Chapter 1: The Unexpected Alien

You might envision extraterrestrials as beings with tentacles and advanced technology, but one of these “aliens” may just be sitting silently in your local park. Instead of a spaceship, it’s a humble sycamore tree—though in your area, it could be a loblolly pine, sweetgum, redwood, or Douglas fir.

In my city, there’s a tree located in Washington Square, right by Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Despite its extraordinary past, this tree sits quietly, with little more than a plaque to hint at its fascinating history. Most people probably aren’t even aware of its significance.

This particular “alien” was part of the Apollo 14 mission. After its journey through space, it returned to the ground and took root in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, many individuals born after the mission might never learn about its remarkable story.

It’s very likely that the tree in your neighborhood shares a similar fate, perhaps still standing unnoticed.

So, how did a “space tree” end up in your backyard? The answer is much more intriguing than this silent sentinel resting in Washington Square.

Apollo 14 and the Role of the Forestry Service

According to NASA, Apollo 14 was not just a mission to land on the moon; it had a unique experiment onboard. While astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell explored the lunar surface, Stuart Roosa remained in the command module, Kitty Hawk, where he conducted an experiment involving approximately 2,000 seeds.

How did seeds find their way into space? Before becoming an astronaut, Roosa served as a smokejumper, parachuting into wildfires for the U.S. Forestry Service. When he was selected for Apollo 14, his former boss at the Forestry Service proposed a partnership with NASA to send seeds into orbit and later attempt to grow them upon return. Both organizations were curious about how space travel would affect plant life.

The Forestry Service chose five types of seeds: loblolly pine, sycamore, sweetgum, redwood, and Douglas fir. These seeds were packed into plastic bags and placed inside a metal container, while a control group remained on Earth.

However, the experiment faced a setback when the seed bags ruptured during decontamination, scattering seeds and exposing them to vacuum-like conditions. Yet, nature prevailed. Some seeds successfully germinated in Houston, and the loblolly pine, sycamore, and sweetgum were then sent to Mississippi, while the redwood and Douglas fir made their way to California.

These seedlings were nurtured for future missions of a more terrestrial nature. As the bicentennial approached, several of these “moon trees” were gifted to various countries as symbols of friendship. Nations like Switzerland, Japan, Brazil, and England received them, though some mysteriously disappeared, much like aliens might.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of England's moon trees, they might want to inform the Royal Astronomical Society, as they’ve lost track of them. The same applies to France, where NASA believes one tree was gifted in 1976, but details remain elusive.

The majority of these trees ended up with local forestry services. For instance, a sycamore tree was planted in Washington Square in 1975, marking the occasion with a ceremony attended by the media and government officials, including Stuart Roosa himself.

Across the United States, while NASA may have misplaced some trees, they created a map indicating where many of them can still be found. Depending on your location, you might be just a short drive away from one.

Chapter 2: A Quiet Life with Few Visitors

Despite the initial excitement surrounding it, the sycamore tree faded from public consciousness. With only a plaque and decorative ironwork surrounding it, few took notice. However, in 2011, the tree made headlines again when it died and was subsequently removed. Thankfully, clippings were taken and cloned with the help of a local arboretum, although this clone also met an untimely end in 2019.

Despite its demise, several more moon trees remain alive within a few hours’ drive. According to NASA’s map, many continue to thrive, likely going unnoticed in their respective locales. Here are some notable “alien” trees still standing:

• Loblolly Pine at the State Capitol, Montgomery, Alabama
• Sycamore at the Kuiper Space Sciences Building, Tucson, Arizona
• Redwoods at the Tilden Nature Area, Berkeley, California
• Loblolly Pine at the Doyle Conner Center, Tallahassee, Florida
• Loblolly Pine at Lowell Elementary School, Boise, Idaho
• Sycamore at the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
• Sycamore at the Fernwood Botanical Gardens, Niles, Michigan
• Douglas Fir at the State Capitol, Olympia, Washington
• Sycamore at the Lockheed Martin Space Systems Facility, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

While these trees may not appear to be significant, they represent a remarkable chapter in human history. Before they took root, they traveled farther than most of us will in our lifetimes, witnessing one of humanity's greatest achievements.

After their incredible journey, they returned to Earth, quietly living out their existence. Most of us remain unaware of these cosmic travelers that may be located just a short drive away.

While visiting these trees may not be a primary tourist attraction, it could be a unique addition to your travel itinerary. If you stop by, you might find you’re among the few who do. As residents of Philadelphia know all too well, trees don’t last forever; eventually, these space travelers will be gone.

A detailed look at the seed preparation process for the Moon Trees experiment during Apollo 14.

An overview of the Moon Trees project, highlighting the significance of these trees in space exploration history.