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The University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) is now home to a rare and historic “Moon Tree,” a Sweetgum tree grown from seeds that traveled beyond the Moon during NASA Artemis Mission.
These seeds journeyed thousands of miles into deep space, spending nearly four weeks beyond lunar orbit before safely returning to Earth. Through a competitive national selection process led by NASA, UNL was chosen as one of the recipients of this living symbol of space exploration and scientific discovery.
The Moon Tree was awarded through a collaborative effort involving UNL’s MAARS Lab and partners from Ag4Space and SPACE2, recognizing the university’s growing leadership in space agriculture, controlled-environment systems, and extreme-environment research. The tree is now planted on UNL’s East Campus, where it serves as a lasting reminder of humanity’s return to the Moon and the connection between space exploration, science, and agriculture.
As both a scientific artifact and a symbol of exploration, the Moon Tree highlights how space missions can inspire education, research, and public engagement—rooting the story of space exploration quite literally back on Earth.
Location: UNL East Campus
Mission: NASA Artemis
Significance: Seeds traveled beyond the Moon before returning to Earth
Date: 6/5/2024