Cast your Vote

Posted 3/6/2026

With the arrival of 2026, we are once again seeing an exciting new phase of space exploration that involves both competition and cooperation between countries and companies. National and commercial groups that want to achieve long-term goals have improved their chances for success through many years of planning, developing new technology, and building political support for their activities. 

One major turning point in this new phase of space exploration is the upcoming launch of Artemis II, headed by NASA, an international mission that will send astronauts from multiple countries to orbit the moon. This will also mark the first crewed flight to the moon since Apollo 17. A second major event in the new era of space exploration is China's announcement of plans to build and deploy an orbital artificial intelligence (AI) data center and a space-based infrastructure to support its ability to conduct digital competition with other countries on Earth. China has stated that it wants to use space as a way to circumvent Earth-based energy and latency issues for computing.

Parallel to these national strategic efforts, commercial actors are redefining the final frontier. SpaceX is continuing to test their Starship, while Blue Origin has started developing a lunar lander. There are other initiatives, such as American aerospace company Vast’s planned Haven-1 commercial space station. The combined efforts to create tangible projects represent how private investment is changing ambitious pursuits, which would normally be limited to government entities, into reality. This is resulting in a multi-layered “space economy," where scientific exploration, commercial opportunity, national prestige, and potentially deep space resources are all converging. 

However, this shift in space-based activities is not without friction. As more entities begin competing for orbital slots, frequencies, and potential lunar resources, there are increasing calls from policymakers and treaty bodies to address governance, space debris, and equitable access. The international community's existing framework (the Outer Space Treaty) is being challenged by entities that are conducting their activities at speeds and on scales that were inconceivable 50 years ago. The simultaneous collaboration on Earth-orbiting and lunar missions, together with the strategic rivalries between the U.S., China, and emerging space explorers such as India, are shaping the respective priorities and associated budgets in ways that mirror the Cold War competition, albeit based upon different technological and economic factors at play. 

The projected integration of AI, energy generation infrastructure, and commercial logistics in space suggests that 2026 will be identified as the year that significant missions and milestones were achieved, and the groundwork was laid for the establishment of a truly global space economy.