Het leek een al bij al vrij rustige ruimtevaartweek te worden. Met o.a. een nieuwe bevoorradingsvlucht naar het ISS, de aankondiging van een nieuw langdurig verblijf aan boord van datzelfde ruimtestation, het wekelijkse SpaceX-blokje, commentaren op de nieuwe deadline om tegen 2024 weer mensen (Amerikanen) op de maan te zetten, Space Force, water op de maan, heel wat nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte alsook van talloze cubesats- en smallsat-constellaties.

Tot afgelopen nacht. Want bij een test van de Super Draco motoren van een Crew Dragon capsule, ontplofte de ganse boel. Zo lijken de eerste berichten toch te vertellen. Het is nog vroeg om al conclusies te trekken, aangezien niet alle feiten gekend zijn. Maar het lijkt er op dat de eerste bemande lancering van deze capsule wellicht niet deze zomer zal zijn. Dat en dus nog veel meer in het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart van deze week.

Bij de foto: Het leek een rustig dagje op het strand te worden, tot in de verte een Crew Dragon ontplofte. Foto afkomstig uit het Twitter-bericht van Emre Kelly.

Crew Dragon capsule ontploft bij testen motoren.
NasaSpaceFlight: SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft suffers an anomaly during static fire testing at Cape Canaveral.
Aviation Week: SpaceX Reports Anomaly During Crew Dragon Engine Test.
Ars Technica: SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft had an anomaly during tests Saturday.
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX confirms anomaly during Crew Dragon abort engine test.
Space News: SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft suffers anomaly during ground tests.

En nog een filmpje:
Scott Manley: SpaceX's Crew Dragon Capsule Destroyed In Engine Test.

Chinezen lanceren navigatiesatelliet.
China Daily: China launches new BeiDou satellite.
CGTN: China's Long March-3A rocket series completes its 100th launch.
NasaSpaceFlight: Beidou-3 navigation satellite launched on Long March 3B.

Beelden van de lancering vind je hier.

ISS – Cygnus op weg naar ruimtestation ...
NASA: Northrop Grumman's 11th Cargo Launch Prepares to Launch to Station.
Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman Set to Launch 11th Cargo Delivery Mission to the International Space Station for NASA.
Spaceflight Now: Northrop Grumman introducing new capabilities on Cygnus cargo craft.
NASA: Northrop Grumman Carries Technology, Scientific Investigations on Mission to Space Station.
Science Times: NASA Sends Mice on a Mission in Space.

NASA: NASA’s New Flying Robots: Bee-ing in Space for the First Time.
Een filmpje over deze robotjes vind je hier.

NASA: Northrop Grumman Engineers Load Final Cargo for Cygnus Launch.
Spaceflight Now: Antares launch timeline on the NG-11 mission.

NASA: Northrop Grumman Heads to Space Station with New NASA Science, Cargo.
Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman Successfully Launches 11th Cargo Delivery Mission to the International Space Station for NASA.
Thales Group: Cygnus spacecraft to the International Space Station.

NasaSpaceFlight: Antares, Cygnus launch on final CRS1 contract flight; debuting critical new capabilities.
Space News: Antares launches Cygnus on ISS cargo mission

Foto’s:
Spaceflight Now: Photos: Antares reaches launch pad in Virginia for space station cargo mission.
Spaceflight Now: Photos: Ground crews load final cargo into Cygnus supply ship.

De filmpjes: 
NASA: Scientific Investigations Set for Space on NG CRS-11.
NASA: Space Station Science Aboard Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus Spacecraft.
NASA: Northrop Grumman's CRS-11 Mission: What's on Board?
NASA: Prelaunch Status Briefing for Northrup Grumman Mission to Space Station.

Northrop Grumman: NG-11 Mission Overview.
NASA: U.S. Commercial Cargo Ship Heads to the International Space Station.
Het volledige live-verslag van de lancering vind je hier.
NASA: Post launch Status Briefing for Northrup Grumman Mission to Space Station.

NASA: Expedition 59 Northrop Grumman Cygnus 11 Solar Array Deployment April 17, 2019.

ISS – … en Cygnus komt aan bij het ruimtestation.
Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus Spacecraft Successfully Completes Rendezvous and Berthing with International Space Station.
NASA: Cygnus Cargo Craft Attached to Station Until July.
NasaSpaceFlight: NG-11 Cygnus, S.S. Roger Chaffee, brings the science to ISS.
SpaceCom: Cygnus Cargo Spaceship Makes Easter Delivery to International Space Station.

