Photo credit: www.nasa.gov

NASA’s Artemis Moon Tree Takes Root in Virginia

A unique loblolly pine tree, which originated from a seed that traveled around the Moon and back, has been planted at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. This remarkable plant is part of a broader initiative celebrating space exploration and environmental stewardship.

The ceremonial dedication of the Artemis Moon Tree took place on March 12, with speeches from Lori Glaze, NASA’s Acting Associate Administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, and Trina Dyal, Acting Center Director at NASA Langley. Glaze echoed sentiments from an ancient Greek proverb, stating, “Society grows when its elders plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in,” emphasizing the long-term impact of their efforts.

The newly planted tree stands at approximately two feet tall and is situated between NASA Langley’s Integrated Engineering Services Building and its Measurement Systems Laboratory. A protective wire enclosure surrounds it, and a yellow label indicates its species, as well as the Charles E. Bessey Nursery in Halsey, Nebraska, where it was cultivated. A plaque also marks its significance as a Moon Tree.

Glaze expressed hopes that this tree serves as a source of inspiration for future generations, stating, “This, we plant here for all future generations to be inspired and to continue on the amazing legacy of what we’re doing.” She linked the tree’s significance to NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually reach Mars, suggesting that the achievements of today are paving the way for tomorrow’s exploration.

The seed that gave rise to this loblolly pine was one among many that embarked on the Artemis I mission from November 16 to December 11, 2022. This particular mission saw the seeds travel 270,000 miles aboard the Orion spacecraft. NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement collaborated with the Forest Services to include these seeds as part of an educational initiative focused on conservation and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Besides loblolly pines, a variety of other tree species, such as sycamores, sweetgums, Douglas firs, and giant sequoias, also made the journey and were later germinated by the Forest Services.

In Virginia, NASA Langley’s loblolly pine is one of three designated Artemis Moon Trees. The Virginia Living Museum in Newport News and the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk have also been selected as stewards of Moon Trees, receiving their own loblolly pines in support of this initiative.

The Apollo legacy inspired the Artemis Moon Trees; during the Apollo 14 mission in 1971, astronaut Stuart Roosa, who had a background as a smoke jumper with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Services, carried various tree seeds into lunar orbit. Subsequently, those seeds were distributed across national monuments and given to various dignitaries, coinciding with the United States’ bicentennial celebrations.

One noteworthy descendant of the Apollo Moon Trees, a sycamore, was planted at Albert W. Patrick III Elementary School in Hampton in 1976, following a contest won by sixth grader Marjorie White with her poignant poem entitled “A Tree Lives.”

Source
www.nasa.gov