
Learners from seven schools in the Cederberg region will take part in the scientific investigation.
Working with local rooibos farmers and programme partners, the learners will help plant, monitor and analyse the returned seeds. Parklands College will also conduct a parallel experiment to provide additional comparative data.
The participating learners will work through a structured STEM enrichment programme covering the scientific method, plant biology, space and Earth growing conditions, sustainable agriculture, seed germination, data collection and analysis, and the use of space science in agriculture and industry.
The programme gives learners an opportunity to work with authentic scientific processes rather than only studying them in theory. They will be able to ask questions, record observations, analyse evidence and contribute to a project that connects their local environment with international space research.
The Rooibos in Space Mission Patch Challenge
The programme also created an opportunity for learners across South Africa to participate.
South African learners between the ages of 12 and 18 were invited to design the official Rooibos in Space mission patch during July and August 2026.
The winning design will be adapted into an official mission patch and featured across campaign materials.
Entries were required to include an original patch design and a short written explanation of the concept. Designs were judged according to their creativity, storytelling, visual impact and connection to the Rooibos in Space theme.
It is a small but meaningful opportunity for a South African learner to place their mark on a piece of local scientific history.
Why Rooibos in Space Matters to BOS
If you know us like we think you do, you’ll know we talk about the magic of rooibos because it genuinely earns the word. It is a wonder plant – naturally caffeine-free, rich in antioxidants, minerals and electrolytes, indigenous to that one extraordinary stretch of the Western Cape and nowhere else on earth. A plant so specific to its place that it cannot be replicated, relocated or replaced. That is just what rooibos is!
At BOS, that plant is where everything begins. It is our ingredient, our inspiration and our home. Rooibos has always been more than a drink. – it is the entire story.
From the Cederburg, South Africa, to Space!
GO BOS.
