** A lunar-born pine tree has taken root at Mary W. Jackson Elementary School, symbolizing STEM education and honoring a pioneering engineer.
📍 ** United States, Hampton, Virginia
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On March 18, 2026, students, staff, and members of NASA’s Langley Research Center celebrated the dedication of a remarkable addition to the campus – an Artemis Moon Tree. The loblolly pine, planted on November 21st, 2025, by students and staff, now stands as a tangible link to NASA’s Artemis program. This extraordinary tree’s journey began in 2022 when a seed orbited the Moon as part of the Artemis I mission, before returning to Earth and being nurtured into a sapling by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
The tree’s arrival and planting represent a significant collaboration. NASA eClips educators, through NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement and the Science Activation Program, obtained the tree. It was carefully prepared and eventually entrusted to the team at NIA-CISE until it was ready for planting by third- through fifth-grade students at Mary W. Jackson Elementary School. The school's location was intentionally chosen to honor the legacy of Mary W. Jackson, NASA’s first Black female engineer.
The planting event itself was a powerful learning experience, with students organized into teams – Earth Excavators, Compost Crew, Mulch Movers, and Water Brigade – who meticulously planted the tree. Fifth-grader Caiden’s insightful observation perfectly encapsulates the project’s meaning: “My job was putting soil around the tree…” This symbolic act, along with the ribbon-cutting ceremony, marks the beginning of the tree's life as a cornerstone of the school community and a lasting reminder of the potential within us all.
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** #ArtemisMoonTree #STEMEducation #NASA #MaryWJackson #SpaceExploration #LunarScience #Innovation #PlantingTheFuture