Moon landings, asteroid missions and new telescopes: Here are the top spaceflight moments to look forward to in 2026

Moon landings, asteroid missions and new telescopes: Here are the top spaceflight moments to look forward to in 2026

From astronauts looping around the moon to spacecraft reaching Mercury and asteroids near Earth, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for space exploration.

2026: The Year Everything Changes In Spaceflight

Rocket Lab Electron lifts off in December 2025. Photo: Chris Leymaries 2026 promises to be the most transformative year in American spaceflight since the Apollo era. From astronauts circling the Moon to the first commercial space stations, here’s what’s coming. Return to the Moon Fifty-four years is a long time. That’s how many years have gone by since human beings ventured beyond low Earth orbit—since anyone looked back at our pale blue dot fro…