2026 in spaceflight

ULTRASAT (Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite) is a space telescope in a smallsat format that will detect and monitor transient astronomical events in the near-ultraviolet (220–280 nm) spectral region. ULTRASAT will observe a large patch of sky with a 210 square degrees field of view, alternating every six months between the southern and northern hemisphere. The satellite is planned to be launched into a geosynchronous orbit in early 2026. All ULTRASAT data will be transmitted to the ground in real time. Upon detection of a transient event, ULTRASAT will provide alerts within 20 minutes to other ground-based and space telescopes to be directed to the source for further observation of the event in other wavelength bands.

ALTIUS (Atmospheric Limb Tracker for Investigation of the Upcoming Stratosphere) is a satellite mission proposed by the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy and currently under development by the European Space Agency. Its main objective is to monitor the distribution and evolution of stratospheric ozone in the Earth's atmosphere. The industrial consortium is led by QinetiQ Space, acting as mission prime. The satellite design is based on the PROBA small satellite bus. The payload, developed by OIP Sensor Systems, is an innovative UV, visible and NIR instrument.

MUSE (Mission to Uranus for Science and Exploration) is a European proposal for a dedicated mission to the planet Uranus to study its atmosphere, interior, moons, rings, and magnetosphere. It is proposed to be launched with an Ariane 6 in 2026, travel for 16.5 years to reach Uranus in 2044, and would operate until 2050.

The FLuorescence EXplorer (FLEX) is a planned mission by the European Space Agency to launch a satellite to monitor the global steady-state chlorophyll fluorescence in terrestrial vegetation. FLEX was selected for funding on 19 November 2015 and will be launched on a Vega C rocket from Guiana Space Centre in mid-2026 together with another Earth-observing satellite, Altius.

This article documents expected notable spaceflight events during the year 2026.

Gaganyaan-5 (from Sanskrit: gagana, "celestial" and yāna, "craft, vehicle") will be the second crewed test flight of the Gaganyaan programme, with launch planned in 2027.

Gaganyaan-4 (from Sanskrit: gagana, "celestial" and yāna, "craft, vehicle") will be the first crewed test flight of the Gaganyaan programme, with launch planned for 2027.

Chang'e 7 (Chinese: 嫦娥七号; pinyin: Cháng'é qīhào) is a planned robotic Chinese lunar exploration mission expected to be launched in 2026 to target the lunar south pole. Like its predecessors, the spacecraft is named after the Chinese moon goddess Chang'e. The mission will include an orbiter, a lander, a mini-hopping probe, and a rover.

Artemis IV is a planned mission of the NASA-led Artemis program. The mission is proposed to include the fourth use of a Space Launch System (SLS) launch vehicle, sending an Orion spacecraft with four astronauts to the Lunar Gateway space station, where they will install the I-Hab module on Gateway, and conduct the second lunar landing of the Artemis program.

Xuntian (Chinese: 巡天; pinyin: Xúntiān; lit: Tour of Heaven), also known as the Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST) (Chinese: 巡天空间望远镜; pinyin: Xúntiān Kōngjiān Wàngyuǎnjìng) is a planned Chinese space telescope currently under development.