Artemis II uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as its main rocket propellants. NASA’s Space Launch System core stage carries large cryogenic tanks of both fuels, which power the four RS-25 engines.

Quick Scoop

  • Fuel type: liquid hydrogen.
  • Oxidizer: liquid oxygen.
  • How much: more than 700,000 gallons of cryogenic propellant in total.

Why this matters

This is the same basic propellant combination used by the Space Shuttle, and it gives the SLS heavy-lift rocket the thrust it needs for Artemis II’s crewed lunar flyby.

In short

If you want the simplest answer: Artemis II runs on liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.