This event marks the second time NASA has sent seeds into space, with the first occurrence during the Apollo 14 mission in 1971.

Santiago's Moon Tree was planted in a space-themed garden, and the school's parent-teacher association will organize community volunteers to care for it.

The planting ceremony featured students dressed in spacesuits and was attended by approximately 500 students from grades K-12.

Colorful ropes were laid out to illustrate the potential growth of the tree over the next 50 to 500 years, symbolizing its connection to the students' journey.

Currently, scientists are studying the effects of space travel on plant growth to better understand how it influences development.

The current initiative aims to promote science and conservation education by distributing tree seedlings to schools and museums, with nearly 150 seedlings already distributed.

Paul Propster from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory emphasized the importance of connecting the next generation with space exploration.

A 'Moon Tree' has been planted at Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary School in Lake Forest, California, using seeds that orbited the moon during NASA's Artemis I Mission in 2022.

In 2022, nearly 2,000 seeds from five tree species were sent into lunar orbit aboard the unmanned Orion spacecraft, which spent about four weeks in space.

Emily Aguesse, a sixth grader, expressed her excitement about the tree, stating it motivates her dream of going to space.

The seedlings grown from the Moon Tree seeds include sycamores, sweetgums, Douglas firs, loblolly pines, and giant sequoias.

The previous Moon Trees were planted across various states, while the current batch is being distributed to schools and museums to inspire future generations.