Moon Trees LIVE

Q&A

 

Below are all of the questions that were asked during the live stream of Moon Trees LIVE. The accompanying answers are from a team of experts from both the U.S. Forest service and NASA. If you recently watched the program and have questions of your own, fill out this brief Google Form. 

  • Will the seeds still be able to germinate when returned back to Earth?
    • As long as the seeds remain viable, they will be able to germinate when they are returned back to Earth.
  • How would you go about applying for an Artemis Moon? Our town has two second generation Moon Trees donated by the Roosa Moon Tree Foundation, and we think this would be a very nice addition.
    • An announcement including information about the proposal process for Moon Trees Seeds will be available by early 2023. Please check the Natural Inquirer site of the Next Gen STEM NASA site for updated information.
  • What type of trees are they?
    • We have 5 types of seeds on Artemis I. They include loblolly pine, American sycamore, sweetgum, giant sequoia, and Douglas-fir.
  • How long does it take for the tree seeds to grow?
    • Seeds can take anywhere from just a few days to a month to sprout depending on the species. Once they have sprouted it cam take them decades to grow up and be able to reproduce. We can ideally grow a seedling from the Artemis Moon Tree seeds in just a couple of years.  If the seedlings are planted in correct areas, we can expect them to live for hundreds of years.
  • We are in Northern Wisconsin, none of these will flourish here, correct?
    • We’ll verify with our scientist the specific zones. However, the various species will be successful in, but these species were specifically chosen to ensure that every area of the U.S. would be able to receive a tree that can thrive in its climate.
  • How old was Stuart Roosa when he started space travel?
    • Astronaut Roosa was 33 when he first started working NASA Missions but had a longer career in the military before that.
  • How old will the seeds that get launched into space be?
    • Most of the seeds are less than five years old.
  • How many seeds are being sent this time? Why did you change from redwood to sequoia?
    • We have about a thousand seeds going into space. We changed from redwood to sequoia as it has a wider range, meaning it can be grown successfully in more places, than redwoods.
  • Are moon seeds available for purchase?
    • You will not be able to buy Moon Tree seeds. They will be distributed in a fair and equitable application process. Check NASA Next Gen STEM website and Natural Inquirer for more information.
  • How long will the seeds stay in space?  
    • The seeds will be in space for anywhere between 4-6 weeks.