By 2026, a surge of “earthers” is anticipated on the Moon: humans intend to orbit it, while automatons built on Earth are slated to land.
Undoubtedly, one of the most awaited endeavors is Artemis II. This marks the first crewed expedition beyond Earth’s orbit in fifty years, following the renowned Apollo 17 in 1972. NASA reported that the launch window for Artemis II will commence on February 6, 2026, extending into spring. It is entirely possible the launch could be postponed until March or April. Everything hinges on inspections of the rocket’s condition and the crew’s well-being.
According to available public data, within a fortnight, testing of the SLS heavy-lift rocket and the Orion spacecraft will begin. A team of specialists will conduct a full system check, including fueling the rocket’s first and second stages.
Recall that in December, the US Senate confirmed billionaire Jared Isaacman to head NASA, and President Trump signed the decree titled “Ensuring American Supremacy in Space.” Experts observe that the primary objective stated in the document is the return of American astronauts to the lunar surface no later than 2028. NASA, under Isaacman’s direction, has been tasked with presenting a detailed operational blueprint within 90 days to achieve this goal, which includes resolving potential delays in the development of the lunar lander and new spacesuits.
The commander is Reid Wiseman, NASA’s 337th astronaut and the world’s 538th space traveler. He completed a spaceflight aboard Soyuz TMA-13M in 2014 to the International Space Station as a flight engineer. The mission’s pilot is Victor Glover, a Crew-1 SpaceX crew member who spent 168 days aboard the ISS. The two mission specialists are Christina Koch, who served on the ISS and holds the women’s record for continuous spaceflight duration—328 days—and Jeremy Hansen, one of four active Canadian astronauts. He is the only one on the team without prior spaceflight experience.
Astronauts aboard the Orion craft are scheduled to circle the Moon on a ballistic trajectory, without landing. Afterward, using a gravity assist maneuver, the craft will return to Earth and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The entire journey is planned for ten days. Incidentally, Artemis II might set a record for the farthest distance a crewed vehicle has traveled from Earth.
What other voyages are scheduled for the Moon this coming year? And what are their aims? Space.com has compiled all the lunar flights slated for 2026.
For instance, the launch of the Chinese space probe Chang’e-7 is expected, which aims to seek ice at the Moon’s South Pole. If discovered, this would reduce the expense and duration of transporting water to the Moon, aiding in the construction of a lunar outpost, and assisting in the investigation of the possibility of life existing on the Moon and other celestial bodies. Media outlets cited Deputy Chief Designer of the mission, Tang Yuhua, stating that the Chang’e-7 research probe comprises four components: an orbiter, a lander, a rover, and a hopping probe. It was reported that the latter would possess the ability to crawl, hop, and even fly using rocket propulsion, enabling it to traverse tens of kilometers in a single jump. This would allow for the exploration of rugged terrain and deep craters inaccessible to conventional rovers.
In the United States, the Blue Moon Mark-1 lander is poised for launch. The mission’s objective is to showcase the technological capabilities of this cargo lander from Blue Origin. “The Blue Moon MK1 vehicle will touch down near the Shackleton crater. We will soon conduct full integrated verification tests. The apparatus stands over 26 feet (8 meters) tall, which is smaller than our crewed MK2 module but larger than the historic Apollo landers,” company head Jeff Bezos previously shared on social media.
Blue Moon MK1 will journey to the Moon without a return ticket to Earth. The module has the capacity to deliver up to three tons of cargo. It will be launched on the super-heavy New Glenn rocket.
Another robot is the Blue Ghost M2 craft from the American private firm Firefly. Its task is to set down on the far side of the Moon. To recall, in March 2025, Blue Ghost became the first private vehicle to successfully land without any incidents. Just half an hour after touchdown, the module began transmitting images, including the first “selfie” against the lunar surface and a picture of Earth visible as a tiny blue dot in the vastness of space. Among the instruments delivered to the Moon were a drill to measure subsurface temperature down to three meters, a device to collect and analyze lunar dust, and a dust mitigation system for future missions. Experts note that this event marked a significant stride in space exploration, where private companies are beginning to assume an increasingly vital role alongside government agencies.
The European orbiter Lunar Pathfinder is scheduled for launch concurrently with Blue Ghost M2. The primary goal of this mission is to provide communication services in lunar orbit and participate in experiments.
The Intuitive Machines’ NOVA-C lander is also on the list of those headed to the Moon. Experts note this will be the third landing attempt; the previous two ended with the module tipping over.
A crucial mission for the Astrobotic Griffin-1 lander involves landing at the lunar south pole and delivering the FLIP and CubeRover rovers. Last October, the company announced the postponement of the Griffin-1 lunar lander launch to July 2026 or a subsequent date. Griffin-1 is set to be the most capable private lunar module until it is succeeded by the three-ton vehicles from SpaceX and Blue Origin.
About the Author
