Here's a look at all the lunar lander missions planned for 2026
USA TODAY
Four uncrewed lunar lander missions are set for 2026, paving the way for NASA's Artemis program to return humans to the moon.
Before humans even step foot on the surface of the moon in the years ahead, a fleet of lunar landers are due to beat them there.
Already, three landers manufactured by two different Texas companies have made it to the moon since 2024. And in 2026 alone, another four uncrewed lunar spacecraft could touch down on different regions of Earth's only natural satellite.
Why all the sudden interest in the moon?
The missions would help lay the groundwork for American astronauts to return to the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years under NASA's Artemis program. In fact, the space agency is in the midst of preparing for a mission known as Artemis 2, which as early as April would send three Americans and one Canadian on a 10-day trip around the moon to set the stage for a 2028 landing.
In the years ahead, NASA has a bold vision of establishing a permanent lunar base from which the first astronauts could set out for Mars. And the slew of privately-managed lunar missions ahead, contracted under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, are integral for making that happen.
Four uncrewed lunar lander missions are set for 2026, paving the way for NASA's Artemis program to return humans to the moon.
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