The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) has announced a competition for students aimed at developing the first official mascot for South Africa's space program.
The competition is open to students in grades 8–11 from registered public, private, and home schools across South Africa. Participants must submit an original mascot design along with a brief written explanation via the official online portal before midnight on September 14, 2026. No prior design experience or training is required to participate.
The winning design will be professionally developed into the official SANSA mascot for use in schools, youth outreach events, and public engagements nationwide.
SANSA Chief Executive Officer, Khumbulani Mudau, noted that the goal of this initiative is to spark youth interest in South Africa's space sector and encourage them to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Furthermore, the mascot will serve as a recognizable public symbol of the country's growing space program.
Mudau emphasized the importance of the mascot, stating: 'A mascot gives people something to hold onto. At home, it gives our space program a face and helps ordinary South Africans, especially young people, connect with an industry that might seem distant and highly technical. Abroad, it becomes a symbol around which our country can unite, helping to position us as a serious, creative, and capable player on the international space stage. We want a mascot that speaks to both aspects.'
South Africa's involvement in the global space sector spans over 70 years. In 1961, the Hartbeespoort ground station was established north of Pretoria to provide communication support and spacecraft tracking for some of the world's earliest space missions.
Today, the country hosts leading global companies that manufacture satellite components for international clients. Scientists utilize satellite imagery to study terrestrial issues and conduct pioneering research on the solar system.
For the first time in South Africa, seeds of rooibos are planned to be sent to the International Space Station (ISS), merging space botany with practical STEM education. These seeds will be launched to the ISS in October, where they will remain for several weeks under microgravity and cosmic radiation before returning to Earth. Upon return, they will be planted near control seeds for comparative study of germination, growth, resilience, and yield.
Since the mascot is intended to commemorate and promote these achievements, SANSA is seeking entirely original designs that are clearly linked to space and reflect something uniquely South African—whether through language, landscape, wildlife, history, or culture.
Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of scientists, engineers, designers, and education specialists. The winning student will be credited as the original mascot designer and will receive valuable prizes, while the top three schools will receive a share of R100,000 in cash or equipment/book vouchers.
Prizes include: the winner will receive R3,000 in cash, a SANSA merchandise set, and a certificate signed by the SANSA CEO, and will be recognized as the original mascot designer. Second-place designers will receive R2,000 in cash, and third place will receive R1,500 in cash; both finalists will also receive a signed certificate and a SANSA merchandise set.
The schools of the winners will also receive awards: the winning school will receive R60,000, the second-place school will receive R25,000, and the third-place school will receive R15,000 in cash or educational vouchers to support teaching and learning. All applications must be submitted online through the official SANSA competition portal.