Space Calendar

NET 2026 — Launch Atlas V / Starliner-1
2026-12-31 | SLC-41 (~28°N), Cape Canaveral SFS FL, USA
“Indefinitely delayed” mission unlikely to launch this year. First launch of the Starliner crew vehicle to the International Space Station carrying only cargo for the orbital laboratory; will allow in-flight validation of the system upgrades implemented following the Crew Flight Test mission of 2024.

5 Years in Space: James Webb Space Telescope
2026-12-25 | Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point
NASA (STSci) / ESA / CSA-ASC infrared astronomy telescope surpasses next full year in space since launching on this day via Ariane 5 ECA rocket in 2021.

23 Years in Mars Orbit: ESA's Mars Express
2026-12-25 | Mars Orbit
ESA spacecraft surpasses next full year in Mars orbit today; will continue to study Mars atmosphere & climate, planet structure, mineralogy, geology, and to search for traces of water; launched June 2, 2003 and arrived at Mars in Dec 2003.

Cold Moon
2026-12-23 | Moon Orbit
25:29 HST // 01:29 UTC on Dec 24.

December Solstice
2026-12-21 | Worldwide
10:49 HST (00:49 UTC); the Sun reaches the point where it is farthest South of the celestial equator, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year (opposite in Southern Hemisphere).

13 Years in Space: Gaia Spacecraft
2026-12-19 | Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point
ESA spacecraft surpasses another full year in space today; now in extended mission phase working to map more than 1 billion stars; launched in 2013.

GEGSLA 16th Operational Meeting
2026-12-16 | Online
Global Experts Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities continues discussions on ongoing workstreams and priorities related to the sustainable exploration and use of the Moon, with focus on expert dialogue, coordination, and long-term strategic planning for responsible lunar activities.

4 Years in Lunar Orbit: Korean Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter ‘Danuri’
2026-12-16 | Moon Orbit
Surpassing 4th full year / entering 5th year in lunar orbit, Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) first lunar spacecraft Danuri launched in Aug 2022 and reached Moon in Dec 2022.

17 Years in Space: WISE / NEOWISE
2026-12-14 | Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer spacecraft (redubbed Near-Earth Object WISE – NEOWISE) surpasses another full year in space today; launched 2009, went into hibernation February 17, 2011 and reactivated August 21, 2013.

13 Years on the Moon: Chang’e-3 Lander (China's First Lunar Landing)
2026-12-14 | Guang Han Gong, 44.12°N 19.51°W, Moon Surface
China National Space Administration (CNSA) spacecraft at Guang Han Gong “Moon Palace”, Sinus Iridum / Mare Imbrium, 44.12°N 19.51°W, surpasses another full year on Moon surface, landed 2013.

27 Years in Space: XMM-Newton
2026-12-10 | Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
European Space Agency (ESA) craft in Very Eccentric Elliptical LEO studying X-ray emissions, star-forming regions, galaxy clusters, environment of supermassive black holes, mapping dark matter, surpasses next full year in space today, launched 1999.

Ground Control #10 at Mesh Youngstorget
2026-12-09 | Oslo, Norway
Oslo Spaceport Norway offers monthly a knowledgeable speaker and opportunity for networking, 17:00-20:00 local time; free entry but registration required. Ground Control is for everyone who’s curious about what’s happening in space and why it matters. Whether you work in the sector or have never thought about it before — you’re welcome. Mesh Youngstorget, Møllergata 6, Oslo. Nordic region’s largest innovation hub, 5,000+ members.

AGU 2026 Annual Meeting: Where Science Connects
2026-12-07 - 2026-12-11 | San Francisco CA, USA
The largest gathering of Earth and space scientists, convening 20,000+ attendees from 100+ countries to share research, connect, collaborate, and inspire one another. Session, town hall and scientific workshops. At Moscone Center, 747 Howard Street.

Save the date for future Annual Meetings:

December 13-17, 2027 | Washington, D.C.
December 11-15, 2028 | San Diego

AIAA Region VII Student Conference
2026-12-03 - 2026-12-04 | Adelaide, Australia
Research papers are presented in a formal technical meeting atmosphere, and ideas are exchanged and programs discussed. Cash prizes given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place papers in each category. At University of Adelaide Student Branch and online.

12 Years in Space: Japan's Hayabusa 2
2026-12-03 | Asteroid 98943 Torifune Trajectory
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Hayabusa surpasses another full year in space today; launched Dec 3, 2014, returned samples to Earth in 2020, and now in extended mission to flyby asteroid 98943 Torifune in 2026 and rendezvous with 1998 KY26 in 2031.

2nd European Interstellar Symposium
2026-12-02 - 2026-12-04 | Venice, Italy
Hosted by The Venetian Institute of Sciences, Letters and Arts in association with The Interstellar Research Group, the world’s experts in exoplanet research, advanced space propulsion, power, life support, communications, and more will gather to share their findings and propose innovative solutions to enable our future journeys to planets circling other stars.

31 Years in Space: Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)
2026-12-02 | Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
European Space Agency (ESA) / National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) craft studying sun, surpasses another full year of operations in space today, launched 1995; discovered more than 3,000 comets.

Earthlight Foundation New Worlds Faire and Space Cowboy Ball
2026-12-01 - 2026-12-03 | Austin TX, USA
Addition of a display and market area to the annual gathering that culminates in the Space Cowboy Ball charity event accompanies presentations on everything about space, including medicine, architecture and design, art and media, energy, policy and much more, by leaders in the field.

LARIM2026: Latin-America Regional IAU Meeting
2026-11-30 - 2026-12-04 | Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Held every 3 years, targeted to professional astronomers, postdocs, postgraduate and undergraduate students pursuing a research career in Astronomy. As previous editions of this meeting, XVIII LARIM will provide a forum for scientific discussion and will promote new collaborations among Latin American astronomers. At Cancun Center, Boulevard Kukulcan Km. 9, in the Punta Cancun Zona Hotelera area. “A look at the Universe from the heart of the Mayan Riviera”

Ground Control #9 at Mesh Youngstorget
2026-11-25 | Oslo, Norway

Global Network on Sustainability in Space (GNOSIS26)
2026-11-24 - 2026-11-25 | Online
GNOSIS promotes, coordinates and develops collaboration across the academic, defence, industrial and political sectors to understand and solve problems relating to the sustainable use of Space.

Beaver / Super Moon
2026-11-24 | Moon Orbit
14:54 UTC (04:54 HST).

IAU Symposium 412: Hub Filament Structures in Star Formation
2026-11-23 - 2026-11-27 | Mysuru, Karnataka, India
Coordinating Division
Division H Interstellar Matter and Local Universe

IAU Symposium 411: Star Clusters as Guides to Galaxies - Synergies and New Developments from Upcoming Surveys.
2026-11-22 - 2026-11-27 | San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
Coordinating Division
Division J Galaxies and Cosmology

IAU Symposium 410: New look at Solar and Stellar Coronae
2026-11-22 - 2026-11-27 | Shenzhen, China
Coordinating Division
Division E Sun and Heliosphere

International Lunar Sample Research Symposium 2026
2026-11-20 - 2026-11-23 | Hong Kong, China
acquisition of the Chang’e-5 samples from the Procellarum KREEP Terrance, the Chang’e-6 samples from the South Pole Aitken basin, and the recent opening of NASA’s Apollo samples in the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis program bring a new era of lunar science that is likely to solve the most significant questions that have remained since the Apollo era.

To share the recent findings of Chang’e, Apollo, Luna samples, and lunar meteorites, to prepare for future lunar sample analyses such as those returned by China’s and USA’s human lunar missions, and to foster international cooperation between China and their international partners in all lunar science and exploration disciplines beyond samples, the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) jointly propose this International Lunar Sample Research Symposium. It aims to present the most intriguing findings from all kinds of lunar sample studies and beyond, including but not limited to:
1) Lunar Missions
2) Origin of the Moon
3) Lunar Differentiation
4) Lunar Magmatism
5) Lunar Magnetism
6) Lunar Impact Processes and Chronology
7) Lunar Meteorites
8) Lunar Space Weathering
9) Lunar Volatiles
10) Lunar Analogues and Resources
11) New Techniques
12) Special Session: Lunar South Pole Science and Exploration

22 Years in Space: Swift Spacecraft
2026-11-20 | Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
Observing gamma-ray bursts & their afterglows in gamma-ray, X-ray, ultraviolet, optical wavelengths from LEO, multiwavelength craft surpasses another year of operations in space today, launched in 2004.

Indo Aerospace Expo & Forum 2026
2026-11-18 - 2026-11-21 | Jakarta, Indonesia
At the Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo) Kemayoran. This event represents one of Southeast Asia’s most significant aerospace gatherings, connecting industry leaders, innovators, policymakers, and investors from around the world. Consequently, it provides an unmatched platform for showcasing cutting-edge aerospace technologies, exploring market trends, and building strategic partnerships.

Voyager 1 reaches communication delay of one full light-day (24 hours)
2026-11-18 | Interstellar Space
NASA interstellar craft set to reach 16.1 billion miles today, marking one full light-day of communication delays. Craft is operating with only 2 science instruments.

Space Tech Expo Europe 2026
2026-11-17 - 2026-11-19 | Bremen, Germany
Leading event in Europe for space engineering, innovation, and the end-to-end supply chain.
