The year 2026 is shaping up to be a decisive chapter in humanity’s journey beyond Earth, with major space agencies and private companies lining up missions that span the Moon, Mars and deep space. After a dynamic 2025 marked by significant International Space Station missions and astronaut returns, global attention is now shifting to what lies ahead.

Artemis II To Take Humans Beyond Earth

NASA’s Artemis II mission, expected to launch no earlier than February 2026, will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft. Riding on the Space Launch System rocket, the crew will venture farther than any humans have in decades. The mission will test life-support, navigation and communication systems vital for future lunar landings and for NASA’s broader goal of sending astronauts to Mars. Artemis II will mark the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo era.

ISRO Steps Closer To Gaganyaan Goal

India’s space programme is also set for a crucial phase as the Indian Space Research Organisation prepares key trials for the Gaganyaan mission. In early 2026, ISRO plans to launch the first uncrewed human-rated LVM3 mission carrying the humanoid robot Vyommitra. The flight will focus on validating crew safety systems and re-entry procedures. Success would clear a major hurdle ahead of India’s planned crewed mission in 2027.

SpaceX Eyes Mars Milestones

Private sector ambitions will remain in focus as SpaceX continues to advance its Starship programme. While a Mars-bound launch in 2026 remains uncertain, the company aims to achieve orbital flights, in-space refuelling and faster vehicle reuse. These developments are considered essential for SpaceX’s long-term plan to deliver cargo and eventually establish a human presence on Mars.

UAE Plans Second Lunar Rover Attempt

The United Arab Emirates is preparing a second attempt at lunar exploration with the launch of Rashid Rover 2 aboard Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander. Scheduled for 2026, the mission will target the Moon’s far side and study lunar dust, thermal behaviour and surface charging, building on lessons from the unsuccessful Rashid 1 mission in 2023.

ESA’s HENON CubeSat To Boost Space Weather Warnings

The European Space Agency plans to launch its HENON CubeSat mission in December 2026. Operating from a distant retrograde orbit, HENON aims to improve early warnings of solar storms that can disrupt satellites and power systems on Earth.

Taken together, these missions highlight how 2026 could emerge as a landmark year, reflecting a rapidly evolving space landscape driven by both national agencies and commercial players.