Moon Tree Planted at Mary W. Jackson Elementary School
A tree that orbited the Moon during the Artemis I mission now grows at a Virginia elementary school named after NASA's first Black female engineer. Fifth graders planted the loblolly pine sapling, creating a living link between space exploration and the next generation of scientists.
A loblolly pine tree with an out-of-this-world story has found its forever home at Mary W. Jackson Elementary School in Hampton, Virginia. The tree's seed traveled around the Moon in 2022 aboard NASA's Artemis I mission before returning to Earth to become what NASA calls an Artemis Moon Tree.
Students in third through fifth grade planted the sapling on November 21, 2025, working together in teams with names like Earth Excavators, Compost Crew, Mulch Movers, and Water Brigade. The school officially dedicated the tree on March 18, 2026, honoring both the students' efforts and the legacy of Mary W. Jackson, NASA's first Black female engineer.
The tree's journey to Hampton began after the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service carefully nurtured the space-traveled seed into a healthy sapling. NASA eClips educators from the National Institute of Aerospace's Center for Integrative STEM Education applied for the tree through NASA's Office of STEM Engagement, then cared for it until students could plant it.
Fifth grader Caiden reflected on his role in the planting with wisdom beyond his years. "My job was putting soil around the tree, and at first, it seemed like a small task, but I realized it was actually one of the most important parts," he said. He compared the careful work to building a strong foundation in life, noting that just like the seed that traveled around the Moon, everyone has the potential to do amazing things with the right support.
Why This Inspires
The Artemis Moon Tree joins another space-traveled tree already growing in Hampton. An Apollo Moon Tree, a sycamore planted in 1976 at Albert W. Patrick Elementary School, now has a companion nearly 50 years later. Together, these trees represent generations of exploration, connecting the Apollo program that first landed humans on the Moon with the Artemis program that will return astronauts there.
The location carries special meaning. Hampton was home to NASA's earliest research efforts and to pioneering mathematicians and engineers including Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Christine Darden, and Mary W. Jackson. These trailblazers helped shape America's journey into space, often overcoming significant barriers to make their contributions.
As the Artemis Moon Tree grows alongside the students who planted it, it will serve as a daily reminder that exploration begins with curiosity, teamwork makes extraordinary things possible, and even the smallest contributions matter when building something meant to last.
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Based on reporting by NASA
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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