Test Flight

Demonstration of large-scale orbital refueling of SpaceX's Starship, a precursor to SpaceX's travel beyond low-Earth orbit (LEO). Launch date: Not yet scheduled; may occur in 2026

Test flight of SpaceX Starship Version 3 Launch date: Not yet scheduled; expected to occur in 2026

Inaugural launch of China's Long March 10A rocket with their larger, lunar-capable Mengzhou spacecraft which has flown before and is intended to replace the Shenzhou spacecraft.  Launch date: Unknown, but may launch in 2026

Launch of the first crewed habitat of the world's first commercial space station prior to the International Space Station's retirement in 2030 Launch date: Not scheduled, but may occur in 2026

Test flight of Terran R heavy-lift rocket Launch date: Not yet scheduled; may occur in 2026

Test flight of Firefly Aerospace's medium-lift rocket developed in partnership with Northrup Grumman. Launch date: Not yet scheduled; may occur in late 2026

Intuitive Machines' lunar mission to send its third Nova-C lander to the Reiner Gamma region of the Moon. Launch date: Not yet scheduled; may occur in the second half of 2026

Successor to Firefly Aerospace's successful inaugural mission to the Moon's surfaced in March 2025, Blue Ghost 2 targets the far side of the Moon with three spacecraft (Blue Ghost's lander, orbiter, and ESA lander).

Uncrewed orbital test flight of India's Gaganyaan capsule Launch Date: Not known but may occur in 2026