ESA Unveils Ambitious 2026 Space Missions: Moon, Mars & Satellite Frontiers

• ESA's 2026 calendar features major missions for human exploration, planetary research, and Earth observation.
• LEO-PNT Celeste Constellation (Jan-Mar) will launch 10 satellites to enhance global navigation alongside Galileo.
• Artemis II / Orion Lunar Mission (Apr) will see a crewed Moon flyby, with ESA's European Service Module.
• BepiColombo (Nov) will achieve Mercury orbit insertion to study the planet's surface and magnetic field.
• PLATO Mission (Dec) aims to discover exoplanets, focusing on rocky planets in habitable zones.

Why It Matters: 2026 marks a milestone for ESA, expanding Europe's role in global space science and exploration.