De filmpjes:
SciNews: NG-11: S.S. Roger Chaffee Cygnus capture.
SciNews: NG-11: S.S. Roger Chaffee Cygnus berthing.
NASA: Cygnus CRS 11 Rendezvous and Capture - April 19, 2019 (de live uitzending).
NASA: Cygnus CRS 11 Installation to the ISS - April 19, 2019 (de live uitzending).

ISS – Nieuwe recordvlucht op komst.
NASA: NASA Announces First Flight, Record-Setting Mission.
Collect Space: Astronaut Christina Koch to set record for longest mission by woman.
Space News: Two NASA astronauts to get extended ISS stays.
Geek Wire: NASA sets up more ‘Near Year in Space’ stays, including a record-setter for women.
SpaceCom: Breaking Records: How Astronaut Christina Koch's Extended Space Mission Will Make History

Een filmpje:
NASA: Astronauts Koch and Meir React to International Space Station Mission Updates.
NASA: Astronaut Christina Koch Talks About Her Mission on Space Station

ISS – Robotic Refueling Mission kent problemen.
NASA: Robotic Refueling Mission 3 Update - April 12, 2019

ISS – Meer nieuwtjes.
Beginnen doen we met een samenvatting van het hierboven al vermelde nieuws:
NASA: Space to Ground: Marathon Mission: 04/19/2019 (filmpje).

Spacewatch Middle East: UAE select Hazzaa Al Mansoori as fist Emirati astronaut to ISS.
TASS: Saudi Arabia interested in Russia’s manned space missions — Roscosmos.

TASS: Medics to decide in May if cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky ready for third flight to ISS.
TASS: US astronaut begins training in Russia ahead of Starliner flight.
ESA: Luca Parmitano training for second mission (filmpje).
Luca en zijn twee metgezellen hielden al een persconferentie:
NASA: Expedition 60-61 Crew News Conference (filmpje).

Maar ook:
Space Policy Online: ISS Crew Rotations Through Spring 2020 Do Not Include Commercial Crew Flights.

En nog wat filmpjes:
CSA: Sickness – Questions and answers with David Saint-Jacques live from space.
CSA: Indigenous culture – Questions and answers with David Saint-Jacques live from space.
CSA: Cosmic radiation – Questions and answers with David Saint-Jacques live from space.

SpaceX – Falcon Heavy – Core Booster tuimelt van bergingsplatform.
Teslarati: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy center core goes overboard, Elon Musk still hopeful.
Space News: Falcon Heavy center core toppled after landing.
Spaceflight Now: Falcon Heavy core booster lost in rough seas after drone ship landing.
Teslarati: SpaceX Falcon Heavy booster tips over on drone ship, returns to port in pieces.

Filmpjes:
US Launch Report: SpaceX First Ever Reusable Fairings Return To Port 04-15-2019.
US Launch Report: SpaceX - First EVER Reusable Fairings Lift To Shore 04-16-2019.

Over de volgende Falcon Heavy:
Teslarati: SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy flies a complex mission for the Air Force in launch video
Het filmpje vind je hier.

SpaceX- Meer nieuws.
Teslarati: SpaceX ships two Falcon boosters to Florida for a busy spring of launches.
SpaceCom: SpaceX's Next Space Station Cargo Launch Delayed to April 30.

Via Satellite: SpaceX Raises Additional $500 Million.
Universe Today: SpaceX’s Starlink Constellation Construction Begins. 2,200 Satellites Will go up Over the Next 5 years.

Blue Origin gaat NASA-teststand gebruiken.
NASA: NASA, Blue Origin Agreement Signals Rocketing Growth of Commercial Space.
NasaSpaceFlight: Blue Origin sign up historic test stand for engine testing.
Geek Wire: Blue Origin strikes a deal with NASA to use a historic rocket test stand in Alabama.

Inzittenden recentste SpaceShipTwo-vlucht krijgen hun “astronaut wings”.
Virgin Galactic: Three Virgin Galactic crew presented with Commercial Astronaut Wings at 35th National Space Symposium.
Reuters: Virgin Galactic's first test passenger gets commercial astronaut wings.

PhysOrg: No nausea for Beth Moses, Virgin's space tourist trainer.

Naar de maan in 2024 (SLS/Orion/Gateway/...).
Ars Technica: How much will the Moon plan cost? We should know in two weeks.
Space News: NASA’s accelerated moon plans create uncertainty for international partners.
Space News: Op-ed | Lunar Gateway or Moon Direct?

NASA: Moon’s South Pole in NASA’s Landing Sites.

