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On Episode 192 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik looks forward to 2026, which promises to be the most exciting year in the new space age yet!

Shining bright is the prospect of an Artemis II launch to send astronauts around the moon for the first time since 1972, as early as February. We've already seen news about a medical incident on the International Space Station that will force a crew to return to Earth early, but NASA says this won't affect the Artemis launch.

On other news, NASA's budget seems on track to be passed at near 2025 levels, China is preparing to send a robot to the south lunar pole, SpaceX plans robust tests of Starship this year—and hopefully refinement of their lander for Artemis III, Boeing will fly Starliner again (uncrewed), Mars Sample Return is poised to be scuttled, and all this under the leadership of a new—and apparently quite capable—NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman. Join us for an in-depth look at what's coming in 2026!

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Space news of the week

• NASA will return 4 astronauts home early in 1st-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station

• NASA's Artemis 2 mission: Everything you need to know

• Is Orion’s heat shield really safe? New NASA chief conducts final review on eve of flight.

• NASA isn't fixing the heat shield on Artemis II

• Twitter / X - "House and Senate appropriators have released a "minibus" appropriations..."

• NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission is dead

• SpaceX stacks Super Heavy booster ahead of Starship megarocket's 12th test flight

• Blue Origin's Blue Moon Mark 1

• Rocket Lab Neutron

• China unveils 2026 space mission lineup: Mengzhou-1 spaceship and Long March-10A rocket set for debut

• China's next moonshot: Chang'e 7 could search the lunar south pole for water this year

• China's Tianwen 2 spacecraft sends home 1st photo as it heads for mysterious 'quasi-moon' asteroid

• Gaganyaan - India's Human Spaceflight Programme

• NASA works to extend Swift’s life ahead of reboost mission

• Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser® Spaceplane Successfully Completes Critical Pre-flight Milestones

Model Falcon 9!

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Finally, did you know you can launch your own SpaceX rocket? Model rocket maker Estes' stunning scale model of a Falcon 9 rocket that you can pick up now. The launchable model is a detailed recreation of the Falcon 9 and retails for $149.99. You can save 10% by using the code IN-COLLECTSPACE at checkout, courtesy of our partners collectSPACE.com.

About This Week In Space

This Week in Space covers the new space age. Every Friday we take a deep dive into a fascinating topic. What's happening with the new race to the moon and other planets? When will SpaceX really send people to Mars?

Join Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik from Space.com as they tackle those questions and more each week on Friday afternoons. You can subscribe today on your favorite podcatcher.