The "Moon Trees"

During the Apollo 14 mission in February 1971, astronaut Stuart Roosa carried hundreds of tree seeds orbiting the Moon, which were later germinated and became known as "Moon Trees." Despite initial concerns that the seeds were damaged during decontamination procedures upon return to Earth, many successfully grew into viable seedlings that were planted throughout the United States and world as part of the nation's bicentennial celebration in 1976. The project, a collaboration between NASA and the U.S. Forest Service, involved seeds from five tree species including loblolly pine, sycamore, and redwood, and stands as a tribute to Roosa and the Apollo program.