In an exciting development for space exploration enthusiasts, NASA astronaut Christina Koch has presented a loblolly pine sapling, known as a "Moon Tree," to her home state of North Carolina. The sapling is one of the first trees grown from seeds that were flown around the moon on NASA's uncrewed Artemis 1 mission in 2022.

The "Artemis Moon Tree" program aims to foster a connection between space exploration and local communities by distributing seedlings to educational and community organizations across the United States. Koch, who is slated to be part of the Artemis 2 crew in late 2025, presented the sapling at the governor's mansion in North Carolina on Wednesday, April 24.

"With the planting of an Artemis Moon Tree today at the governor's mansion, North Carolina is firmly planting the roots of exploration for generations to come," stated Koch. The sapling represents both North Carolina's commitment to NASA and the state's universities that produce talent for the aerospace industry.

Koch's alma mater, White Oak High School in Jacksonville, North Carolina, has also been selected as one of the recipients of an Artemis Moon Tree. This initiative is seen as a way to inspire the younger generation and encourage their interest in space exploration.

Apart from the loblolly pines, which are native to North Carolina, other seeds including sycamore, sweetgum, Douglas-fir, and giant sequoia were carried by the Orion spacecraft during its 25-day, 270,000-mile journey on Artemis 1. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service oversaw the germination of these seeds and their growth into seedlings to be distributed as Artemis Moon Trees.

In August 2023, NASA put out a call for interested educational and community organizations to apply for the opportunity to grow a Moon Tree. Recipients were selected based on their ability to care for the tree species and their potential to use the growing tree as an outreach tool in their neighborhoods, cities, or states.

NASA plans to notify selected institutions in waves, with the first being currently underway. The agency intends to maintain a record of the recipients on its website, including the species of tree they received and their planting cycle. Moon Tree hosts will also have the opportunity to engage with the public through quarterly virtual gatherings starting this summer.

While the full list of recipients has not yet been made public, it was recently revealed that Mary Chapa Academy in Greenfield, California, received a sapling on Thursday, April 25. This indicates that the Artemis Moon Tree program is well underway in its mission to spread the spirit of exploration and discovery to communities across the nation.

The planting of the Moon Tree in North Carolina marks a symbolic commitment to the future of space exploration. As NASA continues its efforts to explore the moon and beyond, the Artemis Moon Tree program highlights the important role that both nature and education play in inspiring and engaging future generations of scientists, explorers, and environmentalists.