The space race will have an intense year next 2026. Although this 2025 was marked by advances in the types of rockets, observatories, satellites, what follows is a loaded agenda of launches, with the Luna y Marte as the main destination for aerospace companies in the world.
One of the elements that will set the tone for the launches is the telescopes, which allow the study of space phenomena, monitoring galaxies, stars, planets or comets and asteroids, such as the 3I/ATLAS that generated so many theories this year.
In that sense, for next year it is estimated that missions to comets and asteroids will have an important place on the agenda.
To study these celestial bodies, probes will be sent to fly over them, since they are considered time capsules.
According to a report from the OK Diario website, the launch of Vast Haven-1, the first commercial space station, which will be run by SpaceX, is expected in the first quarter, with the aim of demonstrating the viability of a space habitat. By February it is estimated that NASA’s Artemis II mission could be completed.
According to information from NASA, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen will be sent on a trip of approximately 10 days around the Moon and back. That is, there will be no moon landing, although it is the first manned trip in more than 50 years.
Besides…
Also artificial intelligence
Tech giants are targeting the space to support artificial intelligence (AI). This is the case of Starcloud, a company that sent a refrigerator-sized satellite containing an Nvidia graphics processing unit (GPU) into space. With what objective? Build data centers in space and take advantage of solar energy, says AFP report. Google would also have the Suncatcher project in mind, as would SpaceX. The problem with these projects is space debris.
China cannot be left behind and also has the mission on its agenda Shenzhou-23in which three taikonauts will take off towards the Tiangong space station.
The launch of Dream Chaser, from Sierra Space, is expected in the second quarter. It is a reusable glider and its function is to transport cargo with the International Space Station (ISS).
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Starship’s 12th test flight and the Swift telescope rescue mission are also likely to take place.
The launch of NASA’s SunRISE mission, which consists of four small satellites, is expected by mid-year. Other FLEX missions, from the European Space Agency (ESA) and SMILE, a joint project between Europe and China. These have the purpose of studying different space phenomena that have effects on Earth.
To close the year, China will launch its Chang’e 7 mission to the south pole of the Moon. It consists of an orbiter, a lander, a rover and even a small flying vehicle. One objective is to look for water. In addition, NASA space missions are expected to arrive at Mars.
Back to the Moon
The most attractive thing on the space agenda is the possible return to the Moon, or at least to its orbit, by the United States.
This fact once again puts the northern country ahead of China, as happened more than 50 years ago when its space race was against the Soviet Union.
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The mission is called Artemis 2 and will have three American astronauts and one Canadian as crew members: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
On this occasion, the mission Artemis 2 It will only circle the lunar orbit. The great challenge will be the Artemis 3 mission. It is expected to be launched in 2027, with a crew of 4 astronauts and a duration of 30 days.
China, the other great space power, also has its agenda and is expected to reach the Moon in 2030 with a manned mission.
A race without Russia
In recent years, a second space race has broken out. The first had the United States and the former Soviet Union as protagonists, but this time there are more protagonists: United States, China, India and the European Union.
Russiathe other great world power and heir to the Soviet Union, seems to have a difficult time entering the competition (in the midst of its war with Ukraine). Three weeks ago, during the launch of the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft, the maintenance cabin collapsed at the Baikonur cosmodrome.
According to a EuroNews report, the repair may take about two years. This time takes away the opportunity to continue sending manned Soyuz and Progress spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS), since there is now no alternative to flights from Baikonur.
“An inspection of the launch site was carried out, as happens every time after the launch of the rocket. Damage was found to several elements of the launch table,” indicated the Russian space corporation. There are still alternatives at the Vostochny and Plesetsk bases, but they have not participated in launches to the ISS.
Billionaires fight
Unlike what happened in the first space race, today the protagonists are also businessmen, and more specifically billionaires.
Elon Musk’s participation with his company SpaceX is known. In this framework, it has a propulsion and capture system for the Starship rocket, its line of reusable rockets, thanks to robotic arms. However, the one who has come out ahead is Jeff Bezos, owner of Blue Origin.
The case that marked the success of Blue Origin was the launch of its New Glenn rocket for a NASA mission to Mars. The important thing is that he managed to recover his propellant. Something that only SpaceX had achieved.
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It was on November 13 that New Glenn lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with two NASA probes docked. The company then managed to land the booster in a controlled manner on a platform in the sea. Unlike SpaceXno giant robotic arms were used.
But it is not only about the development of rockets. According to an AFP report, the space race includes the construction of private space stations. This is the case of Haven-1, a cylinder four meters in diameter and ten meters long with which the American company Vast enters the race.
Vast competes in the sector with Axiom Space, Voyager Space, and Jeff Bezos’ company, Blue Origin, which collaborates with Sierra Space. These firms are seeking financing from NASA, with amounts that could be from 1,000 to 1,500 million dollars, for the development of commercial space stations and whose amounts will be allocated in April 2026.
It is not just about nationalist will. There is a lot of money involved. Therefore, in 2026 the space race will become more interesting.