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<\/a><\/figure>A tree that sprouted from a seed that journeyed around the Moon and back is growing at NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s Acting Associate Administrator for NASA\u2019s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate Lori Glaze and NASA Langley Acting Center Director Trina Dyal spoke at a dedication ceremony for the Artemis Moon Tree, a loblolly pine, at the center March 12.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to quote an old Greek proverb that more or less says something like, \u2018Society grows when its elders plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in,\u2019 \u201d said Glaze. \u201cI love that. We always talk about how we stand on the shoulders of giants. Those giants planted seeds, and we are still benefiting from the tremendous roots of those trees,\u201d<\/p>\n
The young tree, only about two feet tall right now, is growing in an area between NASA Langley\u2019s Integrated Engineering Services Building and its Measurement Systems Laboratory. The pine is surrounded by a wire plant protector. A yellow label identifies the species and the location of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Services nursery where the seedling was grown \u2014 Charles E. Bessey Nursery in Halsey, Nebraska. A small plaque marks its status as a Moon Tree.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis, we plant here for all future generations to be inspired and to continue on the amazing legacy of what we\u2019re doing,\u201d said Glaze. \u201cOur return to the lunar surface and our journey to Mars through the Artemis campaign is really going to lay the foundation for that future of exploration that right now we\u2019re only dreaming about. With your help, through Langley and the rest of our NASA colleagues and partners, we\u2019re going to achieve those visions.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/figure>The loblolly seed was one of many that flew on the Artemis I mission Nov. 16 to Dec. 11, 2022 \u2014 journeying 270,000 miles from Earth\u00a0aboard\u00a0the Orion spacecraft. NASA\u2019s Office of STEM Engagement partnered with\u00a0the Forest Services\u00a0to\u00a0fly the seeds\u00a0aboard Artemis I as part of a national STEM Engagement and conservation education initiative.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In addition to loblolly pines, tree species on the flight included sycamores, sweetgums, Douglas firs, and giant sequoias. The Forest Services germinated the seeds.<\/p>\n
Locally, NASA Langley\u2019s loblolly pine is one of three Artemis Moon Trees. The Virginia Living Museum in Newport News and the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk were also selected as Moon Tree stewards, and also received loblolly pines.<\/p>\n
The Artemis Moon Trees take inspiration from their Apollo precursors. In 1971, NASA astronaut Stuart Roosa, the command module pilot for the\u00a0Apollo 14\u00a0<\/a>mission and a former U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Services smoke jumper, carried tree seeds into lunar orbit. The Apollo 14 Moon Trees were disseminated to national monuments and dignitaries around the world, with a large number distributed as part of the nation\u2019s bicentennial event.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n One of those Moon Trees, a sycamore, was planted at Albert W. Patrick III Elementary School in the Fox Hill area of Hampton in 1976. Sixth grader Marjorie White wrote a poem called \u201cA Tree Lives\u201d that won a contest to earn the honor.<\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a> A tree that sprouted from a seed that journeyed around the Moon and back is growing at NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. NASA\u2019s Acting Associate Administrator for NASA\u2019s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate Lori Glaze and NASA Langley Acting Center Director Trina Dyal spoke at a dedication ceremony for the Artemis Moon Tree, [\u2026] Continue reading
\nJoseph Scott Atkinson <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"