Westview High Students Make History: Planting a Tree That Traveled Around the Moon

The Out-of-This-World Project Taking Root in a Nebraska School

Students at Westview High School in Omaha are part of a cosmic experiment, planting a tree grown from seeds that orbited the moon during NASA’s Artemis I mission. This isn’t just any sapling—it’s a living piece of space exploration history.

Why This Tree Is Different

• Moon-orbiting origins: The seeds spent nearly a month in space aboard the Orion spacecraft.
• Scientific legacy: Continues NASA’s tradition of space-traveling plants dating back to Apollo missions.
• Educational goldmine: Gives students hands-on experience with astrobiology and environmental science.

The Planting Ceremony With Cosmic Significance

Dozens of students gathered on the school grounds to witness the historic planting. Science teacher Mark Smith called it “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect classroom learning with real space exploration.” The sycamore tree now stands as a growing reminder of humanity’s lunar ambitions.

NASA’s Larger Mission

1. Testing plant resilience in space conditions
2. Preparing for future manned missions to the moon and Mars
3. Inspiring the next generation of astronauts and scientists

What Do You Think?

• Should schools invest more in space-related education instead of traditional subjects?
• Could this tree’s space exposure give it strange mutations we haven’t discovered yet?
• Is NASA’s focus on moon trees just publicity, or does it have real scientific value?
• Would you let your child eat fruit from a tree that’s been in space?