Top 10 Space Missions Launching in 2026-2027

Will humans land on the Moon in 2026? No — Artemis II is a lunar flyby, not a landing. Four astronauts will loop around the Moon and return to Earth. The first crewed Moon landing since Apollo 17 is targeted for Artemis III, currently planned for 2027 at the earliest.

What is JAXA MMX? MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) is Japan's mission to orbit Phobos, one of Mars's two tiny moons, land a rover, collect surface samples, and return them to Earth — making it the first sample-return mission from the Martian system.

What are vyomanauts? Vyomanauts are Indian astronauts. ISRO uses the term — rooted in the Sanskrit word for sky — for the crew of Gaganyaan, India's first crewed spaceflight program, to give the mission a distinct national identity.

Which 2026–2027 space mission is most historically significant? Artemis II returning humans to the Moon's vicinity after 50+ years is broadly considered the most symbolic milestone, but JAXA MMX's Mars sample-return and SpaceX's interplanetary test flight could prove more transformative long-term. Cast your vote and tell us what you think!