Why South Africa is sending rooibos tea to space: A look at the Rooibos in Space programme

Everyone enjoys a strong cup of rooibos tea, but have you ever thought about sending it to space?

A South African scientific initiative linking space research and agriculture officially launched the Rooibos in Space programme on Thursday. 

In a first for South Africa, rooibos seeds will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS), combining space-based plant science with hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. 

Parklands College Innovation Centre launch

The launch, which took place at Parklands College’s Innovation Centre in Cape Town, brought together representatives from academia, education, agriculture, government, and the emerging space economy. 

The initiative was conceptualised by the South African Rooibos Council (SARC) and is delivered in collaboration with MaxIQ Space, with support from the South African National Space Agency (SANSA). It connects rooibos to a growing international focus on plant biology in space and the development of sustainable agricultural systems beyond Earth.

As part of the programme, rooibos seeds will be launched to the ISS in October, where they will be exposed to microgravity and space radiation for several weeks before returning to Earth. On their return, they will be planted alongside control seeds in a comparative study examining germination, growth, resilience, and yield. 

Why is rooibos being sent to space?

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 joins a growing body of plant research conducted in space. Experiments aboard the ISS have demonstrated that crops, such as lettuce, can grow in microgravity, while studies on peas and soybeans have provided insights into how plants respond to altered gravity and environmental stressors. These findings are contributing to advances in both future space-based food systems and agricultural resilience on Earth. 

Director of the SARC, Dawie de Villiers, said the project reflects the industry’s focus on innovation, education, and applied research. 

“Rooibos has long been part of South Africa’s agricultural heritage. 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,” de Villiers said. 

Participating schools will engage in an extended STEM education programme introducing learners to space science, plant biology, and sustainable agriculture. The programme is aligned with curriculum outcomes and designed to connect classroom learning with practical scientific application. 

What does this mean for learners?

Judi Sandrock from MaxIQ Space said the initiative aims to strengthen access to authentic scientific learning. 

“The value of this project lies in giving learners exposure to real research processes linked to space science. It provides a structured opportunity to develop scientific thinking, data analysis skills and an understanding of how experimentation works in practice,” Sandrock said. 

Learners from across South Africa will also be invited to join in on the fun and design the official Rooibos in Space mission patch during July and August. 

Deputy Director-General for Curriculum and Assessment Management in the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), Bertram Loriston, noted the importance of cross-sector partnerships in expanding STEM opportunities. 

Head of the Science Engagement Unit in Hermanus for SANSA, Thandile Vuntu, said space science is increasingly integrated into everyday applications and continues to expand opportunities for young people entering STEM fields. 

“Space science is becoming more integrated into areas that affect daily life, from communications to environmental monitoring. Initiatives such as this help build awareness of the skills required for future participation in the sector, but also align with national priorities around skills development, innovation capacity and strengthening South Africa’s position in emerging scientific fields. They further highlight the importance of collaboration between industry, government, academia, and the science sector in building a strong pipeline of future scientists, engineers, and researchers,” Vuntu said.

Public engagement will continue beyond the launch phase. Members of the public will be able to follow the Rooibos in Space journey through updates, learner activities, and mission milestones. 

robin.francke@iol.co.za

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