Published December 06. 2024 09:36AM
By LOU WHEELAND
Special to The Press
Students and faculty at Fogelsville Elementary School met a real NASA astronaut and Lehigh University Professor, TJ Hart on Nov. 15.
Hart was an U.S. Air Force fighter pilot before joining the NASA Astronaut Corps.
Hart orbited the earth in the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1984, having spent eight days in space.
He is now a professor of engineering at Lehigh University.
However, what really precipitated his visit was the unveiling of the “Moon Tree” a project of the Artemis Moon mission in 2022.
The mission involved orbiting the moon while carrying a variety of tree seeds common to America.
Fogelsville Elementary was chosen by NASA because Fogelsville’s Environmental/Garden Club demonstrated a commitment to care for the trees and share their knowledge with fellow students and the public at large.
The tree is an American sweetgum which is native to the southeastern United States and thrives well in temperate climates.
Former NASA astronaut and current Professor of Engineering at Lehigh University TJ Hart joined students at Fogelsville Elementary School on Nov. 15 to help unveil the American sweetgum tree, the seeds of which traveled around the moon on the Artemis 1 circumnavigation of the moon in 2022. Students Aiden, Madeline, Zarah Jiyan, Lucas, River and Tia joined Hart.
PRESS PHOTOS BY LOU WHEELANDMembers of the Fogelsville Elementary School Environmental/Garden Club, Amaan, Sanq, Emily and June read excerpts describing the Moon Trees during the celebration.
Fogelsville Elementary Environmental/Garden club member, Oliver, was one of the readers describing the Moon Trees during a celebration on Nov. 15.
Fogelsville Elementary School mascot Foxy, wearing an astronaut’s helmet, joined the students during the celebration.
Former NASA astronaut and current Lehigh University Professor, TJ Hart described his time in space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1984 while joining the students on Nov. 15 during the celebration of the arrival of the American sweetgum tree, the seeds of which traveled around the moon on the Artemis 1 circumnavigation of the moon in 2022.
Fogelsville Elementary students Lucy and Serrat hold a photograph of New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania showing the location of the school. The photo was taken by former astronaut TJ Hart while orbiting the earth in the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1984.
Former astronaut TJ Hart was joined by the Fogelsville Elementary School’s Environmental/Garden Club advisor Dawn Snyder during the celebration.
Former astronaut TJ Hart (center right) joined the members of the Fogelsville Elementary School Environmental/Garden club during the celebration of the arrival of the American sweetgum tree who’s seed travel around the moon on the Artemis 1 circumnavigation of the moon in 2022.
Fogelsville Elementary Environmental/Garden Club students Everleigh, Jaxon, Nilufer, former astronaut TJ Hart, mascot Foxy, Hanq (kneeling,) Isabella, Leah, Serrat, Advisor Dawn Snyder and Principal Lisa Lesko were celebrating on Nov. 15 during the unveiling of the American sweetgum tree, the seeds of which traveled around the moon on the Artemis 1 circumnavigation of the moon in 2022.
The plaque describing the arrival of the American sweetgum tree at Fogelsville Elementary school who’s seed travel around the moon on the Artimis 1 circumnavigation of the moon in 2022.
