Voor elk wat wils in deze “Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart”. Beginnen doen we met testen v/d Dream Chaser en de SLS-motor. Een Indische PSLV kende een mislukte lancering en de eigenaars van falende cubesats schuiven de schuld door naar de Soyuz-raket. Astronaute Peggy Whitson is weer thuis na een ISS-verblijf met heel wat records. En een Falcon 9 is klaar om de mini-pendel X-37B te lanceren.

Terwijl Musk ons kennis liet maken met het SpaceX-ruimtepak wordt Pad 39A op het Kennedy Space Center voorbereid op bemande lanceringen. Nieuws is er ook van Spaceport America en Vostochny. Meer cubesat-nieuws wordt voorafgegaan door de stelling dat grote sondes (flagship) nodig zijn.

De Voyagers vierden hun 40ste verjaardag, en Curiosity rijdt al vijf jaar op Mars. Cassini telt af naar het einde en orkaan Harvey beheerste het nieuws hier op Aarde. Naast nieuws over een mogelijke Mars Sample Return Mission is er nog veel meer nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte. En mogelijk moet de lancering van de James Webb Space Telescope uitgesteld worden.

Met nog wat nieuwtjes over Noord-Korea en een Russische firma die dode mensen wil lanceren ronden we deze NUDR af.

Dream Chaser wordt voorbereid op eerste testvlucht.
Er hadden twee testen plaats. Een eerste keer werd de mini-pendel over de grond een tijdje voort getrokken.
Later op de week werd het toestel de lucht in gebracht m.b.v. een helicopter. De Dream Chaser werd echter nog niet gedropt. De eerste echte testvlucht is dus voor weldra.

SNCspacesystems: Sierra Nevada Corporation Dream Chaser Spacecraft Tow Test 2017.
Beelden van de zgn. “Tow Test” vind je hier.

NASA: Dream Chaser Spacecraft Completes Captive Carry Flight Test.
NasaSpaceFlight: SNC Dream Chaser returns to captive carry testing.
Spaceflight101: Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser Returns to Flight Testing with Successful Captive Carry Test.
Space News: Dream Chaser completes captive carry test flight.
Beelden van de “Captive Carry Flight” vind je hier. 

Parabolic Arc: Plans for Dream Chaser Landings in Huntsville Move Forward.

Nieuwe test voor SLS-motor.
In augustus waren er twee testen van de motor.

Dit was de eerste.
NASA: NASA on a Strong Roll in Preparing Space Launch System Flight Engines.
Spaceflight Insider: RS-25 ENGINE FLIGHT CONTROLLER COMPLETES 500-SECOND TEST
Beelden van de test vind je hier bij NASA.

En dit de tweede.
NASA: NASA Concludes Summer of Testing with Fifth Flight Controller Hot Fire.
Beelden van deze test vind je hier.

Meer SLS/Orion nieuws.
Spaceflight Insider: SLS ‘racing stripes’ replaced with photogrammetry targets
NasaSpaceFlight: Preparing the Mobile Launcher to be armed and ready for SLS.

NasaSpaceFlight: Orion ESM begins hot fire testing at White Sands.
Lockheed/Martin: Lockheed Martin Powers-up Next Orion Spacecraft for First Time.
Parabolic Arc: System Tests Prepare Orion for Deep Space Exploration.

Twee filmpjes:
Airbus: Orion ESM - Mission through deep space.
En een nieuwe NASA-animatie over de SLS vind je hier.

Indische PSLV laat het afweten.
The Hindu: ISRO’s IRNSS-1H satellite launch unsuccessful.
NasaSpaceFlight: Indian PSLV launch with IRNSS replacement satellite suffers apparent failure.
The Hindu: What went wrong in PSLV-C39 launch? ISRO to probe.
De volledige uitzending van de lancering vind je hier.

Vijf mislukte lanceringen dit jaar. Niet vergeten dat er twee (test)lanceringen van nieuwe raketten bij waren.
Ars Technica: With Indian rocket launch failure, 2017 seeing a higher accident rate.

Soyuz-raket niet de schuldige voor falende Cubesats?
Space News: Soyuz launch customers search for cause of cubesat failures.
Space News: Additional cubesats on July 14 Soyuz flight are unresponsive.
Space News: Glavkosmos denies launch vehicle caused cubesat failures.

Peggy Whitson is weer thuis.
Spaceflight101: Sunday Morning Soyuz Landing on Tap for U.S.-Russian Trio, Peggy Whitson to Return after 289 Days.
Ars Technica: America’s new ironman is headed home from space—it’s Peggy Whitson.
ABC News: What's on US astronaut's wish list after 9 months in space?

