2026 Space Missions: NASA, ISRO, SpaceX to Target Moon and Mars

The year 2026 is shaping up to be a defining chapter for global space exploration. With NASA, ISRO, and SpaceX each pursuing ambitious Moon and Mars milestones, the launch pads from Florida to Sriharikota will see unprecedented activity.

These missions are not just about flags and footprints. They aim to test technologies for long-duration human stays, sample return from another world, and the first commercial cargo runs to the lunar surface.

NASA's Artemis II: Humans Around the Moon

NASA's Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than April 2026. It will carry four astronauts — three from NASA and one from the Canadian Space Agency — on a ten-day flight around the Moon and back.

This will be the first crewed mission of the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion spacecraft. Unlike Artemis I, which orbited the Moon uncrewed in late 2022, Artemis II will test life support systems and navigation in deep space with humans on board.

If successful, it will set the stage for Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts near the lunar south pole later this decade.

ISRO's Gaganyaan and Chandrayaan-4

India's space agency is targeting two headline missions in 2026. The first is the uncrewed Gaganyaan test flight — the country's first crew-capable spacecraft. This mission will carry a humanoid robot to orbit and test its re-entry systems.

ISRO also plans to launch Chandrayaan-4, a sample-return mission to the Moon. It will attempt to collect lunar soil and rock from the south polar region and bring them back to Earth. This would make India only the fourth nation to retrieve samples from the Moon.

Both missions are part of India's long-term plan to send astronauts to the Moon by 2040.

SpaceX Starship: Lunar Cargo and Mars Prep

Elon Musk's SpaceX is aiming for a series of Starship orbital flights in 2026. These tests will demonstrate the vehicle's ability to launch, refuel in orbit, and carry large payloads.

One of Starship's key roles will be delivering cargo to the Moon for NASA's Artemis program. Under a $2.9 billion contract, SpaceX must prove that its lander can transfer propellant in space before it can be used to ferry astronauts to the lunar surface.

SpaceX also sees Starship as the cornerstone of its Mars colonization plans. While no crewed Mars mission is expected before 2030, each successful Starship flight in 2026 will bring that vision closer to reality.

Other Missions to Watch

China's Chang'e-7 mission, targeting the lunar south pole, is also expected in 2026. It will include an orbiter, lander, rover, and a flying mini-robot to search for water ice.

Japan's ispace is planning its second commercial Moon landing attempt after its 2023 Hakuto-R crashed during descent. The company will try to deploy rovers and a science payload for NASA.

Europe's ExoMars rover, now renamed Rosalind Franklin, is tentatively slated for a 2026 launch aboard a European-built lander, though its timeline remains uncertain.

These missions will test whether international and commercial players can operate sustainably beyond Earth. The results — both successes and failures — will shape the next decade of deep space exploration.