After 270,000-mile trip, Moon Tree lands in Hastings College Arboretum

(Hastings, Nebraska) – There’s something special about the American sweetgum sapling planted in the Hastings College Arboretum in June: it’s a “Moon Tree” grown from a seed that flew around the Moon on NASA’s Artemis I mission in 2022. 

The Artemis I Moon Trees, rooted in the legacy of the original Moon Trees flown by NASA astronaut Stuart Roosa during Apollo 14 in 1971, journeyed 270,000 miles from Earth aboard the Orion spacecraft. A diverse array of tree species, including sycamores, sweetgums, Douglas firs, loblolly pines and giant sequoias, were flown around the surface of the Moon. 

Since returning to Earth, the tree seeds were germinated and cared for by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, as NASA and its Office of STEM Engagement’s Next Generation STEM project worked to identify their new homes.

Out of more than 1,300 applications, NASA chose 50 institutions based upon suitability to care for the tree species and their ability to maximize educational opportunities around the life and growth of the tree in their communities. 

The Hastings College Moon Tree application was completed in the fall by Megan Launchbaugh, a transition specialist in Studio 200, the College’s academic and accessibility support office. 

“I thought this was such an interesting and fun program, and we have such a great arboretum on campus, it seemed like a cool thing to try,” Launchbaugh said. “It was pretty exciting to get an email from NASA in May saying we were selected.”

While the tree was planted near circle drive in early June, a larger celebration for the campus and community is planned for Friday, October 25 as part of the Hastings College Homecoming celebrations. Details will be shared closer to the event.

“A new era of Moon trees will one day stand tall in communities across America,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “NASA is bringing the spirit of exploration back down to Earth because space belongs to everyone. The Artemis Generation will carry forth these seedlings that will be fertile ground for creativity, inspiration and discovery for years to come.”

Through Next Gen STEM, Moon Tree recipients are invited to engage with the public and K-12 learners with the goal of developing unique resources and experiences to spark student interest in science, technology, engineering and math, and build a skilled and diverse next generation workforce.