Last year delivered doses of drama and excitement in the space business, with a record number of launches, breathtaking vistas of other worlds, and a multitude of breakthroughs and setbacks. 2026 is shaping up to be another thrilling year in the cosmos.

🚨Mission Update: Rollout for Artemis II is less than two weeks away.This milestone begins final, system-wide testing as NASA prepares to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years, with a launch window opening as soon as February 6. pic.twitter.com/gKRqUXIfMg January 2, 2026

With launch potentially just three weeks away, the agency is working tirelessly to get the SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, and the Artemis 2 crew ready for liftoff.

Could SpaceX launch a new design of Starship in January? Here's what to know about a mission Elon Musk's company refers to as flight 12.

NASA expects to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope as soon as September, seeing it as evidence the agency can do flagships on cost and schedule.