{"id":2003,"date":"2026-07-16T06:29:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T10:29:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/envisionstudio.xyz\/stargaze\/?p=2003"},"modified":"2026-07-13T02:04:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T06:04:39","slug":"artemis-2-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/envisionstudio.xyz\/stargaze\/artemis-2-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"Artemis II Mission \u2014 Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_2004\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2004\" style=\"width: 2560px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2004\" src=\"https:\/\/envisionstudio.xyz\/stargaze\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Artemis-2-mission-NASA-lunar-programme-AR-2026-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Artemis 2 mission NASA lunar programme AR 2026\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1649\" srcset=\"https:\/\/envisionstudio.xyz\/stargaze\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Artemis-2-mission-NASA-lunar-programme-AR-2026-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/envisionstudio.xyz\/stargaze\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Artemis-2-mission-NASA-lunar-programme-AR-2026-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/envisionstudio.xyz\/stargaze\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Artemis-2-mission-NASA-lunar-programme-AR-2026-1024x660.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/envisionstudio.xyz\/stargaze\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Artemis-2-mission-NASA-lunar-programme-AR-2026-768x495.jpg 768w, https:\/\/envisionstudio.xyz\/stargaze\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Artemis-2-mission-NASA-lunar-programme-AR-2026-1536x990.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/envisionstudio.xyz\/stargaze\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Artemis-2-mission-NASA-lunar-programme-AR-2026-2048x1320.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/envisionstudio.xyz\/stargaze\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Artemis-2-mission-NASA-lunar-programme-AR-2026-650x419.jpg 650w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2004\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Artemis 2 mission NASA lunar programme AR 2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Artemis 2 mission is humanity&#8217;s next giant leap \u2014 the first crewed journey to the Moon in over 50 years, and the most watched space mission of the decade.<\/p>\n<h1>Artemis 2 Mission: Everything You Need to Know \u2014 Explore It in AR<\/h1>\n<p>The Artemis 2 mission represents a defining moment in human space exploration. NASA&#8217;s first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo 17 in 1972 \u2014 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).<\/p>\n<p>This guide covers everything you need to know about the Artemis 2 mission \u2014 the crew, the spacecraft, the timeline and how you can explore the mission hardware in augmented reality right now using Stargaze XR.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Explore the Artemis 2 spacecraft in AR today \u2014 download Stargaze XR:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\ud83e\udd16 <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.EnvisionStudio.Stargaze\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Free on Android \u2014 Google Play<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li>\ud83c\udf4e <strong>iOS \u2014 App Store<\/strong> (USD 6.24)<\/li>\n<li>\ud83e\udd7d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meta.com\/en-gb\/experiences\/stargaze-xr-ar-space-explorer\/9333736950013837\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Meta Quest \u2014 USD 10.99<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What Is the Artemis 2 Mission?<\/h2>\n<p>The Artemis 2 mission is the second flight of NASA&#8217;s Artemis programme \u2014 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 \u2014 travelling further from Earth than any human since the Apollo era.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/artemis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA&#8217;s official Artemis programme page<\/a> the mission will last approximately 10 days \u2014 carrying the crew on a lunar flyby before returning to Earth, validating all systems needed for Artemis 3 to land on the Moon&#8217;s surface.<\/p>\n<h2>Artemis 2 Mission \u2014 Key Facts<\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Detail<\/th>\n<th>Information<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Mission name<\/td>\n<td>Artemis 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Programme<\/td>\n<td>NASA Artemis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Mission type<\/td>\n<td>Crewed lunar flyby<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Spacecraft<\/td>\n<td>Orion (Crew Module + European Service Module)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Launch vehicle<\/td>\n<td>Space Launch System (SLS) Block 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Launch site<\/td>\n<td>Kennedy Space Center, Florida \u2014 Launch Complex 39B<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Mission duration<\/td>\n<td>Approximately 10 days<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Crew size<\/td>\n<td>4 astronauts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Farthest distance from Earth<\/td>\n<td>Approximately 8,889 km beyond the Moon<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Artemis 2 Mission Crew<\/h2>\n<p>The Artemis 2 mission crew represents a historic milestone \u2014 the first woman and the first person of colour to travel to the Moon:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83d\ude80 <strong>Reid Wiseman<\/strong> \u2014 Commander (NASA) \u2014 veteran ISS astronaut and former Chief of the Astronaut Office<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83d\ude80 <strong>Victor Glover<\/strong> \u2014 Pilot (NASA) \u2014 first Black astronaut to travel to the Moon, ISS expedition veteran<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udc69\u200d\ud83d\ude80 <strong>Christina Koch<\/strong> \u2014 Mission Specialist 1 (NASA) \u2014 first woman to travel to the Moon, holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83d\ude80 <strong>Jeremy Hansen<\/strong> \u2014 Mission Specialist 2 (CSA) \u2014 first Canadian to travel to the Moon, Canadian Space Agency astronaut<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Artemis 2 Spacecraft \u2014 Orion and SLS<\/h2>\n<h3>Orion Spacecraft<\/h3>\n<p>The Orion spacecraft is designed specifically for deep space \u2014 built to carry humans beyond low Earth orbit and survive the extreme conditions of lunar and eventually Mars missions. Key specifications:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\ud83d\ude80 <strong>Crew Module<\/strong> \u2014 5 metres diameter, accommodates 4 crew members for up to 21 days<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udd0b <strong>European Service Module<\/strong> \u2014 provides propulsion, power, thermal control and life support \u2014 built by the European Space Agency<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udee1\ufe0f <strong>Heat Shield<\/strong> \u2014 the largest heat shield ever built \u2014 must withstand re-entry temperatures of 2,760\u00b0C<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udce1 <strong>Communications<\/strong> \u2014 deep space communications systems capable of transmitting from beyond the Moon<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Space Launch System (SLS)<\/h3>\n<p>The Space Launch System is the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built \u2014 more powerful than the Saturn V that carried Apollo astronauts to the Moon:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\ud83d\ude80 <strong>Height<\/strong> \u2014 98 metres tall \u2014 taller than the Statue of Liberty<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udcaa <strong>Thrust<\/strong> \u2014 39.1 meganewtons at launch \u2014 more than any rocket in history<\/li>\n<li>\ud83c\udfcb\ufe0f <strong>Payload to the Moon<\/strong> \u2014 27 metric tonnes to trans-lunar injection orbit<\/li>\n<li>\u26fd <strong>Propulsion<\/strong> \u2014 4 RS-25 engines plus 2 solid rocket boosters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Artemis 2 Mission Timeline<\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Day<\/th>\n<th>Event<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Day 0<\/td>\n<td>Launch from Kennedy Space Center \u2014 SLS ignition<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Day 1<\/td>\n<td>Trans-lunar injection burn \u2014 crew departs Earth orbit toward the Moon<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Day 3-4<\/td>\n<td>Lunar flyby \u2014 crew passes behind the Moon, out of contact with Earth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Day 4<\/td>\n<td>Farthest point from Earth \u2014 approximately 8,889 km beyond the Moon<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Day 5-9<\/td>\n<td>Return trajectory \u2014 crew travels back toward Earth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Day 10<\/td>\n<td>Re-entry and splashdown \u2014 Pacific Ocean recovery<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Why Artemis 2 Matters<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\ud83c\udf15 <strong>First humans near the Moon since 1972<\/strong> \u2014 over 50 years since Apollo 17 the Artemis 2 mission returns humans to lunar distance<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udc69\u200d\ud83d\ude80 <strong>Historic firsts<\/strong> \u2014 first woman and first person of colour to travel to the Moon<\/li>\n<li>\ud83c\udf0d <strong>International partnership<\/strong> \u2014 Jeremy Hansen makes Canada the third nation to send an astronaut to the Moon<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\ude80 <strong>Gateway to Artemis 3<\/strong> \u2014 Artemis 2 validates all systems needed for the first lunar surface landing since Apollo 17<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udd2d <strong>Path to Mars<\/strong> \u2014 Artemis builds the infrastructure, experience and international partnerships needed for humanity&#8217;s eventual journey to Mars<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Explore the Artemis 2 Mission in Augmented Reality<\/h2>\n<p>Stargaze XR is bringing the Artemis 2 mission to life in augmented reality \u2014 placing the Orion spacecraft, SLS rocket and mission hardware directly in your real environment at any scale you choose.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Stargaze XR Artemis 2 module \u2014 coming soon \u2014 will allow you to:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\ud83d\ude80 Place the full SLS rocket in your living room at life-size scale \u2014 98 meters of the most powerful rocket ever built<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udef8 Explore the Orion spacecraft in AR \u2014 walk around the crew module and service module<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udc68\u200d\ud83d\ude80 Meet the Artemis 2 crew in augmented reality<\/li>\n<li>\ud83c\udf15 Follow the mission trajectory \u2014 visualize the lunar flyby path in 3D<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udcda Access detailed mission information \u2014 spacecraft specs, crew profiles and mission timeline<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While you wait for the Artemis 2 module \u2014 explore our current content including all planets, 10 historic spacecraft and 7 legendary astronauts including Neil Armstrong and Yuri Gagarin.<\/p>\n<p>Also check out our guide on the <a href=\"https:\/\/envisionstudio.xyz\/stargaze\/best-ar-space-apps-for-kids\/\"><strong>best AR space apps for kids<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 perfect for sharing the excitement of Artemis 2 with young space enthusiasts.<\/p>\n<p>\ud83d\udc49 <strong>Download Stargaze XR now:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\ud83e\udd16 <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.EnvisionStudio.Stargaze\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Free on Android \u2014 Google Play<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li>\ud83c\udf4e <strong>iOS \u2014 App Store<\/strong> (USD 6.24)<\/li>\n<li>\ud83e\udd7d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meta.com\/en-gb\/experiences\/stargaze-xr-ar-space-explorer\/9333736950013837\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Meta Quest \u2014 USD 10.99<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions About the Artemis 2 Mission<\/h2>\n<h3>What is the Artemis 2 mission?<\/h3>\n<p>The Artemis 2 mission is NASA&#8217;s first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo 17 in 1972 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<h3>Who is the Artemis 2 crew?<\/h3>\n<p>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).<\/p>\n<h3>When does Artemis 2 launch?<\/h3>\n<p>NASA&#8217;s Artemis 2 mission launch date has been subject to updates \u2014 visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/artemis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA&#8217;s official Artemis page<\/a> for the most current launch schedule information.<\/p>\n<h3>How can I explore the Artemis 2 spacecraft in AR?<\/h3>\n<p>Download Stargaze XR \u2014 free on Android, available on iOS and Meta Quest \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What is the Artemis 2 mission?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"The Artemis 2 mission is NASA's first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo 17 in 1972 \u2014 carrying four astronauts aboard Orion on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Who is the Artemis 2 crew?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"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).\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"When does Artemis 2 launch?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"NASA's Artemis 2 launch date has been subject to updates \u2014 visit NASA's official Artemis page for the most current schedule.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"How can I explore the Artemis 2 spacecraft in AR?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Download Stargaze XR \u2014 free on Android, available on iOS and Meta Quest. 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