On June 14, chickpea seeds from the BRS Aleppo cultivar were launched aboard a rocket as part of a collaborative initiative between the Space Farming Brazil Network and UFABC Rocket Design, a student team from the Federal University of ABC (UFABC). The launch took place during the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) in Midland, Texas, USA.
This marks the second time the BRS Aleppo chickpea seeds have been sent into space-related conditions. The first launch occurred on April 14 aboard Blue Origin’s suborbital NS-31 mission, which crossed the Kármán Line—the boundary of space—at 100 kilometers altitude. The current mission, part of the 2025 edition of IREC, required rockets to carry a minimum payload of approximately one kilogram, according to a press release.
The partnership for this latest launch was established during the 2024 Space BR Show, through coordination between Embrapa, the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), and Esalq/USP, all representing the Space Farming Brazil Network. According to Alessandra Fávero, researcher at Embrapa and coordinator of the network, the initiative aims to foster collaboration between researchers and students from elementary to higher education levels. “We want to inspire future generations to see the potential of Brazilian research and its societal contributions,” Fávero said.
João Henrique Cardozo, Embedded Systems Coordinator for UFABC Rocket Design, explained that their team developed a solid-fuel rocket approximately three meters tall, capable of reaching an altitude of up to three kilometers. Launches at IREC followed a first-come, first-served format and were subject to on-site evaluation by judges.
The BRS Aleppo cultivar was chosen due to its nutritional value and strong adaptability to adverse growing conditions—key traits for both terrestrial and space agriculture. Researchers hope that exposing the seeds to spaceflight conditions can expand genetic diversity, potentially leading to the development of chickpea varieties with improved productivity, early maturation, and greater resistance to stress factors.
About IREC
The International Rocket Engineering Competition is organized by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) and hosts student teams from around the globe. Rockets in the competition must meet strict payload and altitude requirements, with target altitudes ranging from 3,000 to nearly 14,000 meters. The event accommodates rockets of various propulsion types, including solid, liquid, and hybrid engines.
