"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. For the first time in more than 54 years, astronauts are training to travel to the vicinity of the Moon, perhaps within the next couple of months."
"Final preparations for the Artemis II mission are well underway at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft fully integrated inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. Within a couple of weeks, the SLS rocket could roll to Launch Complex 39B for a countdown dress rehearsal. Then, perhaps in February, the Artemis II mission is scheduled to depart Florida's Space Coast on a 10-day flight"
Last year brought record launches, dramatic planetary images, and many breakthroughs and setbacks in the space sector. 2026 is expected to be another active year, with astronauts training to travel near the Moon for the first time in over 54 years. NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and other companies are preparing major steps toward returning humans to the lunar surface within a few years. New rockets are scheduled to debut and scientists aim to open new observational windows. Artemis II is planned as a 10-day SLS/Orion crewed flight around the far side of the Moon and is assessed as having a 90 percent chance of occurring in 2026. A large-scale orbital refueling demonstration for Starship appears on SpaceX's 2026 roadmap.
Read at Ars Technica
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