Arguably the Most Important EDC Pen Ever Gets a New Edition Destined for the Moon (Again)

These pens have been on every manned NASA mission since 1968. Now, a special edition is headed back to Earth’s only natural satellite.

Hand holding a blue pen labeled "ARTEMIS" pointing at a diagram of Earth, Moon, and spacecraft trajectories.

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By Sean Tirman

Published February 20, 2026

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Updated March 5, 2026

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Almost 60 years ago, in 1968, NASA’s Apollo 7 mission launched. It was the first crewed mission of the program. It also marked the first time a NASA astronaut carried a Fisher Space Pen into space, a practice that has been followed on literally every single manned mission since. Fisher Space Pens even went to the moon with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.

Now, the upcoming Artemis II mission marks NASA’s first return to the moon since 1972. And, wouldn’t you know it, the astronauts aboard the spacecraft will carry with them Fisher Space Pens.

To celebrate the occasion, the brand has released a new special edition of arguably the most legendary EDC writing utensil ever, the Fisher Astronaut Space Pen NASA Artemis II. Best of all, you don’t need to be aboard to get one for yourself.

Welcome to Reference Points: A series about the products that changed the standard — and never really stopped influencing it. Discover more here.

Two metallic pens, one silver and one blue with "ARTEMIS" text, lying on a beige surface with a ruler and photo nearby. — Stylistically, the Artemis special-edition Astronaut Pen is a pretty big departure from the original (behind it).

Bang, zoom, right to the moon

The Original Astronaut Pen, also known as the AG7, was a chromed-out masterpiece. It remains one of the most beautiful writing utensils ever. While this special-edition Artemis II version shares many features with the original, it also differs in some key ways.

Regarding size and silhouette, the pens are nearly identical, measuring 5.06 inches closed with a 0.37-inch diameter. They also both have a clicker deployment, a pocket clip and a quick-release button on the side that retracts the nib.

Two Fisher Space Pen ballpoint pens, one silver and one blue with "Artemis" text, placed on a beige surface near a stainless steel ruler and a photo of an astronaut. — Notably, this new edition lacks the pen’s signature circular grip at the tip. Otherwise, it is structurally unchanged.

Beyond that, things start to diverge. Obviously, their colorways are very different. While the original pen is chromed out from tip to tail, the Artemis II edition has a blue body with gray detailing, inspired directly by the Artemis missions.

You may also notice that the Artemis version of the pen lacks the traditional circular engraved grip pattern of the original — an intentional choice to make the design even sleeker, evoking “forward velocity, trajectory and controlled acceleration.”

Four blue and silver metallic ballpoint pens with clips, arranged diagonally on a brown background. — Here, you can see the full graphics applied to the exterior of the Artemis-edition Astronaut Pen.

A nearly 60-year legacy

The changes aren’t just stylistic, either. This redux even has different materials. While both pens are made from brass, the original was chrome-plated, whereas the Artemis II is titanium nitride-plated, which not only accounts for the color difference but also provides a bit more durability.

It’s a clever spin on the legacy that brings the pen into the present moment without losing its connection to the past. And that history runs deep. Fans of the classic pen will be happy to know that, inside, this pen remains true to what always made it so great.

Hand holding a blue pen labeled "Artemis" pointing at a NASA diagram of Earth's orbit on paper. — Despite the stylistic changes, the pen is true to its origins, maintaining an ideal balance and its signature write-anywhere cartridge.

Yes, like its predecessor and its siblings, this pen comes with the Fisher Pressurized PR4 cartridge. That allows it to write underwater, upside-down and (of course) in zero gravity (Jack Klompus would be so proud).

That also means this pen, like its siblings, is compatible with any PR refill, should you want to use one other than a PR4. There’s just one small hitch: this is a special edition, meaning it won’t be around forever.

Desk with NASA Apollo mission papers, two pens, a metal ruler, a digital caliper, vintage photos, and a blue notebook with a NASA badge. — Here’s to another 60 years of perhaps the greatest pen ever created.

Available now

The Fisher Astronaut Space Pen NASA Artemis II is now available on the brand’s site for just $89.

Blue and silver Fisher Space Pen with a clip and diagonal stripe design.

Fisher Astronaut Space Pen NASA Artemis II

$89 at Fisher Space Pen

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

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