NASA is set for a busy 2026, headlined by the Artemis II mission, which will send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. The agency also plans critical decisions for its Mars Sample Return program and will launch new Earth-observing and heliophysics satellites. These missions underscore NASA's ongoing commitment to deep space exploration, understanding our solar system, and monitoring our home planet.
Moon Return: Artemis II Prepares for Crewed Flyby
The highly anticipated Artemis II mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than February 5, 2026, with a launch window extending to April 2026. This landmark mission will mark humanity's return to the lunar vicinity, a feat not accomplished since Apollo 17 in 1972. Four astronauts will embark on this 10-day journey around the Moon aboard NASA's powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft.[en+10]
The crew for Artemis II includes NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, who will serve as commander, Victor Glover as pilot, and Christina Koch as a mission specialist. Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency will also fly as a mission specialist. Glover will make history as the first person of color to travel to the Moon, Koch as the first woman, and Hansen as the first non-American.[en+5]
This crewed lunar flyby aims to thoroughly test the Orion spacecraft's critical systems, including its life support capabilities and deep-space navigation, in the actual environment of space. The mission will follow a free-return trajectory around the Moon, extending approximately 4,600 miles beyond its far side. This extensive testing is crucial to prepare for future human lunar landings.[en+5]
Lakiesha Hawkins, acting deputy associate administrator at NASA's Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, confirmed the agency's commitment to launch no later than April 2026. She noted, "Right now, that window could open as early as Feb. 5, depending on how we progress."The public can also participate by submitting their names to fly on an SD card inside the Orion spacecraft.[forbes+2]
Mars Exploration: Sample Return Decisions Ahead
While humans prepare to return to the Moon, NASA continues its long-term strategic planning for Mars exploration. A major focus in 2026 will be the Mars Sample Return (MSR) program, a joint initiative with the European Space Agency (ESA). NASA expects to make crucial decisions on the mission's design and profile in mid-to-late 2026.[astronomy+4]
The MSR program aims to bring rock and soil samples, meticulously collected by the Perseverance rover from Mars' Jezero Crater, back to Earth for detailed scientific study. These samples could offer unprecedented insights into the Red Planet's geological history, climate evolution, and the potential for past life.[astronomy+3]
The program has faced significant budget and schedule challenges, prompting NASA to re-evaluate its approach. The agency is currently exploring two distinct landing architectures to retrieve the samples. One option utilizes NASA's proven "sky crane" technology, similar to what successfully landed Perseverance and Curiosity. The second option involves collaboration with commercial partners, seeking innovative and potentially more cost-effective solutions.[astronomy+2]
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of this re-evaluation. "Pursuing two potential paths forward will ensure that NASA is able to bring these samples back from Mars with significant cost and schedule saving compared to the previous plan," Nelson said.Nicky Fox, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, added, "These samples have the potential to change the way we understand Mars, our universe, and – ultimately – ourselves." ThePerseverance rover continues its work, having collected 28 titanium-sealed tubes of samples.[nasa+2]
Separately, SpaceX aims for its first uncrewed Starship cargo missions to Mars in late 2026. These missions intend to test the reliability of landing large spacecraft on the Red Planet safely, which could pave the way for future human missions.[astronomy+2]
Earth Orbit: New Satellites and System Transitions
Beyond lunar and Martian ambitions, NASA will also advance its Earth science and heliophysics missions in 2026. The Investigation of Convective Updrafts (INCUS) mission is set to launch. This Earth-observing mission, led by Colorado State University, consists of three small satellites.
Once in low-Earth orbit, the INCUS satellites will spend two years studying rain, hail, and lightning-laden storms in the tropics. This mission seeks to enhance scientists' understanding of storm physics and their role in climate processes, potentially improving storm forecasting and climate modeling.[atmos]
Inheliophysics, NASA is targeting a summer 2026 launch for its Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment (SunRISE). This mission involves a constellation of six small satellites, each about the size of a toaster oven, that will operate as a single, large radio telescope in Earth orbit. SunRISE will study solar radio bursts and map the Sun's magnetic field, providing critical data to improve space weather forecasting and protect astronauts and satellites from harmful radiation.[atmos+1]
Ina significant transition, NASA also plans to retire its three long-serving Earth Observing System (EOS) flagship satellites—Terra, Aqua, and Aura—possibly as early as the end of 2026. These satellites have provided nearly three decades of crucial Earth science data. Their retirement marks a shift towards NASA's next-generation Earth System Observatory, a new constellation designed for advanced climate and environmental monitoring.[science]
NASA's2026 space agenda highlights a balanced approach to exploration, pushing human boundaries towards the Moon, refining plans for ambitious Mars sample returns, and continuing vital scientific observations of Earth and the Sun. These missions aim to expand humanity's knowledge and technological capabilities across the solar system.[news+1]
