11/01/2026
2026 is projected to be the "Year of the Moon," marked by the first human lunar voyage in over 50 years and a significant increase in robotic missions from both national space agencies and private companies.
Major International Missions
Artemis II (NASA/CSA): The first crewed mission to the Moon since 1972 is scheduled to launch as early as February 6, 2026. A crew of four astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen will fly the Orion spacecraft on a 10 day loop around the Moon's far side to test critical life-support systems.
Chang'e 7 (CNSA) . China plans to launch this ambitious robotic mission in late 2026. It will target the lunar south pole using an orbiter, lander, rover, and a unique "hopper" probe designed to jump into shadowed craters to search for water ice.
Mengzhou-1 (CNSA): China aims to conduct the first uncrewed orbital test flight of its new Mengzhou spacecraft and CZ-10 rocket, both vital components of its long-term plan to land astronauts on the Moon.
Commercial Robotic Landers
As part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, several private missions are slated for 2026:
IM-3 (Intuitive Machines): Targeted for the second half of 2026, this mission aims to land the Nova-C lander at Reiner Gamma to study lunar swirls and magnetic fields.
Blue Ghost Mission 2 (Firefly Aerospace): Scheduled for late 2026, this mission will attempt a landing on the Moon's far side. It will also deploy the European Space Agency's Lunar Pathfinder orbiter.
Blue Moon Pathfinder (Blue Origin): A robotic demonstration of the Blue Moon Mark 1 lander is planned for early 2026, targeting the south pole's Shackleton Crater to validate precision landing technology.
Griffin Mission One (Astrobotic): This heavy-lift lander mission is scheduled for mid-2026, aiming to deliver payloads to the lunar south pole.
Critical Technology Milestones
Starship In-Space Refueling (SpaceX): A key requirement for future moon and mars missions.
