Many wearable tech for kids treat coding as a bonus feature buried in the menu. You get a step counter, a few preset faces, and maybe a drag-and-drop tutorial that feels like an afterthought. CircuitMess went another way with NASA Artemis Watch 2.0. It’s a $129-shipping smartwatch that’s ready to wear and gives you full control over everything that runs on it. The firmware is open source, coding tools that cover three skill levels, and it’s getting attention now that NASA has sent astronauts back to the Moon.
Amount: $129
Where to Buy: Amazon (DIY), CircuitMess
NASA’s Artemis II took off from the Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026. Four astronauts were aboard: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen of Canada. The first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in December 1972, and they are on a flight that has already taken them farther from Earth than anyone since the Apollo 13 crew in 1970. The watch has been on sale since late 2025, but the Artemis II campaign has given it a second life in the spotlight.
NASA’s code clock gets attention while real astronauts orbit the Moon is the kind of moment that advertising can’t do. Kids following the Artemis installation can hook this up and start coding with it in an afternoon. The company has shipped more than 100,000 STEM kits around the world, and this one puts that experience on your wrist.
So the real question is: can a $129 watch really teach coding, or does NASA’s name do all the work? The answer lies within the hardware and the three coding tools embedded in it.
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What has changed in Artemis Watch 2.0
The first Artemis Watch was a DIY kit. He built it from parts, learned how everything connects, and ended up with a working smartwatch in about 30 minutes. That version was great for hands-on students, but it prevented younger kids from jumping right into coding. 2.0 skips construction entirely.
Charge it with a USB-C cable and it’s ready to go. No tools, no assembly. CircuitMess kept the original for sale to anyone looking for construction knowledge, so 2.0 is not a replacement. A second entrance to the same product. The learning curve was shorter, but the depth remained the same.
Inside, a dual-core ESP32 chip runs the show alongside a full-color LCD screen. Sensors include an accelerometer, gyroscope, compass, and temperature sensor. Bluetooth pairs it with iPhones and Android phones for step tracking and notifications. Product images show a colorful custom watch face on the LCD, and the watch is available in sizes 9 and up. At $129, the hardware pulls its weight.
Pay your way
Artemis Watch 2.0 lets you design custom watch faces, build interactive games, and write full apps that run directly on the device. The three coding methods cover different skill levels. CircuitBlocks uses a simple drag and drop system for beginners. Python allows you to write real scripts and work dynamically. The Arduino IDE opens up full control over the hardware to experienced users. That progression, barring Python to Arduino, follows the same path taken by many real developers. The watch grows with the wearer.
A compass, temperature sensor, accelerometer, and gyroscope all feed live data into your projects, from natural logging to motion-activated games. CircuitMess provided users with a real toolkit, not a closed toy with a coding label.
Strips, bundles, and figures
The watch costs $129 on both the CircuitMess site and Amazon. You get the watch, a USB-C cable, a quick start guide, and a coding guide. Free worldwide shipping on orders over $96.
The four braided nylon strings come in Mars Red, Starlight, Stellar Blue, and Violet Supernova. They are interchangeable. The Collection Bundle includes the watch and all four bands for $149.
The Mars Exploration Bundle pairs the watch with the NASA Mars Perseverance Rover kit for $399 ($517 if purchased separately, a 23% savings). The rover connects to the watch via Bluetooth, so you can send it commands to your wrist. That bundle is designed for someone who wants a long, project-based experience.
For $129, you buy a STEM kit that happens to be a clock. It’s not here to replace your Apple Watch. It’s here to teach you how to build your next one.
Who is this for (and who should skip it)
If you want fitness tracking or notification apps like a regular smartwatch, skip this one. It won’t hold your attention if you have no interest in coding. Once NASA’s new invention wears off, the watch is only ever fun if you build things on it.
But if you want to learn, this is one of the best entry points out there. A 9-year-old can drag blocks of code on his arm. A teenager can write Python scripts that pull in live sensor data. An adult can play with an Arduino without needing a full workbench. That range is what makes the price work.
Amount: $129
Where to Buy: Amazon (DIY), CircuitMess
The Artemis II connection is a nice bonus, but the watch doesn’t need it. Take out the NASA logo and you’ve got a $129 wearable that teaches Python, runs games you’ve built, and counts your steps. CircuitMess did something that remains useful after you stop thinking about the Moon.
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