The Moon pictured from the International Space Station while orbiting 264 miles above the Pacific Ocean in between Fiji and American Samoa. Credits: NASA
Education and community
organizations can apply to receive a living piece of spaceflight history to
promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics: a seedling grown
from a tree seed that flew around the Moon on the NASA’s Artemis I mission in late
2022.
NASA and the USDA Forest Service
will distribute Artemis Moon Tree seedlings of five different species to create
new ways for communities on Earth to connect with humanity’s exploration of
space for the benefit of all. Nearly 2,000 seeds were flown to space.
Organizations like schools,
libraries, museums, and others engaging with students, or the public, are
encouraged to apply for a Moon Tree seedling through NASA’s Artifact Module. The application period closes Friday, Oct. 6.
Examples of eligible institutions
include formal and informal K-12-serving organizations, universities, community
organizations, museums and science centers, and government organizations.
“NASA’s Artemis moon trees are
bringing the science and ingenuity of space exploration back down to Earth,”
said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Last year, these seeds flew on the
Artemis I mission 40,000 miles beyond the Moon. With the help of the USDA, this
new generation of Moon trees will plant the spirit of exploration across our
communities and inspire the next generation of explorers.”
This is the second generation of
Moon Trees for distribution on Earth. In 1971, Apollo 14 Command Module Pilot
Stuart Roosa, a former Forest Service smoke jumper, carried hundreds of tree
seeds as a part of his personal kit. Following the successful return of Apollo
14, the Forest Service germinated the seeds. The Apollo Moon Tree seedlings
were planted around the nation, many as part of the U.S. bicentennial
celebration in 1976.
Today, a new generation of Moon Trees will soon take
root in American soil and carry on the legacy of inspiration launched more than
50 years ago. The seeds that journeyed 270,000 miles from Earth aboard the
Orion spacecraft during Artemis I included sycamores, sweetgums, Douglas-firs,
loblolly pines, and giant sequoias. Through the care of the Forest Service, the
seeds were germinated and grown into seedlings in preparation for their new
roles as Artemis Moon Trees.
“The seeds that flew on the Artemis
mission will soon be Moon Trees standing proudly on campuses and institutions
across the country,” said Randy Moore, Forest Service chief. “These future Moon
Trees, like those that came before them, serve as a potent symbol that when we
put our mind to a task, there is nothing we can’t accomplish. They will inspire
future generations of scientists, whose research underpins all that we do here
at the Forest Service.”
How to Apply
Instructions for submitting a
proposal, and information on Moon Tree seedling criteria, is
available online. NASA and USDA Forest Service will review submitted
applications to determine the viability to successfully host a seedling; the
Forest Service will identify the seedling species for selected recipients based
on geographical region in the contiguous United States. NASA is working with
the Forest Service to identify timelines for seedling distribution in 2023 and
2024.
This opportunity is made possible
through a collaboration between NASA’s Next Gen STEM project and the Forest Service. Through NASA’s Office of STEM
Engagement, Next Gen STEM provides resources and opportunities designed to
bring STEM and space content to formal and informal K-12 educators and
students. Through Forest Service Environmental Education programs, people develop
the knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to understand complex
environmental issues.
For the latest NASA STEM events, activities, and news, visit: https://stem.nasa.gov
Source: NASA,
Forest Service to Share Moon Tree Seedlings, Promote STEM | NASA
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