2026: Space Race Heats Up! NASA, ISRO, SpaceX Target Moon, Mars & Beyond

• NASA's Artemis II will conduct a crewed lunar flyby, testing Orion spacecraft systems, marking its first crewed lunar mission in decades.
• ISRO plans the uncrewed Gaganyaan G1 mission with Vyommitra robot to validate systems for future human spaceflight.
• SpaceX aims for Starship Mars cargo and landing demonstrations, paving the way for future crewed missions to the Red Planet.
• China's Chang’e 7 will explore the Moon's south pole for water ice, while ESA's PLATO telescope searches for Earth-like exoplanets.
• Commercial space activity expands with private companies delivering lunar payloads and SpaceX launching the Haven-1 private space station.

Why It Matters: 2026 marks a pivotal year for global space exploration, focusing on Moon, Mars, and advanced science.