SANSA invites learners to design South Africa’s first space mascot

The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) has opened a national competition asking learners to design the country’s first official mascot for its space programme. The initiative targets learners in Grades 8 to 11 at registered public, independent and home schools and closes at midnight on Monday, 14 September 2026.

What entrants must know

Learners are invited to submit an original mascot design along with a short written explanation through SANSA’s official online entry portal. No prior design experience or training is required.

Purpose and judging

SANSA says the mascot will be professionally developed into an official symbol to be used at schools, youth outreach events and public engagements. The agency says the contest aims to build excitement about South Africa’s space sector among young people and to encourage careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“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,”

said SANSA CEO Humbulani Mudau.

Design guidance

SANSA is looking for entirely original designs that are clearly connected to space and that reflect something distinctly South African, whether through language, landscape, wildlife, history or culture. Entries will be judged by a panel of scientists, engineers, designers and education specialists.

Prizes

• Winning learner: R3,000 in cash, a SANSA merchandise hamper, a certificate signed by the SANSA CEO, and credit as the mascot’s original designer.
• Second place: R2,000 in cash, a signed certificate and a SANSA merchandise hamper.
• Third place: R1,500 in cash, a signed certificate and a SANSA merchandise hamper.
• Winning schools: The top three learners’ schools will share R100,000 in cash or educational vouchers: R60,000 for the winning school, R25,000 for the second-place learner’s school and R15,000 for the third-place learner’s school.

Context in South Africa’s space work

The article notes South Africa’s involvement in the global space sector extends back more than 70 years. It says the Hartebeesthoek Ground Station north of Pretoria was established in 1961 to provide spacecraft tracking and communications support for early space missions.

It also mentions that South African companies manufacture satellite components for international customers and that scientists use satellite imagery for Earth studies and solar system research. In a first for South Africa, the article reports rooibos seeds will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) in October to be exposed to microgravity and space radiation; those seeds will later be planted alongside control seeds in a comparative study.

How to enter

Entries must be submitted online through SANSA’s official competition portal by the stated deadline.

Contact details and further reporting were provided by IOL.