NASA is preparing to launch its highly anticipated Artemis II mission as early as April 2026, sending four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon in what will be the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in December 1972 [BBC News, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory].

The mission represents a crucial stepping stone toward NASA's ultimate goal of returning humans to the lunar surface through Artemis III, currently planned for 2028. Bobby Braun, head of the space exploration sector at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, described the mission as decades in the making and predicted it "will no doubt be the major news story in early 2026" [Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory].

In preparation for the eventual lunar landing, 2026 will feature a series of robotic missions to the Moon, delivering science and technology payloads to build the infrastructure humans will need for future surface operations. The long-term vision includes creating "a basecamp environment that humans could utilize to live, work, and play on the moon for longer periods," according to Braun [Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory].

The renewed focus on lunar exploration comes amid significant developments in the commercial space sector. SpaceX is planning to launch an upgraded Starship in March 2026, marking the 12th flight test of the super heavy rocket, while Blue Origin is scheduled to launch its Blue Moon MK1 lunar lander in mid-2026. Both companies serve as prime contractors for NASA's Human Landing System [RocketSTEM].

Beyond NASA's efforts, 2026 promises to be a landmark year for global human spaceflight. India's space agency is preparing for a series of uncrewed test flights through its Gaganyaan program, working toward sending astronauts to space. If successful, India would become only the fourth nation to achieve independent human spaceflight capabilities [RocketSTEM].

Meanwhile, China plans to continue regular crewed flights to its Tiangong space station as part of broader preparations for planned human missions to the Moon later in the decade [RocketSTEM].

The ambitious timeline follows a record-breaking 2025 that saw 324 global orbital launch attempts, representing a 25% increase from the previous year. Congress recently passed a spending bill including a $24.4 billion NASA budget, providing funding for the agency's planned science, technology, and exploration activities [Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory].

Other notable missions planned for 2026 include the launch of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and continued operations of the Parker Solar Probe and Europa Clipper, which is currently en route to Jupiter's moon Europa [Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory].

The Artemis program represents NASA's strategy of increasingly relying on commercial spacecraft for routine operations to the International Space Station, allowing the agency to focus its human spaceflight efforts on deep-space missions beyond Earth orbit [RocketSTEM].