Forest Management students planted a Moon Tree! This Douglas Fir tree's seed actually orbited the moon during the NASA's Artemis I mission in 2022.
The project flew approximately 1,200 seeds from five tree species. The seeds, which left the Earth on Nov. 16, 2022, orbited the moon, and traveled 270,000 miles from Earth before splashing down on Dec. 11.
NASA and the USDA Forest Service partnered to send tree seeds to space on Artemis I and bring STEM education that connects Artemis I programming to Earth science, conservation education, data literacy, and citizen science to educators and youth nationwide. Seeds that orbited the Moon are from loblolly pine, Douglas-fir, giant sequoia, American sycamore, and sweetgum trees. Those seeds were germinated and grown by the Forest Service nursey system.
Research stations are a part of the Forest Service’s Research and Development program, which has been part of the Forest Service mission since the agency’s inception in 1905. This program informs the actions taken by the Forest Service and other land managers to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of forests and grasslands. In addition to growing some of the Artemis I Moon Tree seedlings, Forest Service scientists at the Moscow Forestry Sciences Laboratory are also investigating the effects of space travel on Moon Tree seed germination and subsequent seedling growth.
Thank you to Greater Vancouver Chamber for helping us celebrate this incredible milestone as our Forest Management students became Moon Tree stewards!
