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The Artemis 2 mission is humanity’s next giant leap — the first crewed journey to the Moon in over 50 years, and the most watched space mission of the decade.
Artemis 2 Mission: Everything You Need to Know — Explore It in AR
The Artemis 2 mission represents a defining moment in human space exploration. NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo 17 in 1972 — Artemis 2 will send four astronauts around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, carried by the most powerful rocket ever built, the Space Launch System (SLS).
This guide covers everything you need to know about the Artemis 2 mission — the crew, the spacecraft, the timeline and how you can explore the mission hardware in augmented reality right now using Stargaze XR.
👉 Explore the Artemis 2 spacecraft in AR today — download Stargaze XR:
- 🤖 Free on Android — Google Play
- 🍎 iOS — App Store (USD 6.24)
- 🥽 Meta Quest — USD 10.99
What Is the Artemis 2 Mission?
The Artemis 2 mission is the second flight of NASA’s Artemis programme — and the first to carry a crew. Where Artemis 1 was an uncrewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System, Artemis 2 will carry four astronauts on a free-return trajectory around the Moon — travelling further from Earth than any human since the Apollo era.
According to NASA’s official Artemis programme page the mission will last approximately 10 days — carrying the crew on a lunar flyby before returning to Earth, validating all systems needed for Artemis 3 to land on the Moon’s surface.
Artemis 2 Mission — Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Mission name | Artemis 2 |
| Programme | NASA Artemis |
| Mission type | Crewed lunar flyby |
| Spacecraft | Orion (Crew Module + European Service Module) |
| Launch vehicle | Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1 |
| Launch site | Kennedy Space Center, Florida — Launch Complex 39B |
| Mission duration | Approximately 10 days |
| Crew size | 4 astronauts |
| Farthest distance from Earth | Approximately 8,889 km beyond the Moon |
Artemis 2 Mission Crew
The Artemis 2 mission crew represents a historic milestone — the first woman and the first person of colour to travel to the Moon:
- 👨🚀 Reid Wiseman — Commander (NASA) — veteran ISS astronaut and former Chief of the Astronaut Office
- 👨🚀 Victor Glover — Pilot (NASA) — first Black astronaut to travel to the Moon, ISS expedition veteran
- 👩🚀 Christina Koch — Mission Specialist 1 (NASA) — first woman to travel to the Moon, holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman
- 👨🚀 Jeremy Hansen — Mission Specialist 2 (CSA) — first Canadian to travel to the Moon, Canadian Space Agency astronaut
Artemis 2 Spacecraft — Orion and SLS
Orion Spacecraft
The Orion spacecraft is designed specifically for deep space — built to carry humans beyond low Earth orbit and survive the extreme conditions of lunar and eventually Mars missions. Key specifications:
- 🚀 Crew Module — 5 metres diameter, accommodates 4 crew members for up to 21 days
- 🔋 European Service Module — provides propulsion, power, thermal control and life support — built by the European Space Agency
- 🛡️ Heat Shield — the largest heat shield ever built — must withstand re-entry temperatures of 2,760°C
- 📡 Communications — deep space communications systems capable of transmitting from beyond the Moon
Space Launch System (SLS)
The Space Launch System is the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built — more powerful than the Saturn V that carried Apollo astronauts to the Moon:
- 🚀 Height — 98 metres tall — taller than the Statue of Liberty
- 💪 Thrust — 39.1 meganewtons at launch — more than any rocket in history
- 🏋️ Payload to the Moon — 27 metric tonnes to trans-lunar injection orbit
- ⛽ Propulsion — 4 RS-25 engines plus 2 solid rocket boosters
Artemis 2 Mission Timeline
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| Day 0 | Launch from Kennedy Space Center — SLS ignition |
| Day 1 | Trans-lunar injection burn — crew departs Earth orbit toward the Moon |
| Day 3-4 | Lunar flyby — crew passes behind the Moon, out of contact with Earth |
| Day 4 | Farthest point from Earth — approximately 8,889 km beyond the Moon |
| Day 5-9 | Return trajectory — crew travels back toward Earth |
| Day 10 | Re-entry and splashdown — Pacific Ocean recovery |
Why Artemis 2 Matters
- 🌕 First humans near the Moon since 1972 — over 50 years since Apollo 17 the Artemis 2 mission returns humans to lunar distance
- 👩🚀 Historic firsts — first woman and first person of colour to travel to the Moon
- 🌍 International partnership — Jeremy Hansen makes Canada the third nation to send an astronaut to the Moon
- 🚀 Gateway to Artemis 3 — Artemis 2 validates all systems needed for the first lunar surface landing since Apollo 17
- 🔭 Path to Mars — Artemis builds the infrastructure, experience and international partnerships needed for humanity’s eventual journey to Mars
Explore the Artemis 2 Mission in Augmented Reality
Stargaze XR is bringing the Artemis 2 mission to life in augmented reality — placing the Orion spacecraft, SLS rocket and mission hardware directly in your real environment at any scale you choose.
The Stargaze XR Artemis 2 module — coming soon — will allow you to:
- 🚀 Place the full SLS rocket in your living room at life-size scale — 98 meters of the most powerful rocket ever built
- 🛸 Explore the Orion spacecraft in AR — walk around the crew module and service module
- 👨🚀 Meet the Artemis 2 crew in augmented reality
- 🌕 Follow the mission trajectory — visualize the lunar flyby path in 3D
- 📚 Access detailed mission information — spacecraft specs, crew profiles and mission timeline
While you wait for the Artemis 2 module — explore our current content including all planets, 10 historic spacecraft and 7 legendary astronauts including Neil Armstrong and Yuri Gagarin.
Also check out our guide on the best AR space apps for kids — perfect for sharing the excitement of Artemis 2 with young space enthusiasts.
👉 Download Stargaze XR now:
- 🤖 Free on Android — Google Play
- 🍎 iOS — App Store (USD 6.24)
- 🥽 Meta Quest — USD 10.99
Frequently Asked Questions About the Artemis 2 Mission
What is the Artemis 2 mission?
The Artemis 2 mission is NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo 17 in 1972 — carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back, validating all systems needed for the Artemis 3 lunar landing mission.
Who is the Artemis 2 crew?
The Artemis 2 crew consists of Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch (first woman to travel to the Moon) and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen (first Canadian to travel to the Moon).
When does Artemis 2 launch?
NASA’s Artemis 2 mission launch date has been subject to updates — visit NASA’s official Artemis page for the most current launch schedule information.
How can I explore the Artemis 2 spacecraft in AR?
Download Stargaze XR — free on Android, available on iOS and Meta Quest — to explore spacecraft and astronauts in augmented reality. The dedicated Artemis 2 module is coming soon and will place the full mission hardware in your real environment.