De landing zelf.
NASA: Three International Space Station Crewmates Safely Return to Earth.
NasaSpaceFlight: Soyuz MS-04 lands as Peggy Whitson ends record-breaking mission
Spaceflight101: Safe Soyuz Touchdown at Sunrise Returns U.S.-Russian Crew after Record-Setting Space Mission.
Collect Space: Record-setting NASA astronaut lands with space station crewmates on Soyuz MS-04.

De filmpjes:
NASA: Change of Command aboard the Space Station.
NASA: Job Well Done aboard the Space Station.
NASA: Expedition 52 Crew Lands Safely in Kazakhstan.
De volledige twee uur durende uitzending over de landing vind je hier.

Andere ISS-Nieuwtjes.
De Europese Vita-missie verloopt naar wens.
ESA: Vita: Launch, docking & hatch opening (filmpje).
ESA: Paolo prepares Kubik (timelapse).
NASA: A Look Inside the Space Station's Experimental BEAM Module.

Spaceflight101: ISS Completes Scheduled Reboost, External Robots Fetch Failed Power Unit for Internal Repairs
NasaSpaceFlight: Extended Russian EVA complete – conducts satellite deployments.
Spaceflight101: Russian Spacewalkers Collect Overtime in Busy EVA for Satellite Release, Sampling & External Outfitting
TASS:  Another spacewalk under Russian program is due in January 2018.
Spaceflight101: Gallery: Russian Cosmonauts Work Overtime Outside Space Station

DLR: Beaming instructions from space: robot experiment between the ISS and Oberpfaffenhofen.
Space News: Teledyne Brown offers ISS platform for testing spacecraft parts in orbit before flying them for real.
EnGadget: The ISS is getting a ruggedized computer upgrade.
NASA: New Mission Going to the Space Station to Explore Mysteries of 'Cosmic Rain'.

TASS: Two-orbit manned trips to ISS possible after Progress cargo craft's test flights.

Algemene repetitie voor lancering Falcon 9 en mini-pendel X-37B.
US Air Force: Air Force preparing to launch fifth Orbital Test Vehicle mission.
Spaceflight101: Falcon 9 Fires Up for Hold-Down Engine Test Ahead of X-37B OTV-5 Launch
NasaSpaceFlight: SpaceX in final preps for Falcon 9’s first mission with X-37B.
Beelden van de statische test vind je hier.

Elon Musk stelt ruimtepak voor.
ABC News: SpaceX unveils sleek, white spacesuit for astronaut travel.
Universe Today: Elon Musk Reveals New Spacex Spacesuit.
Een filmpje over het ruimtepak vind je hier.

Nog dit:
Air&Space Mag: In Pursuit of the Perfect Spacesuit.

Pad 39A wordt voorbereid voor bemande lanceringen.
Parabolic Arc: First Look at Launch Complex 39A Crew Access Arm.
Florida Today: SpaceX Crew Access Arm being prepped for 2018 installation at Kennedy Space Center.

Parabolic Arc: SpaceX Receives Approval for Dragon Facility at Cape Canaveral.

Problemen voor Spaceport America.
Parabolic Arc: Investigative Series on Spaceport America Ends With a Whimper.

Het gaat om deze reeks artikelen.
NMPolitics: Is Spaceport America taking flight?
NMPolitics: Funding woes could ‘cripple’ NM spaceport as other states invest in space race.
NMPolitics: Transparency problems plague Spaceport America.
NMPolitics: After years of delays, Virgin Galactic prepares for spaceflights from NM.
NMPolitics: How much secrecy does Spaceport America need?

En nog een debat over de ruimtehaven.
Parabolic Arc: Video: What is the Future of Spaceport America?

Vostochny: Volgende lancering nog dit jaar.
TASS: Third launch from Russia's Vostochny spaceport scheduled for December
TASS: Russia to spend $630 mln on launch pad for Angara carrier rocket at Vostochny spaceport

Russia Insider: MAJOR SUCCESS: Russia to start building infrastructure for Angara rocket at Vostochny spaceport

TASS: Russia’s Energiya space corporation picked as chief developer of Soyuz-5 carrier rocket

“Flagship”-ruimteschepen zijn nodig.
Cassini was zo’n “flagship”, een grote sonde met een uitgebreid instrumentarium.
National Academy: NASA Should Continue its Large Strategic Missions to Maintain United States’ Global Leadership in Space.
Een PDF-versie van “Powering Science: NASA’s large strategic Science Missions” is hier gratis te downloaden.
Aviation Week: NASA Flagship Missions Seen As Vital To U.S. Leadership.
 

Cubesats.
Afgelopen maand waren er heel wat nieuwtjes te rapen rond cubesats en (andere) kleine satellieten. Dat had ongetwijfeld te maken met de Small Satellite Conference in Utah.
Space News: Smallsat market forecast to exceed $30 billion in coming decade.
The Space Review: CubeSats: faster and cheaper, but are they better?

