These are the space launches and missions of 2026

This year promises to be an exciting one for space. For the first time in more than 54 years, astronauts are preparing to return to the Moon. That will also happen this year, although they will not yet set foot on its surface. Artemis II is scheduled to travel to the Moon this year, with the eventual launch of Artemis III in 2028, which will actually land humans on the Moon. But what else awaits space fans in 2026?

Artemis II

It is often the case that space missions are postponed for long periods, but the chance that Artemis II will go ahead this year is very high, even though it has already been postponed several times. The mission is almost ready to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A dress rehearsal will take place in a few weeks, after which four astronauts will head into space for a 10-day mission to signal to the Moon that more astronauts are coming. This time, Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen will take part. It will be the first time that the SLS rocket and the Orion capsule fly with a crew onboard. The launch is expected in February, or otherwise in the spring.

Refueling in space

Part of the Artemis program involves SpaceX refueling its Starship in space. Although Elon Musk has stated that he finds Moon missions boring and is focused on Mars, this mission is also crucial for future Mars travel. Testing whether Starship can be refueled in space is expected to take place this year. It is essential that this succeeds before Artemis III launches. For this test, two Starships will launch this year from different launch pads, and even from different U.S. cities. They will then rendezvous in space, where cold methane and liquid oxygen will be transferred from one vehicle to the other. It is still possible that this mission will be delayed until 2027, but Musk is known for his ambition, so it is likely he will push to make it happen in 2026, especially if Artemis II is successful. In addition, SpaceX aims to have the new version of Starship (V3) successfully caught by the launch tower’s mechanical catch arms at Starbase in Texas. While these are separate missions, both rely on the same massive robotic arm.

A new Chinese robot on the Moon

China’s Chang’e missions have previously returned samples from the Moon, but this time the goal is to land in the Moon’s south polar region. A probe will be deployed to search for ice at the bottom of permanently shadowed craters. The Chinese aim to land near the edge of the Shackleton crater, and if successful, the mission could yield significant scientific benefits. It is not yet known exactly when Chang’e will begin this lunar mission, but it is expected that the robotic expedition will not be delayed for too long.

NASA’s new space telescope

It is time for a new space telescope: there is a very good chance that the Roman Space Telescope will be launched this year. Officially named the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope after NASA’s first chief astronomer, it boasts a field of view 100 times greater than that of the Hubble Space Telescope. Over five years, it will observe 50 times more of the sky than Hubble did in 30 years. This is not meant to diminish Hubble’s legacy—we owe it a great deal—but this new observatory should provide even deeper insights into space, our own galaxy, and perhaps even the origins of the universe.

A Moon lander on a New Glenn rocket

Blue Origin is developing what will be the largest spacecraft ever to land on the Moon: the Blue Moon Mark 1. This cargo lander is designed to deliver supplies to the lunar surface. The enormous spacecraft stands 8 meters tall and 3 meters wide. It will be launched atop Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket and will travel to the Moon without a crew. Ultimately, the goal is to determine whether future versions of the Blue Moon lander can transport astronauts, but first, the focus is on successfully landing this massive vehicle on the lunar surface.

Rocket Lab’s Neutron

Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket has a reusability concept that is particularly interesting, as it is designed to return to Earth in one piece. The launch pad on Wallops Island is ready, but the rocket was unable to launch in 2025. That first launch is now expected to take place this year, likely in the spring. Neutron is designed to carry heavy payloads and will be used for both commercial and military purposes, with potential scientific missions in the future as well. While Neutron may be less spectacular than some other developments mentioned here, it could make a significant difference—especially in reducing the cost of space travel.

China’s lunar spacecraft

As far as is currently known, China will not send astronauts to the Moon this year, but the goal is to do so before 2030. The question remains: with what spacecraft? This year, we are likely to get clearer answers. The spacecraft is called Mengzhou and is designed to carry seven astronauts to the Tiangong space station. It will be launched aboard the China Manned Space Agency’s new Long March 10A rocket, and the combination is expected to fly this year. In addition, China is also developing a reusable rocket through the startup LandSpace. This rocket has already been successfully launched once, and the next step is to achieve a controlled landing back on Earth. The previous landing attempt was unsuccessful, but it came close, so another attempt in the coming months could very well succeed.

Space launches in 2026

We would also like to highlight a major European launch for 2026, but the likelihood of seeing one this year is small. Some satellites may be launched, but there are no major headline missions currently scheduled. That does not mean that important work is not happening behind the scenes, but for now, European activity in the sky will be limited—aside from the many airplanes passing overhead.