Here are the launches and landings we're most excited about in 2026
The Sky's the Limit: 2026's Space Launches and Landings
The space business is a thrilling arena, and 2026 promises to be a year of groundbreaking achievements. From NASA's Artemis II mission to SpaceX's Starship refueling demo, the year is packed with anticipated events. Here's a breakdown of the most exciting launches and landings we're looking forward to, along with the odds of each happening in 2026.
Artemis II
- NASA's Artemis II mission is set to be a significant milestone, with astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen embarking on a 10-day flight around the Moon's far side. The mission is well-prepared, with the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft integrated at Kennedy Space Center. The odds of a successful launch in 2026 are high, with a 90% chance.
Starship Refueling Demo
- SpaceX's Starship is set to make history with a large-scale orbital refueling demo. This is crucial for the company's lunar lander contract with NASA and future Mars missions. The demo involves two Starship launches from Texas or Florida, with one ship refueling the other in orbit. The odds of this happening in 2026 are 50%.
Starship V3 Test Flight
See AlsoTexas Tenontosaurus: Unlocking Cretaceous Secrets | Dinosaur DiscoveryQuadrantid Meteor Shower 2026 Peak & Super Wolf Moon: How to Watch!- SpaceX plans to debut Starship Version 3 with a test flight in the next few months. This will involve a suborbital arc from South Texas, landing in the ocean. A successful catch would be a major step towards full reusability. The odds of a successful catch in 2026 are 70%.
Blue Moon Mark 1
- Blue Origin's Blue Moon Mark 1 is a lunar lander that could become the largest spacecraft ever to land on the Moon. It's set to launch on Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket. The odds of a successful launch in 2026 are 70%.
Rocket Lab's Neutron and Stoke's Nova
- Rocket Lab's Neutron and Stoke's Nova are medium-lift rockets with reusable first stages. Neutron's odds of launching in 2026 are 50%, while Nova's are 30%.
China's Moon Ship and Reusable Rocket
- China's Mengzhou spacecraft and Long March 10A rocket are set to make a critical test flight in 2026. The odds of a successful launch are 60%. China's Zhuque-3 rocket is also making progress towards reusability, with a 60% chance of a successful landing.
Haven-1 Commercial Space Station
- Vast's Haven-1 is a commercial space station under construction. The odds of a successful launch in 2026 are 30%.
NASA's Roman Space Telescope
- NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is fully assembled and set to launch in 2026, with a 80% chance of success.
Chang'e 7 Mission
- China's Chang'e 7 mission aims to land on the Moon's south pole and deploy a flying probe. The odds of a successful launch are 80%.
Europe's Commercial Launchers
- Several European startups are targeting 2026 for their first flights. The odds of a successful launch are 20%.
Terran R's First Flight
- Relativity Space's Terran R rocket is set to launch in late 2026, with a 10% chance of success.
Firefly's Eclipse
- Firefly Aerospace's Eclipse rocket is scheduled for late 2026, with a 20% chance of success.
IM-3 and Vestri
- Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lander is set to return to the Moon in 2026, with a 50% chance of success.
Blue Ghost Mission 2
- Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost mission aims for the lunar far side, with a 10% chance of launching in 2026.
Astroscale's Geosynchronous Refueler
- Astroscale's mission to refuel a US military satellite is set for mid-2026, with a 50% chance of success.
Plato Mission
- ESA's Plato mission, a planet hunter, is scheduled for December 2026, with a 60% chance of success.
Gaganyaan Orbital Test Flight
- India's Gaganyaan program has a history of unrealistic schedules. The odds of a successful launch in 2026 are 30%.
Japan's Martian Moons Exploration (MMX)
- Japan's MMX mission to Mars is set for 2027, with a 80% chance of launching in 2026.
