Rooibos Seeds to Launch to Space for Research

South African researchers are sending 17,346 Rooibos seeds to the International Space Station for growth experiments.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Botany

A clear scientific vial filled with organic Rooibos seeds on a stainless steel laboratory surface. — South African researchers are preparing 17,346 indigenous Rooibos seeds for transport to the International Space Station aboard the Cygnus NG-25 spacecraft. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Between December 2026 and January 2027, South African researchers will launch 17,346 Rooibos seeds to the International Space Station to study the effects of microgravity. This mission marks the first time an indigenous South African plant seed has been sent into space for this type of scientific research.

Why it matters

The study aims to compare how different seed treatments perform after exposure to microgravity and space radiation while fostering STEM skills in students. By monitoring growth patterns after the seeds return to Earth, researchers hope to gain new insights into plant development.

The experiment consists of 17,346 seeds weighing a total of 74.2 grams, categorised into untreated, scarified, and coated varieties. Researchers will utilise a specialised Nanolab module for the project, housing the samples during the four to six weeks they spend in space.

The players

International Space Station

This is a modular space station in low Earth orbit that serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory.

Voyager Technologies

This organisation is based in Texas and provides flight preparation services for scientific experiments heading to space.

The details

The seeds will travel to Texas for flight preparation before being transported aboard the Cygnus NG-25 resupply spacecraft to the International Space Station. Once the seeds return to Earth, students will conduct germination and growth experiments to observe plant development over an 18-month monitoring period.

The mission is expected to launch between December 2026 and January 2027.
The seeds are scheduled to remain in space for four to six weeks.
Students will perform growth monitoring for 18 months following the return of the seeds.

The Big Picture

This mission extends the research capabilities of the International Space Station's Nanolab research facility by incorporating indigenous botanical samples. The project marks a significant shift in local scientific enquiry by utilising space-based platforms to study the resilience of indigenous plant species.

The long-term monitoring of these seeds could provide valuable data on seed resilience that might eventually influence agricultural practices in the Cederberg region. Local students involved in the 18-month study will gain practical experience in scientific investigation and space biology.

The takeaway

This project highlights how space exploration can be leveraged to enhance domestic agricultural research and educational outreach. Readers interested in science should look for future updates as the 18-month growth observation phase begins following the mission return.