Artemis Moon Tree Fragments Sold After Plant Died

A private company has transformed a deceased space-faring giant sequoia into educational keepsakes.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Space

Artemis Moon Tree Fragments Sold After Plant Died

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Mini Museum has begun selling fragments of a deceased giant sequoia tree that flew around the moon during NASA's Artemis I mission. The sapling, which was planted at a school in Upstate New York in 2024, died during the winter of 2025 and early 2026.

Why it matters

The sale allows the tree to continue its educational mission after it succumbed to the harsh winter conditions. Mini Museum has also provided funding for a replacement sapling for the school that lost its original specimen.

Mini Museum is selling tree presentation pieces for $29 to $199, while classroom cards are available for $5 each with a 20-card minimum. These items are crafted from the remains of a giant sequoia grown from seeds that orbited the moon.

The players

Mini Museum

This organization specializes in processing and selling rare physical specimens and historical artifacts for educational purposes.

NASA

The United States government agency responsible for the nation's civilian space program and aeronautics research.

Stuart Roosa

He was an American aeronautical engineer and NASA astronaut who served as the Command Module Pilot for Apollo 14.

The details

School officials coordinated with Mini Museum to process the dead sequoia into desktop displays and classroom materials after the tree perished. This initiative ensures the legacy of the space-flown seeds persists for students despite the loss of the original plant.

Stuart Roosa carried tree seeds on the Apollo 14 mission in 1971.
NASA's Artemis I mission flew tree seeds around the moon from Nov. 16 to Dec. 11, 2022.
The Moon Tree seedling was planted at an Upstate New York school in 2024.
The Artemis Moon Tree died during the winter of 2025 and early 2026.
The Artemis II mission performed a 10-day flyby of the moon in 2026.

Deeper Dive

This story follows a pattern set by the 1971 Apollo 14 seed experiment, which first pioneered the concept of carrying tree seeds into space.

The availability of these fragments provides schools and collectors in New York the opportunity to own a tangible piece of lunar mission history. Interested parties must meet the 20-card minimum for educational classroom sets or purchase individual desktop displays.

The takeaway

This event highlights the unique logistical challenges of managing biological experiments that return to Earth from space. Collectors can support educational initiatives by purchasing these remnants while contributing to the ongoing mission of scientific storytelling.