Space News: ELSE raises $3 million for Internet of Things nanosatellite constellation.
Space News: Internet of Things startup Helios Wire raises $4 million for satellites.
Space News: Iceye raises $13 million for radar microsatellites.

Space Intel Report: US Air Force seeks smallsat owner, launch provider help to avoid orbital chaos.

PhysOrg: NASA team miniaturizes century-old technology for use on CubeSats.

Via Satellite: A Look Back at Smallsats’ Challenges and Opportunities.

Veertig jaar Voyagers.
NASA: NASA’s Voyager Spacecraft Still Reaching for the Stars After 40 Years.
NASA JPL: First and Farthest: How the Voyagers Blazed Trails.
NASA JPL: Two Voyagers Taught Us How to Listen to Space.
The Planetary Society: Voyager 40th anniversary: The transformation of the solar system.
The Planetary Society: Voyager 40th anniversary: The Planetary Report's chronicles (met downloadbare nummers van The Planetary Report uit die tijd).
The Planetary Society: Voyager 40th Anniversary: Watching an Alien World Turn.
NASA JPL: An Insider's Guide to Voyager: 1977-2017.
SpaceCom: Voyager Golden Records 40 Years Later: Real Audience was Always Here on Earth.

Filmpjes:
NASA JPL: Voyager at 40: Keep Reaching for the Stars.
NASA JPL: Voyager 2 Flies by Jupiter.
NASA JPL: Voyager 1 at Saturn.
NASA JPL: Voyager 2: First Spacecraft at Uranus
NASA JPL: Voyager 2: First Spacecraft at Neptune
NASA: Voyager 1 Trajectory through the Solar System.
NASA: Voyager 2 Trajectory through the Solar System

Collect Space: NASA's Voyager probes, 40 years out, are brought near in 'The Farthest'.
Space Ref: Review of "The Farthest: Voyager in Space" - Becoming Interstellar.

Trailers voor deze documentaire vind je hier en hier.
De documentaire is officieel niet te zien in onze regio’s maar er is op YouTube al een versie beschikbaar.

Afronden doen we met deze vijf kwartier durende voordracht:
NASA JPL: Voyager: 40 Years in Space (public talk).

Curiosity vjf jaar op Mars.
NASA JPL: Curiosity’s First Five Years of Science on Mars.
NASA JPL: Rover POV: Five Years of Curiosity Driving on Mars.
SpaceCom: Ancient Mars Lakes & Laser Blasts: Curiosity Rover's 10 Biggest Moments in 1st 5 Years.

The Telegraph: Nasa's Curiosity rover will celebrate five years on Mars with a lonely birthday tune.
Collect Space: From space plane to sky crane: How part of a space shuttle landed a rover on Mars.

Het einde van Cassini.
NASA JPL: Cassini Prepares to Say Goodbye to a True Titan.
NASA JPL: NASA Announces Cassini End-of-Mission Activities.
NASA JPL: Saturn Plunge Nears for Cassini Spacecraft.
Aviation Week: Timeline: Highlights Of Cassini's 20-Year Mission.

SpaceCom: Cassini Snaps Saturn's Strange Polar Vortex During Daring Dive.
NASA JPL: Auroras Over Saturn Seen by Cassini Spacecraft (filmpje).

De persconferentie over de ‘Grand Finale’.
NASA JPL: NASA Previews Cassini's Grand Finale (news telecon with visuals).

Andere filmpjes:
NASA JPL: Cassini: The Wonder of Saturn
NASA JPL: A World Unveiled: Cassini at Titan.
Video From Space: Farewell Cassini! Why Epic Saturn Mission Must End.
NASA JPL: Cassini: A Saturn Odyssey.

Harvey.
PhysOrg: NASA watching Harvey from satellites and the International Space Station
Space Policy Online: Harvey’s historic flooding closes JSC.
Ars Technica: How NASA’s Johnson Space Center is riding out the hurricane.
NASA: NASA’s Johnson Space Center Closes Through Labor Day for Tropical Storm Harvey.
NASA JPL: NASA Working with Partners to Provide Harvey Response.
PBS Newshour: New satellite photos reveal extent of Harvey flooding in Houston.

Enkele filmpjes:
NASA: Space Station Camera Captures New Views of Hurricane Harvey (filmpje).
NOAA Satellites: GOES-16 Infrared Imagery of the Evolution of Hurricane Harvey.
NASA .GOV: IMERG Data on Rainfall From Harvey.
NASA.GOV: GPM Video of Harvey's Rainfall.
Space Video’s: Hurricane Harvey: Tracking Houstons Worst Storm Ever.
NASA.GOV: Satellite Animation Shows Harvey Moving into Ohio Valley.

