Here are the launches and landings we’re most excited about in 2026

The past year has been full of drama and excitement for the space sector, with a record number of launches, breathtaking views of other worlds and a multitude of breakthroughs and setbacks. 2026 is shaping up to be another exciting year in the cosmos.

For the first time in more than 54 years, astronauts are training to go close to the Moon, perhaps in the coming months. NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin and other companies are poised to take major steps toward actually landing humans on the Moon, perhaps within a few years.

New rockets are expected to debut in 2026, and scientists hope to open new windows on the Universe. Here we list the most anticipated space missions planned for this year, ranked according to our own anticipation about them. We are also assessing the chances of these missions taking place over the next 12 months. Unless otherwise stated, we do not assess the chances of a positive outcome.

1. Artemis II

Final preparations for the Artemis II mission are well underway at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft fully integrated inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. Within a few weeks, the SLS rocket could roll toward Launch Complex 39B for a countdown dress rehearsal. Then, perhaps in February, the Artemis II mission is scheduled to leave Florida’s Space Coast for a 10-day flight that will carry astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen to the far side of the Moon and back to Earth. This will be the first crew flight on the SLS rocket and Orion capsule. Even if delays prevent a February launch, Artemis II is well-positioned to fly in the spring or summer. Chance of Artemis II happening in 2026: 90 percent.