Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), in collaboration with Singapore-based Space Faculty, proudly announces the successful launch of Brunei Darussalam’s first-ever seed payload to the International Space Station (ISS), marking a historic national milestone in science, research and innovation. A payload refers to the cargo or scientific materials carried aboard a rocket or spacecraft. In this mission, local seeds are being sent as part of the payload.
The payload was launched on 16 May 2026 at 5:45 a.m. Brunei time aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, flying a Cargo Dragon 2 spacecraft on NASA’s SpaceX CRS-34 Commercial Resupply Services mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The payload will orbit Earth thousands of times over six months, exposing the seeds to extreme space conditions not reproducible on the ground.
This pioneering mission places Brunei Darussalam among the nations advancing space-enabled research for the future of agriculture, food resilience and sustainability. Led by UBD’s Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER), the project sends curated seed material into the unique conditions of low Earth orbit, where exposure to elevated radiation can induce novel genetic variation for later scientific screening and analysis on Earth.
“This is a historic milestone for UBD’s space science programme,” said Dr. Hazri Hj Kifle, Vice Chancellor of UBD. “Sending our seed payload to the ISS is a testament to UBD’s commitment to pioneering research that transcends boundaries.”
The long-term significance of this mission extends far beyond the launch itself. After the seeds return from orbit, UBD is positioned to undertake mutational screening and phenotypic analysis. The project leverages the unique space environment to develop improved, resilient, and high-yield crop varieties, thereby strengthening national food security and agricultural sustainability.
The initiative also represents a strategic investment in national human capital. It creates a high-value platform for training students, young researchers and future scientific leaders in plant science, biodiversity research, mutation analysis, screening methodologies and the broader space interface, while strengthening Brunei’s capabilities in advanced research fields with direct national relevance.
This achievement is the result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UBD and Space Faculty, aimed at advancing space education and technology throughout the ASEAN region. Through these international partnerships, UBD is firmly positioning Brunei as a forward-looking participant in the global space economy.
UBD has rapidly emerged as Brunei’s foremost institution driving space research and technology, marking several landmark achievements in recent years. UBD is the Secretariat of the National Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) to advance national space-related research efforts and to promote space science capacity-building, education, and awareness in Brunei Darussalam.
Space Faculty is a Singapore-based organisation dedicated to space education, satellite programmes and STEM outreach across Southeast Asia. Through partnerships with leading universities and institutions, Space Faculty works to inspire the next generation of space scientists, engineers, and innovators.