Mars Sample Return.
The Planetary Society: NASA considers kicking Mars sample return into high gear.
Space News: NASA proposes rapid Mars sample return architecture.
Air&Space: A Faster, Leaner Mars Sample Return Isn’t the Good Idea It Appears to Be.

CSA: Mars Sample Return Simulation : sample retrieval and transfer (filmpje).

Nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Zon:
ESA: Tracking a solar eruption through the solar system.
NASA: NASA, ESA Spacecraft Track Solar Storm Through Space.
ESA: Gravity waves detected in sun’s interior reveal rapidly rotating core.
NASA: ESA, NASA’s SOHO Reveals Rapidly Rotating Solar Core.
Air&Cosmos: Europe's Solar Orbiter on track for 2019 launch.

Mercurius: 
ESA: BepiColombo prepares for Mercury (filmpje).

Venus:
NASA JPL: A Clockwork Rover for Venus.
The Asahi Shimbun: Akatsuki probe spots horrific winds over Venus' equator.

Aarde:
NASA Goddard: NASA Set To Launch Shoebox-sized Satellite Studying Earth's Upper Atmosphere.
EumetSat: Topex/Poseidon and Jason – 25 Years of High Precision Ocean Altimetry.
NASA Goddard: ICESat-2 Elevates Our View of Earth (filmpje).
NASA: NASA's ICESat-2 Preps for Laser Tests.
ESA: Sentinel-1 speeds up crop insurance payouts.
Via Satellite: Can Satellites Solve the Farmer Suicide Crisis in India?
NASA: NASA Sees Washington State "Under Fire".
EumetSat: Record-breaking smoke from Canadian fires seen over Europe.
NASA: NASA’s Van Allen Probes Survive Extreme Radiation Five Years On.

Maan:
SpaceCom: A Fully Automated Science Lab Could Be Coming to NASA's New Lunar Station.
New Scientist: Tethered satellites could see the moon’s weird swirls up close.
GLXP: Google Lunar Xprize offers $4.75 million to teams who complete in-space milestones on way to the Moon.
Space News: Google Lunar X Prize teams get extra time to win competition.
Air&Space: One Small Step for Lunar Commerce.
KoreaTimes: Korea delays lunar orbiter launch to 2020.
SpaceCom: Moon History: Group Works to Protect Apollo Landing Sites.

Mars:
Space Daily: Opportunity seeks energy-favorable locations to recharge during winter.
ESA: The Moving Martian Bow Shock.
Universe Today: Mars Express captures Mars’ moving bow shock.
UAHiRISE: The Case of the Missing Crater Rim
SpaceCom: NASA's Curiosity Rover Spots Wispy Clouds in Martian Skies. 
New Scientist: It's probably snowing on Mars (filmpje).
SciShow Space: Snowstorms on Mars!
New Scientist: Ice at Mars’s equator hints the planet was once much more tilted.
NASA JPL: NASA's Next Mars Mission to Investigate Interior of Red Planet.
NasaSpaceFlight: Mars spacecraft back on track to provide InSight into the Red Planet.
ChinaOg: Robots to perform a key role on Mars.
SciShow Space: 3 Mars Mysteries We Really Should Have Solved By Now (filmpje).

Jupiter:
NASA JPL: Juno Scientists Prepare for Seventh Science Pass of Jupiter.
SpaceCom: NASA Juno Probe Makes 7th Close Flyby of Jupiter.

Saturnus:
Space Ref: Inside-Out Movie Of Saturn's Ring.
Universe Today: Dragonfly proposed to NASA as daring new frontiers mission to Titan.

Pluto:
NasaSpaceFlight: New Horizons’ target a “science bonanza”, potential close or contact binary.
SpaceCom: Pluto Probe May Get 2 Objects for Price of 1 During Next Flyby.

Bennu:
NASA: NASA’s Asteroid Sample Return Mission Successfully Adjusts Course.

Moet lancering JWST uitgesteld worden?
Space News: Spaceport schedule conflict could delay JWST launch.
NASA: NASA Tests the Webb Telescope’s Communication Skills.

Noord-Korea.
The New York Times: North Korea’s Missile Success Is Linked to Ukrainian Plant, Investigators Say
Yuzhnoye: Denial of the Article “The Secret Of The North Korea’s ICBM Succes” . . . 
SpaceCom: Re-Entry Vehicle Failed During North Korea's 2nd ICBM Test, Video Suggests.
Space News: Ukrainian government investigation concludes no engine transfers to North Korea.

Space News: North Korea puts spotlight on U.S. space-based missile defense.
Parabolic Arc: North Korea’s Kim Jong-un Helping to Keep Alaska Aerospace in Business.
Space News: No aerospace firms among Chinese, Russian entities Treasury just sanctioned for North Korea ties.

Om af te ronden: Dood de ruimte in.
Russia Beyond The Headlines: Blast off into eternity: Russian company to send the dead into space.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen