6 spaceflights ahead in 2026, from NASA moon missions to SpaceX Starship

• NASA plans to send four astronauts on a mission to circumnavigate the moon, the first human lunar mission in over 50 years.
• SpaceX is expected to debut a new version of its Starship megarocket and continue developing it for future moon and Mars missions.
• Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is scheduled for an uncrewed test flight to the International Space Station following its troubled 2024 mission.
• Several private companies, including Blue Origin and Intuitive Machines, are contracted by NASA for a series of robotic moon landings.

If you thought 2025 was an exciting year for spaceflight and cosmic discovery, just wait til 2026.

The past year was one filled with monumental human missions to orbit, headline-grabbing experimental rocket launches, groundbreaking robotic missions to the moon and plenty of other stunning astral milestones.

Could the best be yet to come?

In the year ahead, NASA's first astronaut moon mission since the 1970s and SpaceX's continued development of the world's largest rocket are just the tip of the iceberg in what could end up being a defining time for human spaceflight.

Here's a look at just six missions and updates to expect in 2026.

NASA's 1st human moon mission in more than 50 years

Four astronauts are on the verge of becoming the first humans to venture near the moon in more than half-a-century sine NASA's iconic Apollo era came to an end.

As early as February, the crew – NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and the Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen – will board the U.S. space agency's Orion capsule atop NASA's Space Launch System rocket for a 10-day trip circumnavigating the moon under the Artemis program.

The mission, known as Artemis 2, will the lay the groundwork for a crewed moon landing in the years ahead during Artemis 3, which itself will help establish a permanent human lunar presence ahead of the first voyages to Mars.

Elon Musk's SpaceX to launch new version of Starship megarocket

SpaceX, which launched its Starship rocket five times in 2025, is set to debut a new design of the massive spacecraft in 2026.

Known as Version 3 (or V3,) the next Starship could be the first iteration to reach orbit and demonstrate the ability to refuel midflight – a necessary capability to reach distant destinations.

SpaceX, which billionaire Elon Musk leads as CEO, has also announced it's working on a "simplified" plan for the world's largest rocket to land astronauts on the moon. NASA had in 2021 awarded a contract to SpaceX to develop a configuration of Starship that would meet astronauts in lunar orbit and ferry them to the surface.

Musk also has dreams of Starship being the vehicle to help colonize Mars.

More astronauts headed to International Space Station

More astronauts are due to head to the International Space Station as early as Feb. 15 as part of NASA's commercial crew program with SpaceX.

The four spacefarers, which will include two yet-unannounced NASA astronauts, are part of a SpaceX mission known as Crew-12. When they reach the orbital outpost, they will ultimately replace the contingent of Crew-11 astronauts and remain at the ISS for about six months, conducting scientific research and performing routine station maintenance.

Boeing Starliner to fly again – but with no crew this time

Boeing's infamous Starliner spacecraft could launch again in 2026 – but this time with no humans on board.

NASA announced that it is working with Boeing toward an uncrewed launch of the Starliner capsule as early as April. And once again, the capsule is due to head to the International Space Station.

The mission would be the first for Boeing's Starliner spacecraft since its failed maiden human test flight that got off the ground in June 2024. Carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the Starliner was meant to return to Earth from the ISS a few days after docking before a slew of technical issues forced NASA to render the vehicle unsafe.

Instead, Williams and Wilmore returned to Earth in March 2025 on a SpaceX Dragon capsule that reached the orbital outpost in September 2024 with two other spacefarers.

NASA plans series of robotic moon landings

In 2025, two uncrewed lunar landers manufactured by American companies made it to the moon's surface within just days of one another.

First, the Blue Ghost lander manufactured by Texas spaceflight company Firefly Aerospace landed March 2 on the moon's Earth-facing side. It was followed four days later by Houston-based Intuitive Machines' Athena lander, which unfortunately tipped on its side, hindering much of its mission.

But in 2026, NASA has even more robotic lunar landing missions under contract with not only Firefly and Intuitive Machines, but Blue Origin and Pittsburgh-based aerospace company Astrobotic, which was behind a failed moon mission in 2024.

What's next for Jeff Bezos' Amazon, Blue Origin after big year in space?

It's been a big year in space for billionaire Jeff Bezos.

His spaceflight company Blue Origin managed to launch its towering New Glenn rocket on two missions from Florida, including the most recent on Nov. 13 that helped propel twin NASA orbiters to Mars. Meanwhile, in Texas, Blue Origin's smaller suborbital New Shepard rocket got off the ground on seven spaceflights transporting groups of passengers to the edge of space – including, famously, an all-women crew in April featuring pop musician Katy Perry and broadcast journalist Gayle King.

Amazon, which Bezos also founded, even got its own space-based program going. Initially called Project Kuiper, the venture known as Amazon Leo has deployed 180 of 3,000 broadband internet-beaming satellites planned for its first constellation that could challenge SpaceX's Starlink.

What's coming up in 2026? Expect more New Shepard launches and, perhaps, the debut of an even bigger New Glenn as Blue Origin reportedly seeks certification for national security missions.

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected]