Vijf lanceringen vanuit vijf verschillende landen. Het was met andere woorden een drukke ruimtevaartweek. Verder nog nieuws over de fout afgelopen Progress-lancering, dan toch uitstel voor SpaceX, Trump en ruimtevaart, Buzz Aldrin, nieuwe ontwikkelingen rond de Google Lunar X-Prize, gevolgd door nog meer (inter)planetair nieuws. Afronden doen we met een terugblik op het leven van John Glenn, naar aanleiding van diens overlijden.

Europese Vega lanceert Turkse Göktürk, een militaire aardobservatiesatelliet.
ESA: Vega Lofts Turkey’s Earth Observation Satellite.
NasaSpaceFlight: Vega successfully launches Earth Observation spacecraft for Turkey.
Spaceflight101: Europe’s Vega Rocket lifts Turkish Imaging Satellite into Orbit.

Foto’s van de lancering vind je o.a. bij Spaceflight101. 
Beelden van de lancering vind je bij Arianespace. 
De Launch Kit vind je hier (PDF). 

Indische PSLV lanceert Resourcesat.
NasaSpaceFlight: PSLV launches Resourcesat-2A imaging satellite.
Spaceflight101: India’s PSLV closes Record-Setting 2016 with successful ResourceSat-2A Launch.

Foto’s van de lancering vind je o.a. Spaceflight101 en bij ISRO. 
De video van de lancering vind je eveneens bij ISRO. 
Een brochure over PSLV-C36 vind je hier. 

Militaire comsat WGS-8 gelanceerd door een Delta IV.
ULA: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS-8 Mission for the U.S. Air Force.
NasaSpaceFlight: ULA Delta IV launches WGS-8 satellite.
Spaceflight101: Delta IV soars into the Night, lifts most powerful WGS Military Communications Satellite to Orbit.

Foto’s van de lancering vind je o.a. bij Spaceflight101. Een “Mission Overview” vind je bij ULA (PDF). 
De hoogtepunten van de lancering vind je hier, het profiel van de missie hier. 

Japan lanceert zesde Kounotori. Op weg naar het ISS.
Lang hebben ze in het ISS niet moeten wachten na de mislukte Progress-lancering om nieuwe voorraden (op voorwaarde uiteraard dat de capsule opgepikt wordt door de robotarm).
JAXA: Launch success of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 6 (H-IIB F6) with the H-II Transfer Vehicle "KOUNOTORI6" on board.
NasaSpaceFlight: JAXA launches H-IIB rocket with HTV-6 resupply mission to Station.

BBC: Japan tests innovative magnetic tether for slowing space junk.
NPR: Japan Sends Long Electric Whip Into Orbit, To Tame Space Junk.

De filmpjes:
NASA Johnson: Ground and Space Views of Japanese Rocket Launch.
NASA Johnson: Space to Ground: Cargo on the Way! 12/09/2016

China lanceert weersatelliet.
GB Times: China launches Fengyun-4A weather satellite in 20th space mission of 2016.
NasaSpaceFlight: Long March 3B launches Fengyun-4A meteorological spacecraft.
Spaceflight101: Advanced Weather Satellite successfully placed in Orbit by Chinese Long March 3B Rocket.

Beelden van de lancering vind je hier. 

Over de gecrashte Progress.
Yahoo News: Russian authorities inspecting crashed spacecraft debris.
TASS: Mission Control Center reveals cause of Progress spacecraft loss
Sputnik News: Allegations Rocket Engine Failure Behind Progress Spacecraft Crash Incorrect
TASS: Fourth fragment of Progress spacecraft found in Siberia.
Spaceflight101: Soyuz Launch Failure remains Mysterious One Week after Loss of Progress MS-04 Mission.

SpaceX stelt lacering uit tot in januari. “Verliest” klant aan Arianespace.
Space News: SpaceX punts Falcon 9 return-to-flight launch to January.
America Space: SpaceX Pushes Return to Flight to January with Iridium NEXT Satellites.

Parabolic Arc: SpaceX Loses Inmarsat Launch to Arianespace Due to Delays.

Trump: Begroting FY2017 even op hold.
Space Policy Online: New CR Funds Government Through April 28, Protects SLS/Orion and JPSS.
Space News: Stopgap spending bill includes NASA hurricane repair funds.
Space News: Time running out in Congress for NASA authorization and other space bills.

The Guardian: Will Trump go to Mars? Nasa’s nervous wait.
The Space Review: Commercial space in the next administration.
The Wall Street: Ex-Im Bank Critics, Supporters Look to Donald Trump for Help.

Space News: Trump adds six more to NASA transition team.

Buzz Aldrin wordt ook een jaartje ouder.
ABC News: Buzz Aldrin: Altitude Sickness Forced South Pole Evacuation.
CBS News: Buzz Aldrin leaves New Zealand after South Pole evacuation.

Uitstel voor Mars One. Meer geld nodig.
Mars One: Mars One presents an updated mission roadmap.
Mars One: Current Mission Satus.
Time: Mars One Delayed Its Mars Mission Once Again.
SpaceCom: Mars One Colony Project Delays Manned Red Planet Mission to 2026.
Mars One: Designing a spacesuit for Mars - Independent Conceptual Design Assessment by Paragon.
Mars One: Mars One Surface Exploration Suit (SES) Design Summary.

Google Lunar X-Prize.
Audi: Volgende halte: de maan.
Meer info vind je op http://mission-to-the-moon.com 
Parabolic Arc: GLXP Update: TeamIndus Announces Launch Contract.
Parabolic Arc: GLXP Update: PT Scientists Announce Lunar Launch Contract.
New Scientist: Private moon mission plans to revisit Apollo 17 landing site.
SpaceCom: Moon-Race Team Reserves Rocket to Land Rovers Near Apollo 17 Site.

Het overige (inter)planetaire nieuws.

Aarde:
Space News: NASA ends efforts to repair space station Earth science instrument.
Physics Astronomy: Russian satellite's 121-megapixel image of Earth is most detailed yet.
ESA: Testing Sentinel-3B’s radiometer.
Space News: DigitalGlobe releases first photo from WorldView-4.

Maan:
Sputnik News: Russian Space Agency Confirms Plans to Implement Lunar Sample-Return Mission
Space Policy Online: House Members Seek Apollo 1 Memorial at Arlington Cemetery.

Mars:
NASA JPL: Curiosity Rover Team Examining New Drill Hiatus.
NASA JPL: NASA Radio on Europe's New Mars Orbiter Aces Relay Test.
Space Daily: Opportunity team onsidering a new route due to boulder field.
The Planetary Society: Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Opportunity Departs Spirit Mound, Embarks on Toughest Exit Ever.
Physics Astronomy: Enormous Ice Sheet Discovered On Mars.
Seeker: India's Mars Orbiter Mission Has a Methane Problem.

Jupiter.
NASA: Visions of Harmony: Inspired by NASA’s Mission Juno (filmpje)
NASA: NASA Juno Mission Prepares for December 11 Jupiter Flyby.

Saturnus:
NASA JPL: Cassini Makes First Ring-Grazing Plunge.
America Space: Gateway to the Ring-Grazing Orbits: Cassini Conducts New Flybys of Titan and Enceladus.
NASA JPL: Cassini Beams Back First Images from New Orbit.

Ceres:
The Planetary Society: Dawn Journal: Maneuvering for Science.

Bennu:
NASA Goddard: OSIRIS-REx Tech – Taking Pictures of an Asteroid (filmpje).

Rosetta:
Cosmos: Rosetta spied shifting dunes on Comet 67P – so how did they form?
SpaceCom: Sun Storm May Have Caused Flare-Up of Rosetta's Comet.

Om af te ronden: Godspeed John Glenn.
Het begon allemaal met dit berichtje.
ABC News: Former Astronaut, US Sen. John Glenn Is Hospitalized in Ohio.

Wat later volgde dan het bericht dat John Glenn, de eerste Amerikaan die een rondje rond de Aarde maakte, overleden was.
John Glenn Website: With Great Sadness . . .
NASA: NASA Remembers American Legend John Glenn.
JPL: PL Remembers John Glenn.

Time: John Glenn, First American to Orbit the Earth, Dies at 95.
BBC: John Glenn, first American to orbit Earth, dies aged 95.
Space Policy Online: Marine, Astronaut, Senator John Glenn Passes Away at 95.
PBS: Remembering John Glenn, space pioneer and American statesman (filmpje).
NPR: Encore: Astronaut John Glenn Recalls Historic Orbit Of Earth (radiobericht).
CollectSpace: John Glenn memorialized with 'Godspeed' radio hail turned hashtag.
SpaceCom: Astronaut John Glenn: An American Hero's Greatest Moments Remembered.
The Guardian: John Glenn – a life in pictures.
Aviation Week: John Glenn's 1962 Mercury Pilot Report For Aviation Week.

Spacepage: Eerste Amerikaan die een baan om de aarde maakte overleden.
De Standaard: Ruimtelegende John Glenn overleden.
De Redactie: Amerikaanse astronaut John Glenn overleden.

En uiteraard is er meer dan genoeg beeldmateriaal:
NASA: The John Glenn Story.
NASA: Voyage of Friendship 7
NASA KSC: John Glenn's Mercury-Atlas 6 Mission, 'Friendship 7'
NASA KSC: STS-95 Mission Highlights (anderhalf uur durend verslag).
NASA: NASA Remembers American Legend John Glenn.
NASA: Space Station Crew Pays Tribute to John Glenn.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen