Ambitious Missions Across the Solar System
This year is packed with significant events that underscore a global acceleration in space endeavors. In April, NASA's Artemis II mission successfully sent four astronauts on a flyby around the Moon, the first time humans had ventured that far since the Apollo
era. [8, 12, 13] But that was just the beginning. Several other major missions are scheduled for 2026, including launches to the Moon and Mars, and crucial arrivals at distant worlds. [5, 9, 13] In November, for instance, the European Space Agency's (ESA) Hera mission will arrive at the asteroid Dimorphos to study the aftermath of NASA's DART impact, a key step in planetary defense. [5] The joint ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission is also slated to finally enter orbit around Mercury in late 2026 after a long journey. [5, 9]
A Bold Return to Mars's Neighborhood
One of the most anticipated launches of 2026 is the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission. [3, 4] Scheduled for liftoff around September or October, this ambitious project aims to be the first to land on Mars's largest moon, Phobos, and return a sample to Earth. [4, 5, 10] Scientists hope the sample will solve a long-standing mystery: were Mars's moons captured asteroids, or were they formed from a giant impact on Mars itself? [3, 4] The mission is a massive international collaboration, with instruments and expertise from NASA, CNES (France), and DLR (Germany). [3, 7] The probe will launch in 2026, enter Mars's orbit in 2027, and return the precious samples to Earth in 2031. [4, 6, 7]
The Rise of Commercial Spaceflight
The narrative of 2026 isn't just about government agencies. Private companies are playing an increasingly critical role. SpaceX continues to push the boundaries with its Starship vehicle, the most powerful rocket ever built. [11, 21] Following a series of flight tests, including a partially successful Flight 12 in May 2026 which tested a new vehicle version and mock satellite deployment, the company is aiming for full reusability. [11, 23] This capability is designed to drastically lower launch costs and is crucial for NASA's future Artemis plans. [11, 21] Meanwhile, other players like Blue Origin are developing their own lunar landers and heavy-lift rockets, while companies like Vast plan to launch the first commercial space station, Haven-1. [9]
Eyes on Icy Worlds and New Horizons
While some missions are just beginning their journey, others are hitting crucial milestones. NASA's Europa Clipper, which launched in 2024, will perform a critical Earth gravity assist in December 2026. [16, 20, 26] This maneuver will slingshot the spacecraft on its final trajectory toward Jupiter's icy moon Europa, where it will search for conditions that could support life in the ocean hidden beneath its frozen shell. [18, 26] On the lunar front, China's Chang'e 7 mission is expected to launch for the Moon's south pole in late 2026, deploying a lander, rover, and a small flying probe to search for water ice in permanently shadowed craters. [5, 13] These missions represent humanity's expanding footprint, pushing ever deeper into the cosmos to answer fundamental questions about our place in the universe.
