NEW CANAAN, CT (October 2026) – South Elementary School recently celebrated the second anniversary of its NASA Artemis I Moon Tree, affectionately named “Luna,” with a schoolwide gathering of more than 200 students, staff, and families. The celebration honored the sycamore tree's remarkable journey through space and its growing significance within the school community, highlighted by the creation of a time capsule that will preserve memories of South School for future generations.
Originally planted on Arbor Day in April 2024, Luna has become a fixture on the South School grounds. The sycamore tree's journey began aboard NASA's Artemis I mission in 2022, when its seed traveled thousands of miles in space before returning to Earth. This mission was a continuation of the original Moon Tree project, launched in 1971 aboard Apollo 14 to study the effects of prolonged spaceflight on seed germination. Following a competitive selection process, South School was chosen as the first educational institution in Connecticut to receive a Moon Tree seedling through NASA's program, which received more than 1,300 applications from educational and community organizations nationwide.
At the time of Luna's arrival in 2024, South Elementary School Science Teacher Gabriella Brown, who helped bring the initiative to the school, shared her vision for incorporating the Moon Tree into students' educational experiences across multiple subjects.
“We have many exciting plans to incorporate the Moon Tree into our students' education across the district,” Brown said in the school's original announcement. “The beauty is that this journey can be applied in all subjects from data collection in math, to poetry in ELA, the history of moon exploration in social studies, exploring the seasonal growth changes in science, and much more.”
Two years later, that vision continues to take shape through a special time capsule that will be buried near Luna's base. The time capsule is scheduled to be unearthed and opened 25 years from now, offering future generations of students a glimpse into life at
South School in 2026. Among its contents are mementos documenting the Moon Tree's origins, including the school's official NASA Moon Tree certificate, historical materials highlighting the Apollo and Artemis missions, and newspaper articles documenting Luna's arrival in 2024. The capsule will also preserve memories from today's South School students, including handwritten thank-you notes to NASA, photographs of student scientists, and letters to their future selves, connecting Luna's remarkable past with the students who are now part of its story.
“It's incredibly special to be celebrating Luna's second anniversary at South School,” said Brown. “Now, with the creation of this time capsule, it makes the celebration even more meaningful because it allows us to capture a moment in South School's history and share it with future generations. My hope is that 25 years from now, students will open the capsule, read the messages, see the photos, and feel connected to the students and families who were here today.”
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Gathering for South School’s Second Anniversary of Artemis I Moon Tree
‘Luna’ the South School Artemis I Moon Tree
Artemis I Moon Tree Plaque Artemis I Moon Tree Plaque
South School science students who presented information on the Artemis I Moon Tree during the second anniversary celebration
Hand-painted rocks inspired by ‘Luna’, created by South School students
A South School student’s message to their future self, included in the time capsule
Artwork celebrating ‘Luna ’, the South School Moon Tree
Artemis I Moon Tree Certificate
Artemis I Flight Kit Tree Seed Certification