2026 IS SHAPING UP TO BE A VERY BIG YEAR IN SPACE: Moon rush: These private spacecraft will attempt lunar landings in 2026.

Firefly’s next lunar mission is particularly interesting:

Texas-based Firefly is gearing up to return to the moon one year after its historic landing of Blue Ghost in Mare Crisium on the near side. Blue Ghost M2 is the next step in the company’s push to become a repeatable commercial lunar delivery provider. It will fly as part of the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, while also carrying commercial and international payloads.

Blue Ghost M2 will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket no earlier than the second quarter of 2026, aiming to land on the far side of the moon — a feat that only China has achieved to date, with Chang’e 4 in 2019 and Chang’e 6 in 2024. Among six government and commercial payloads will be the Rashid Rover 2 for the United Arab Emirates and a wireless power receiver for Volta Space.

Godspeed…