NASA searches for missing 'moon trees'

Insight on the News, Jan 7, 2003 by John Elvin

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is looking for "moon trees." The reference is to trees that sprouted from seeds taken to the moon aboard Apollo 14 in 1971. For that trip, each astronaut was allowed to carry a few trinkets or novelty items. Stuart Roosa, who piloted the command module while Ed Mitchell and Al Shepard visited the moon's surface, was a former "smoke jumper" for the U.S. Forest Service and chose to take tree seeds supplied by forestry researchers.

Roosa chose redwood, loblolly pine, sycamore, Douglas fir and sweet gum as the varieties to take along. The seeds made 34 orbits around the moon. Back on Earth, they were returned to a Forest Service genetics lab for further study. They were planted--and they thrived. Then, in 1975, the Forest Service began distributing the trees as part of the nation's bicentennial celebration.

Trees went to the White House, Independence Square in Philadelphia, Valley Forge, Pa., and even to Japan. Politicians loved the idea of a photo opportunity as they planted a tree that had been to the moon. Around 450 seedlings and cuttings were given away. The demand was great but, apparently, no one kept good records of where the trees went.

NASA Scientist Dave Williams, intrigued by an inquiry from an elementary-school teacher whose students came across one of the trees in Indiana, has located 40 so far. He maintains a Website about the trees (nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/ planetary/lunar/moon_tree.html. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of a moon tree can call Williams at (301)-286-1258 or e-mail him at dwilliams@nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov.