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Artemis II Astronauts & Congressional Leaders Plant Moon Tree on U.S. Capitol Grounds, Carrying on Apollo-Era Legacy

Foreign Affairs News

Washington, June 5, 2024
“The Artemis missions represent everything great about our country – our ingenuity, our perseverance through adversity, and our ability to work together, despite our differences, to meet the challenges before us,” said Congressman Cartwright, Ranking Member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee. “I am grateful to witness this next generation of American discovery, and I look forward to working alongside my congressional colleagues to provide NASA with the support it needs to continue building upon its remarkable legacy.”
U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-05), hosted the first-ever “Moon Tree” planting today at the U.S. Capitol Building. He was joined by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA), U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy and Artemis II Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Jeremy Hansen. Canadian Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman also participated in today’s historic tree planting to commemorate the Artemis era of space exploration. 
 
The seedling for the American Sweetgum tree was flown on the historic Artemis I mission around the moon in late 2022. 

The idea to send tree seedlings to the moon first came from Apollo 14 with Astronaut Stuart Roosa, who was a former U.S. Forest Service smoke jumper. The seedlings that he carried into orbit from that mission were planted in the years that followed, largely as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration. A Loblolly Pine seedling from the Apollo 14 mission was planted at the White House in January 1977. Fully grown “Moon Trees” now tower across the country, sparking educational conversations about American leadership in space. 

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