South African rooibos tea seeds will travel to the International Space Station in October as part of a groundbreaking study examining how the iconic plant responds to space conditions. The project will expose the seeds to microgravity and space radiation before returning them to Earth for cultivation alongside untreated samples. Researchers will compare germination, growth, resilience, and crop yields to determine whether rooibos can adapt to extraterrestrial environments. The initiative also includes an educational component, allowing students to conduct experiments with the returned samples and monitor the results. Scientists hope the research will provide insights into sustainable food production beyond Earth while expanding knowledge about plant resilience in extreme environments.
Semafor