Cape Town, South Africa — A historic mission is set to take place as South Africa prepares to send the world-famous rooibos tea plant into space, marking the continent’s second indigenous crop to journey to the International Space Station (ISS).
The “Rooibos in Space “initiative, a collaborative effort between the South African Rooibos Council and space education company MaxIQ Space, with backing from the South African National Space Agency, is set to launch in October 2026.
The seeds of the caffeine — free, antioxidant-rich herb will be dispatched to the ISS, where they will spend several weeks in a nanolab, exposed to microgravity and space radiation.
The experiment aims to study how the rooibos seeds adapt to these extreme conditions, providing insights that could contribute to the development of sustainable food production methods beyond Earth.
The Cederberg region of South Africa, the heart of the rooibos industry, will see learners from seven schools involved in the project, working alongside local rooibos farmers to collect and analyze the results. Parklands College in Cape Town will conduct a parallel experiment, while schools across South Africa are invited to design the official mission patch.
The initiative not only highlights the cultural significance of rooibos but also underscores its economic importance as a growing export commodity.
In 2025, South Africa exported nearly 11,000 tonnes of rooibos to over 50 international markets, and the industry supports thousands of jobs across various sectors. South Africa’s foray into space research is not its first.
The country’s history includes the establishment of the South African National Space Agency and participation in international space programs.
The rooibos mission, however, is a unique blend of space technology and agricultural heritage, reflecting the nation’s commitment to space exploration and scientific innovation. Nigeria previously sent egusi melon seeds to the ISS, making this the second African crop to embark on such a journey. This project, much like the Nigerian initiative, showcases the potential of African crops to become part of wider research into agriculture beyond Earth.
The seeds are expected to return to Earth by December or January 2027, where they will be compared with control seeds to study growth, yield, and resilience.
As the rooibos tea plant prepares for its historic space mission, it stands as a symbol of Africa’s dedication to scientific exploration and its role in shaping the future of space research and agriculture.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
—
This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africa.businessinsider
Source: Olamilekan Okebiorun
