STORY BEHIND THE ARTWORK

"Artemis II" by Artist Craig Tinder

Now available in two exclusive formats: a 30"x20" Hardwood Framed Canvas Edition - Limited to Only 10 and an 18"x12" Canvas (Framed or Unframed) - Limited to Only 10. Each art piece includes an AUTHENTIC MISSION PATCH, Certificate of Authenticity, and is hand-signed by the Artist. Quantities are extremely limited—Once They're Sold Out, They're Gone!

This Fine Art Print by Artist Craig Tinder depicts the Artemis II mission as it launches aboard NASA’s Space Launch System, marking humanity’s return to crewed deep-space flight for the first time since the Apollo era and ushering in a new chapter of lunar exploration.

The Story Behind the Print:

Artemis II is a planned lunar flyby mission under NASA’s Artemis program, scheduled to launch on April 1, 2026 from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The approximately ten-day mission will carry astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a free-return trajectory around the Moon and safely back to Earth.

This mission represents a historic milestone in human spaceflight. It will be the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft, the second launch of the Space Launch System (the most powerful rocket ever flown), and the first time humans travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Artemis II is expected to set multiple records, including the farthest distance traveled by a human crew—approximately 4,700 miles beyond the Moon—and one of the fastest reentry speeds ever recorded at roughly 25,000 miles per hour. The mission also reflects a new era of inclusivity and international collaboration, with Victor Glover becoming the first person of color, Christina Koch the first woman, and Jeremy Hansen the first non-U.S. astronaut to venture beyond low Earth orbit.

As a critical test flight, Artemis II will validate the systems, operations, and procedures necessary for future missions, including Artemis III, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo program. Much like Apollo 8 in 1968, this mission represents a bold step forward—reviving humanity’s presence in deep space and laying the groundwork for sustained exploration of the Moon and beyond.

Commissioned by Museums, Treasured by Collectors

This item is handmade by artist, Craig Tinder. Available to ship worldwide!

ABOUT THE RELIC

Embedded within all canvas artwork in this series is an authentic Artemis II mission patch, representing the first crewed lunar mission of the Artemis era and the return of human spaceflight beyond low Earth orbit.


This official patch symbolizes the mission’s role as a proving ground for next-generation deep-space exploration. Over the course of its approximately ten-day journey, Artemis II will test critical systems, crew operations, and flight procedures required to support future lunar landings and long-term exploration.

As both a technical milestone and a symbol of renewed exploration, the Artemis II mission patch connects this artwork directly to one of the most important moments in modern spaceflight history.

MATERIAL & DISPLAY

HERITAGE ALLOY™

Heritage Alloy™ is the next generation of Aces In Action Relic Artwork. Made from a rigid aluminum composite material, its smooth surface delivers exceptional color, contrast, and fine detail with a luminous quality that is difficult to fully capture in photographs.

Each Heritage Alloy™ edition incorporates our exclusive Artifact Dock™, integrating the authentic historical relic, its provenance, and limited-edition identification directly into the artwork. Available Ready to Hang or finished in a solid black wood frame.

GALLERY-WRAPPED CANVAS

Select Relic Artwork editions remain available on our traditional gallery-wrapped canvas while inventory lasts. Canvas provides a classic, textured fine-art presentation and is available Ready to Hang or finished in our traditional black floater frame.

AVAILABLE SIZES & FORMATS

  • 18" × 12" (45.7 × 30.5 cm) — Heritage Alloy™ or Gallery-Wrapped Canvas; Ready to Hang or Framed
  • 30" × 20" (76.2 × 50.8 cm) — Heritage Alloy™ or Gallery-Wrapped Canvas; Framed
  • Custom sizes may be available upon request

READY TO HANG

Every Relic Artwork edition arrives ready for display. 18" × 12" Heritage Alloy™ Ready-to-Hang editions include an installed rear wall-mount bracket, while Gallery-Wrapped Canvas arrives ready to hang without an external frame. Framed editions include installed hanging hardware. No additional framing or mounting is required before display.

RELIC MATERIAL & VARIATION

Unless otherwise stated, the relic included with your artwork is a fragment taken from the larger historical component shown in the reference photos. The size, shape, color, markings, and appearance of each relic may vary based on the original material available. Reference photos are provided to document and illustrate the source of the relic material and may not depict the exact fragment included with your artwork.

ABOUT CRAIG TINDER

ARTIST • HISTORIAN • RELIC CURATOR

Craig Tinder has spent more than two decades creating historically researched artwork that connects collectors with the people, machines, and events that shaped history. His work goes far beyond illustrating an aircraft, ship, or vehicle—the research and historical artifacts behind each piece are an integral part of the artwork.

Craig works with museums, aircraft and vehicle restoration organizations, veterans, historians, collectors, and other historical institutions around the world to locate and document authentic artifacts with meaningful connections to the subjects he depicts. He supplements this physical evidence with extensive research using museum collections, military records, historical photographs, archives, and other primary and secondary sources from around the world.

In his workshop, Craig carefully prepares and incorporates these genuine historical relics into his signed and numbered artwork, preserving their provenance while giving artifacts that might otherwise remain unseen a new way to tell their story.

Meet Craig Tinder →

SHIPPING & CARE

SHIPPING

Each Relic Artwork edition is individually handcrafted and completed by Craig Tinder. From engraving and assembling the Artifact Dock to preparing the relic, framing the artwork when selected, and completing the final inspection and packaging, every piece is finished specifically for its collector. Please allow additional time for this hands-on process before your artwork ships.

Gift wrapping is available for Relic Artwork, making it ready for presentation upon arrival.

DISPLAY & CARE

All Relic Artwork arrives ready to display. Unframed 18" × 12" editions include a rear wall-mount bracket, while framed editions arrive with hanging hardware installed.

Premium Relic Artwork editions are designed for long-term display. Keep artwork away from prolonged direct sunlight, excessive moisture, and extreme temperature changes. Dust gently with a clean, soft, dry cloth and avoid household cleaners or abrasive materials on the artwork, frame, relic, or Artifact Dock.

THE RELIC ARTWORK EXPERIENCE

Authentic History

Each edition incorporates an authentic historical relic, presented on a custom laser-engraved Artifact Dock with details connecting the artifact to its history.

Handmade by Craig Tinder

Every Relic Artwork edition is assembled in Craig's studio, where it is signed, numbered, crafted, inspected, and prepared for its collector.

Made for Collectors

From the Certificate of Authenticity to the finished presentation, each detail is designed to create a collectible that preserves a tangible connection to history.