Rendering of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, scheduled to be launched no earlier than October 2026. | |
1950s | |
---|---|
1960s | |
1970s | |
1980s | |
1990s | |
2000s | |
2010s | |
2020s |
This article documents expected notable spaceflight events during the year 2026.
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which will have a field of view 100 times larger than that of the Hubble Space Telescope, is scheduled to be launched in October 2026.[1]
China plans to launch Chang'e 7 to explore the lunar south pole in late 2026.[2] The mission will include an orbiter, a relay satellite, a lander, a rover, and a mini-flying probe.[3]
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | |||
Remarks | ||||||||
March[edit] | ||||||||
Q1 (TBD)[4] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
EUMETSAT | Geosynchronous | Meteorology | |||||
Q1 (TBD)[4][8] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
ESA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | |||||
Second satellite of the Copernicus Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Monitoring mission.[7] Part of the European Space Agency's Copernicus Programme. | ||||||||
Q1 (TBD)[10] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
ISA / Weizmann Institute of Science | Geosynchronous | Ultraviolet astronomy | |||||
June[edit] | ||||||||
June (TBD)[11] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
ISRO | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | |||||
Q2 (TBD)[13] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
TBA | TBA | Geosynchronous | TBA | |||||
Multi-Launch Service (MLS) #2 rideshare mission. | ||||||||
H1 2026 (TBD)[14] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Rivada Space Networks | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | |||||
Ninth of twelve launches for Rivada Space Networks' 300-satellite constellation. | ||||||||
H1 2026 (TBD)[14] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Rivada Space Networks | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | |||||
Tenth of twelve launches for Rivada Space Networks' 300-satellite constellation. | ||||||||
H1 2026 (TBD)[14] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Rivada Space Networks | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | |||||
Eleventh of twelve launches for Rivada Space Networks' 300-satellite constellation. | ||||||||
H1 2026 (TBD)[14] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Rivada Space Networks | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | |||||
Twelfth and final launch for Rivada Space Networks' 300-satellite constellation. | ||||||||
Mid 2026 (TBD)[15] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
SpaceX | TLI to lunar surface | Lunar lander | |||||
![]() |
Astrolab | TLI to lunar surface | Lunar rover Technology demonstration |
|||||
Uncrewed Starship HLS rideshare mission to the lunar south pole. Astrolab's Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover will compete in NASA's Lunar Terrain Vehicle competition. | ||||||||
September[edit] | ||||||||
Q3 (TBD)[17] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Axiom Space | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS assembly / Space habitat | |||||
Second Axiom Orbital Segment module to be launched, nominally on New Glenn (with Falcon Heavy as backup).[16] | ||||||||
October[edit] | ||||||||
October (TBD)[1] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
NASA | Sun–Earth L2 | Infrared astronomy | |||||
Formerly known as the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST).[19] | ||||||||
December[edit] | ||||||||
Q4 (TBD)[2] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
CNSA | Selenocentric | Lunar orbiter | |||||
![]() |
CNSA | Selenocentric | Communications | |||||
![]() |
CNSA | Selenocentric to lunar surface | Lunar lander | |||||
The Rashid 2 rover was removed from this mission due to ITAR concerns.[20] | ||||||||
Q4 (TBD)[4] | TBA | TBA | TBA | |||||
![]() |
ESA | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | |||||
Third satellite (option) of the Copernicus Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Monitoring mission.[21] Part of the European Space Agency's Copernicus Programme. | ||||||||
To be determined[edit] | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[22] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Roscosmos | Low Earth | Communications | |||||
Maiden flight of Amur, a partially reusable methane-powered launch vehicle. | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[24] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Roscosmos | Low Earth | Crewed flight test | |||||
2026 (TBD)[25] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
ESA | Sun–Earth L2 | Exoplanetary science | |||||
2026 (TBD)[27][28] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
ESA | Geostationary | Satellite dispenser | |||||
MLS rideshare mission. | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[27] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
TBA | TBA | Low Earth (SSO) | TBA | |||||
MLS rideshare mission. | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[27][31] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
TBA | TBA | TLI | Lunar lander / orbiter | |||||
MLS rideshare mission, designated "Highway to the Moon". Dedicated flight to lunar transfer orbit.[29][30] | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[32] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
JAXA | Low Earth | Technology demonstration | |||||
2026 (TBD)[33] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
JAXA | Low Earth (SSO) | Heliophysics | |||||
Extreme Ultraviolet High-Throughput Spectroscopic Telescope Epsilon Mission. | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[35][36] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Arabsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | |||||
2026 (TBD)[32] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
CIRO | Low Earth (SSO) | Reconnaissance | |||||
2026 (TBD)[37][38] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Telesat | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | |||||
First of multiple New Glenn launches for Telesat's Lightspeed LEO constellation. | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[39] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
TBA | Low Earth (SSO) | TBA | |||||
Fifth planned launch of Nuri, and the first with solely commercial payloads. | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[40][41] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
RSCC | Geosynchronous | Communications | |||||
2026 (TBD)[11] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
ISRO | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | |||||
2026 (TBD)[42] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Roscosmos | Low Earth (SSO) | Earth observation | |||||
