2026: A Year of Big Moves in Space

2026 is shaping up to be a thrilling year for space exploration. It's not just about launching rockets; it's about pushing boundaries and making big strides in understanding our universe. The moon is getting a lot of attention. NASA's Artemis II mission is set to take astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon. This hasn't happened since the 1970s. It's a big deal because it's also testing new hardware for future missions. But NASA isn't alone. Firefly Aerospace and China are also planning missions to the moon, focusing on the lunar south pole. Mars and Venus are also on the agenda. Japan is sending a mission to Phobos, one of Mars' moons, to collect samples. Meanwhile, a private collaboration is heading to Venus to look for signs of life in its clouds.Asteroids and comets are not being left out. China and the European Space Agency have missions planned to study these space rocks. There's also concern about an asteroid that might come close to Earth, but NASA's James Webb Space Telescope should provide more clarity. Telescopes are getting upgrades too. NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and China's Xuntian space telescope are set to launch. They'll help study dark matter and dark energy. On the ground, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory will start full operations, discovering new asteroids, comets, and supernovae. But perhaps the most exciting development is the rise of reusable rockets. SpaceX's Starship, along with other rockets from Blue Origin and LandSpace, are set to launch multiple times. This is big because it's making space travel more affordable and accessible. It's not just about science; it's about creating a thriving space economy.