Common Name: sweetgum
Scientific Name: Liquidambar styraciflua
Category: Historic tree
Comments: Moon Trees Virginia has trees that have come from all over the world, but a sweetgum in Loudoun and a sycamore in Hampton put those trees to shame, when it comes to miles traveled. Both have been to the moon or almost to the moon and back. Both trees germinated from seeds carried to the moon by astronaut Stuart Roosa, who orbited the moon aboard Apollo 14, while Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell made the their historic third lunar touchdown in 1971. The seeds din't go down to the surface, NASA representative David Gilman explained at a re-dedication of the Hampton moon tree in 2006, but they did get within a couple hundred miles of the surface, which is closer than you or I have ever gotten. When Roosa decided to take tree seeds with him on his mission, scientists were curious about the effects zero gravity, radiation, and other factors might have on the seeds viability. And, of course, visions of wacky mutations danced in some folks heads. There was, in fact, a scene that would
Nominator: Max Peterson
This tree is not on public or publicly accessible property. The owner's name, address, and the exact location of the tree are not displayed to protect the privacy of these individuals. If you are the owner and wish to make this information public, please let us know.
County/City: Loudoun