2026 (TBD)[44] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Roscosmos | Molniya | Meteorology | |||||
2026 (TBD)[46] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Spaceflight, Inc. | Low Earth (SSO) | Space tug | |||||
Dedicated rideshare mission. | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[48] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Impulse Space | TMI to Martian surface | Mars lander | |||||
Maiden flight of Terran R. Impulse Mars mission.[47] | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[48][51] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Iridium | Low Earth | Communications | |||||
A spare Iridium NEXT satellite to be launched on-demand.[49] Relativity was previously contracted to launch up to six spare satellites for Iridium.[50] | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[37][38] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Telesat | Low Earth (SSO) | Communications | |||||
2026 (TBD)[48][53] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
OneWeb | Low Earth | Communications | |||||
First of multiple Terran R launches for OneWeb's Gen 2 constellation. | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[48][54] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
U.S. Space Force | Low Earth | Military | |||||
2026 (TBD)[48][55] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Momentus Space | Geosynchronous | Space tug | |||||
2026 (TBD)[57][58] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
⚀ ![]() |
NASA | Low Earth | TBA | |||||
NASA Venture Class Launch Services 2 (VCLS 2) Mission, officially known as VCLS Demo-2R. The ELaNa 42 mission, consisting of three CubeSats, will launch on this flight.[56] | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[48][59] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
mu Space | Low Earth | IoT | |||||
2026 (TBD)[48][60] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Spaceflight, Inc. | Low Earth | Satellite dispenser | |||||
Rideshare mission for smallsats. | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[48][61] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
TriSept | Low Earth | Satellite dispenser | |||||
2026 (TBD)[63] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
ClearSpace SA (EPFL) | Low Earth | Space debris removal | |||||
ClearSpace-1 will capture and de-orbit the Vespa payload adapter that deployed PROBA-V in 2013.[62] | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[64] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
TBA | ESA | Low Earth | Flight test | |||||
First flight of Vega-E. | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[65] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
Axiom Space | Low Earth (ISS) | ISS assembly / Space habitat | |||||
Third Axiom Orbital Segment module. | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[67] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
NASA / Firefly | TLI to lunar surface | Lunar lander | |||||
![]() ![]() |
SSTL / ESA | Selenocentric (ELFO) | Communications | |||||
Second Blue Ghost mission. Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) mission delivering two payloads to the far side of the Moon.[66] | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[69][70] | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
RSCC | Geosynchronous | Communications | |||||
2026 (TBD)[71] | TBA | TBA | TBA | |||||
![]() |
Eutelsat | Geosynchronous | Communications | |||||
2026 (TBD)[72] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
U.S. Space Force | Medium Earth | Navigation | |||||
First GPS IIIF satellite. A total of 22 GPS satellites are planned to be launched from 2026 to 2034. | ||||||||
2026 (TBD)[73] | TBA | TBA | TBA | |||||
![]() ![]() |
The Exploration Company | Low Earth | Reusable spacecraft | |||||
First operational mission of the Nyx reusable spacecraft. | ||||||||
2026–2027 (TBD)[74] | TBA | TBA | TBA | |||||
![]() |
Sirius XM | Geosynchronous | Communications | |||||
2026–2027 (TBD)[74] | TBA | TBA | TBA | |||||
![]() |
Sirius XM | Geosynchronous | Communications | |||||
2026 (TBD)[75] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | |||||
![]() |
MIT | Heliocentric to Venus | Venus atmospheric balloon | |||||
Second of three MIT missions to Venus to study its atmosphere. |
Date and time (UTC) | Rocket | Flight number | Launch site | LSP | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Payload (⚀ = CubeSat) |
Operator | Orbit | Function | Decay (UTC) | Outcome | ||
Remarks | |||||||
March (TBD)[76] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() |
DLR / SNSA | Suborbital | Education | ||||
March (TBD)[76] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() |
DLR / SNSA | Suborbital | Education | ||||
September (TBD)[76] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | ||||
![]() |
DLR | Suborbital | Microgravity research | ||||
October (TBD)[76] | ![]() |
S1X-6/M18 | ![]() |
![]() | |||
![]() |
SSC | Suborbital | Microgravity research | ||||
SubOrbital Express Microgravity flight opportunity 6. | |||||||
November (TBD)[76] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() |
DLR / ESA | Suborbital | Microgravity research | ||||
November (TBD)[76] | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() | ||||
![]() ![]() |
DLR / ESA | Suborbital | Microgravity research |
Date (UTC) | Spacecraft | Event | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
July | Hayabusa2 | Flyby of (98943) 2001 CC21[77] | |
29 September | JUICE | Second gravity assist at Earth |
Start Date/Time | Duration | End Time | Spacecraft | Crew | Remarks |
---|
For the purposes of this section, the yearly tally of orbital launches by country assigns each flight to the country of origin of the rocket, not to the launch services provider or the spaceport. For example, Soyuz launches by Arianespace in Kourou are counted under Russia because Soyuz-2 is a Russian rocket.
Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures |
Remarks |
---|
Family | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|
Rocket | Country | Family | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|
Rocket | Country | Type | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|
Site | Country | Launches | Successes | Failures | Partial failures | Remarks |
---|
Orbital regime | Launches | Achieved | Not achieved | Accidentally achieved |
Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Transatmospheric | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Low Earth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Geosynchronous / transfer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Medium Earth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
High Earth | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Heliocentric orbit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Including planetary transfer orbits |