The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) is calling on learners to design South Africa’s first official mascot for its space programme.
The competition is open to learners in Grades 8 to 11 at registered public, independent, and home schools across South Africa.
Entrants are invited to submit an original mascot design together with a short written explanation through the official online entry portal by midnight on Monday, September 14, 2026.
No prior design experience or training is required.
The winning design will be professionally developed into SANSA’s official mascot for use at schools, youth outreach events and public engagements across the country.
Chief Executive Officer of SANSA, Humbulani Mudau, said the initiative aims to build excitement about South Africa’s space sector among young people and encourage them to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), while creating a recognisable public symbol for the country’s growing space programme.
“A mascot gives people something to hold onto. At home, it puts a face to our space programme and helps ordinary South Africans, especially young people, connect with an industry that can feel distant and highly technical. Abroad, it becomes a symbol that our country can rally behind, helping position us as a serious, creative and capable player in international space affairs. We want a mascot that says both,” Mudau said.
South Africa’s involvement in the global space sector stretches back more than 70 years. In 1961, the Hartebeesthoek Ground Station north of Pretoria was established to provide spacecraft tracking and communications support for some of the world’s earliest space missions.
Today, the country is home to world-leading companies that manufacture satellite components for international customers, while scientists use satellite imagery to study issues on Earth and conduct groundbreaking research into our solar system.
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 STEM education.
The 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.
With the mascot intended to celebrate and build on these achievements, SANSA is looking for entirely original designs that are clearly connected to space and reflect something distinctly South African, whether through language, landscape, wildlife, history or culture.
The entries will be judged by a panel of scientists, engineers, designers and education specialists. The winning learner will be credited as the mascot’s original designer and receive exciting prizes, with the top three schools to receive a share of R100,000 in cash/vouchers for equipment or books.
Prizes on offer:
Winning Design
The learner whose design is selected as the winning mascot will receive R3,000 in cash, a SANSA merchandise hamper, and a certificate signed by the SANSA CEO. They will also be credited as the original mascot designer.
Runners-up
The second-place learner will receive R2,000 in cash, while the third-place learner will receive R1,500 in cash. Both runners-up will also receive a signed certificate and a SANSA merchandise hamper.
Winning Schools
The schools where the winning learners are currently enrolled will also receive prizes.
The winning school will receive R60,000, the second-place learner’s school will receive R25,000, and the third-place learner’s school will receive R15,000 in cash/ educational vouchers to support teaching and learning.
Entries must be submitted online through SANSA’s official competition portal.
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