{"product_id":"rooibos-in-space-school-participation","title":"Rooibos in Space School Participation","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"left\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Barlow Condensed Medium'; color: #b0331a;\"\u003eThe Rooibos in Space STEM project\u003c\/span\u003e, made possible by the South African Rooibos Council (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sarooibos.co.za\/\" title=\"SA Rooibos Foundation\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSARC\u003c\/a\u003e) in partnership with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/maxiq.space\/pages\/case-studies-and-space-stem-program-examples\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMaxIQ Space\u003c\/a\u003e, is set to take one of South Africa’s most iconic agricultural treasures beyond Earth’s atmosphere. STEM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"left\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Barlow Condensed Medium'; color: #b0331a;\"\u003eFor the SARC\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Barlow Condensed Medium';\"\u003e,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003einvesting in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education is not just a project – it is a commitment to inspiring the next generation of scientists, agri-innovators and problem-solvers who will shape the future of South Africa and the Rooibos industry itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"left\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Barlow Condensed Medium'; color: #b0331a;\"\u003eMaxIQ Space\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; color: #b0331a;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e– a South African space-focused STEM education and technology company – specialises in hands-on, modular electronics and Space STEM programmes that enable learners to build, code and engage with real-world satellite and space experiments. Together, this partnership is opening an extraordinary door for South African schools and learners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"left\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eLate 2026, \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Barlow Condensed Medium'; color: #b0331a;\"\u003eRooibos seeds will travel to the International Space Station!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; color: #b0331a;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eFor the first time, Rooibos will be exposed to the unique conditions of space, including microgravity and increased cosmic radiation. When the seeds return, participating schools will help answer a remarkable scientific question: How does space influence Rooibos at the very start of its life cycle? This project links Rooibos to the growing global field of space agriculture, which explores how crops might grow in extreme environments, such as future missions to the Moon and even Mars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"left\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Barlow Condensed Medium'; color: #b0331a;\"\u003eSpace STEM project in schools -  \u003c\/span\u003eIn the months leading up to launching Rooibos into space, schools are invited to embark on an immersive STEM journey. Educators will receive specialised virtual training, use their innovative Springbot classroom tools, and conduct experiments in preparation for the parallel planting experiments in 2027. \u003cbr\u003eLearners will work with environmental sensors, analyse real data, explore coding and connect agriculture with space science in ways that are practical, exciting and locally meaningful.\u003cbr\u003eIn 2027, all participating schools will receive Rooibos seeds that have been to space, as well as those that remained behind on Earth. Guided by specialists, germination and growth experiments will be conducted, supported by the Springbot STEM technology used up to date.\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"left\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Barlow Condensed Medium'; color: #b0331a;\"\u003ePrerequisites -  \u003c\/span\u003eAs the MaxIQ Space and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/maxiq.space\/pages\/springbot-locally-made-globally-relevant-future-ready\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Springbot\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003eSpringbot\u003c\/a\u003e technologies are fundamental to this project, it is imperative that the participating schools are already in possession of Springbot class kits, and the educators have completed the onboarding training.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MaxIQ Space International","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53946114179366,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0906\/2957\/0854\/files\/Rooibosplantation2.jpg?v=1790251966","url":"https:\/\/maxiq.space\/products\/rooibos-in-space-school-participation","provider":"MaxIQ Space International","version":"1.0","type":"link"}