11/25/2024
Do you know about the "Moon Trees?" Well...in 1971 NASA sent a collection of tree seeds to the moon on Apollo 14. Five species of trees were included: Douglas fir, loblolly pine, redwood, sweetgum, and sycamore. And, no, they were not planted on the moon.
They were returned to the earth to complete an experiment on the impact of space travel on tree seeds. They were then planted, and raised into trees that were then planted all across the United States.
Kansas has a Moon Tree!!
A sycamore Moon Tree was planted in the International Forest of Friendship in Atchison, Kansas. Here is some information on this now mature Moon Tree.
--Planting date was July 24, 1976, Amelia Earhart's birthday
--Planted by Apollo 17 astronaut Ron Evans and Kansas State Forester Harold Gallaher
--Dedicated to the 17 astronauts who died while advancing space exploration
--Plaques with the astronauts' names circle the tree
4.6 ★ · Memorial park
