Given how far along the Artemis II mission is (smoking toilet and all), it’s a good time to check out the NASA Artemis Watch 2.0. It’s not made by the American space agency, of course, but it does have all the right branding. Creators CircuitMess have made sure of that.
CircuitMess’ space-themed watch is extra-appropriate at the moment. The cyberpunk aesthetic merges with the current Artemis mission because buyers can choose to build the wearable themselves. Given how NASA’s astronauts have been repurposed into plumbers, a wearable you have to assemble makes sense. That includes the extra expense.
On Artemis Watch
The NASA Artemis Watch 2.0 will set buyers back R3,300 (€170). For their money, owners get the watch in a large plastic casing with all of the components visible. Wearers can see the accelerometer, gyroscope, display, and Bluetooth module in action (more or less), but it’s the programming functions that might be more entertaining.
According to CircuitMess, you can “[d]esign your own watch faces, create interactive games, or even develop your own applications that run directly on the watch.” Programming instructions are provided, as are assembly instructions. But the basic package arrives with the wearable fully assembled.
For a proper challenge, buyers can look to the company’s R9,200 (€470) Mars Exploration Bundle. That one includes a disassembled Artemis Watch 2.0, plus a do-it-yourself programmable version of the Mars Perseverance Rover. It’s undeniably cooler because the rover includes cameras and other sensors, a solar-powered version of the Mars Ingenuity helicopter, a buildable controller, and the tools you’ll need to assemble everything. That includes the soldering iron.
Then there’s some good news. South African buyers will pay in American dollars, with the price dropping (for the Watch 2.0 alone) to just R2,200. Shipping to the country is free, but you’ll have to sort out taxes and duties with Customs at some point.
