The seedlings originated from tree seeds that journeyed an astonishing 270,000 miles away from Earth.

For enthusiastic gardeners, the plants adorning your landscape might have diverse origins. Perhaps your flourishing hydrangea started as a cutting from a friend, or your trailing mandevilla was once a “free” find in a neighbor’s yard. However, few tales rival the uniqueness of nurturing a plant that once ventured into outer space—a rare opportunity soon to be realized by a handful of fortunate plant enthusiasts.

Through a collaboration between NASA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, educational and community institutions are being granted the chance to receive a living piece of space travel history: seedlings that embarked on a lunar journey. These seedlings emerged from tree seeds belonging to five distinct species—sycamores, sweetgums, Douglas-firs, loblolly pines, and giant sequoias—that orbited the moon aboard NASA’s Artemis I mission in 2022. Afterward, almost 2,000 seeds were cultivated into seedlings, primed for their new roles as Artemis Moon Trees.

To herald the upcoming academic year, NASA’s Next Gen STEM initiative is extending an invitation to organizations that interact with students or the public, encouraging them to apply for a Moon Tree seedling. Eligible entities, as outlined in a NASA press release, include formal and informal K-12-serving organizations, universities, community groups, science museums, and government bodies.

Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator, remarked, “NASA’s Artemis Moon Trees are bringing the science and innovation of space exploration down to our home planet. These seeds traveled 40,000 miles past the Moon on the Artemis I mission last year. Teaming up with the USDA, this new generation of Moon Trees will spread the essence of exploration throughout our communities and inspire the next wave of explorers.”

This occasion marks the second generation of Moon Trees designated for distribution on Earth. In 1971, Stuart Roosa, Apollo 14 Command Module Pilot, carried hundreds of tree seeds in his personal kit. Upon Apollo 14’s triumphant return, the Forest Service cultivated the seeds into seedlings, which were then planted across various locations in the U.S.

Now, NASA aspires for this fresh batch of moon seeds—traveling a staggering 270,000 miles from our planet—to perpetuate the legacy initiated over half a century ago. Those intrigued by this opportunity must submit their applications by Friday, October 16. Comprehensive guidelines for proposal submission can be found on NASA’s official website. The Moon Trees team, in collaboration with the USDA Forest Service, will meticulously evaluate each application to determine the feasibility of successfully hosting a seedling.