Jan 25, 2026 Yul So www.theatlantic.com The year 2026 is expected to become a major turning point in the history of space exploration. For the first time in more than 50 years, humans will fly around the Moon. Spacecraft will enter Mercury’s orbit, collect samples from a moon of Mars, and closely study asteroids, the Sun, and space weather. Government agencies and private companies will undertake ambitious missions simultaneously, marking what many scientists call a new golde