NASA: Gateway at Kennedy Space Center (filmpje).

The Hill: This is not the time to abandon NASA's Space Launch System.
Parabolic Arc: Launch Team One Step Closer to Certification for EM-1.
NasaSpaceFlight: Boeing, NASA look to finish first SLS Core Stage by end of year.
NASA: NASA Accelerates Pace of Core Stage Production with New Tool.

Naar Mars in 2033?
Space News: Independent report concludes 2033 human Mars mission is not feasible.
Space Policy Online: STPI: Human Mission to Orbit Mars in 2033 ‘infeasible”.
Het rapport (175 pagina’s) is hier te downloaden (PDF).

Overlijdens: Bykovsky, Garriott en Cobb.
Collect Space: Vostok cosmonaut Valery Bykovsky, who flew three missions, dies.

Collect Space: Owen Garriott, Skylab and space shuttle astronaut, dies at 88.
KSC Visitor Complex: Tell Me A Story: Owen Garriott’s “Gotcha” During Skylab 3 (filmpje).

ABC News: America's 1st female astronaut candidate, Jerrie Cobb, dies.

Amerikaanse satellieten “bezoeken” Russische en Chinese GEOsats.
Space Daily: US satellites reported to have approached Russian, Chinese GEO satellites.
Het rapport vind je hier (PDF).

Space Force – NSPL – SDA.
In vorige NUDR’s was al het een en het ander te lezen over de National Security Space Launch competitie (de opvolger van EELV – Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle). Diegene die bezig zijn met nieuwe raketten te ontwikkelen, zouden maar wat graag hebben dat de competitie voor enige tijd uitgesteld zou worden. Om zo toch meer kansen te krijgen
Space News: Air Force firmly opposed to delaying National Security Space Launch competition.
Space News: Air Force insists launch competition must stay on schedule.

Geostationaire satellieten krijgen klappen. Steeds meer bedrijven denken aan constellaties van tientallen tot honderden kleinere satellieten in een lage aardbaan. Ook bij de Amerikaanse militairen wordt meer en meer in die richting gedacht.
Via Satellite: New SDA Director Unveils Future LEO Space Architecture.
Space News: Air Force Secretary Wilson fires back at SDA: Satellites in LEO can’t replace legacy systems.
Space News: Hyten: Hypersonic missile defense satellites a job for the Space Development Agency.
Space News: Space Development Agency aims to issue first RFI this summer.
Space Com: Space agency has an ambitious plan to launch ‘hundreds’ of small satellites. Can it get off the ground.

En er is natuurlijk nog altijd de “Space Force”.
Secure World Foundation: Making Sense of Trump's Space Force.
PBS News Hour: Acting Defense Secretary Shanahan discusses Space Force at Senate hearing (video).
Space News: Defense officials get a grilling at Space Force hearing.
Space Policy Online: Senators unsure about need for Space Force.
Space News: Air Force has a plan to get Space Force up and running as soon as Congress gives the green light.

Arms Control Association: U.S. Seeks New Space-Based Capabilities.
Spacewatch: Space Wars: US and allies discuss combined space operations initiative.

Er wordt ook een harde strijd geleverd voor de vestiging van het hoofdkwartier van de Space Force.
CBS Denver: Possible Space Command Headquarters In Colorado Excites Aerospace Industry.
KeyT: Vandenberg Air Force Base eyed as potential home for new US Space Command.
Florida Today: Space Force in Florida? Gov. DeSantis pushes to have Trump's Space Command based here.

En om dit hoofdstukje af te ronden, nog een interessante korte documentaire over de Space Force.
Center for Strategic & International Studies: Commanding Space: The Story Behind the Space Force.

De Dag Der Kosmonauten en ander Russisch ruimtevaartnieuws.
TASS: Putin vows all possible support to Russian space sector.
TASS: Cosmonautics Day important for everyone in space industry — NASA.
TASS: Three fourths of Russians convinced their country is leader in space — survey.

TASS: Fully robotized space exploration impossible — Russian space official.

TASS: Russian cosmonauts prepping for Crew Dragon flight to take several years, says expert.
TASS: Cosmonauts to learn making in-flight decisions without commands from Earth.
TASS: Claims against Roscosmos should not be projected at CEO Rogozin, Kremlin says.
TASS: US space program depends on Russia’s RD-180 rocket engines - deputy PM.

LADEE en water op de maan.
NASA: Meteoroid Strikes Eject Precious Water From Moon.
NASA: What is LADEE, the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer?
Een filmpje over de ontdekking vind je hier.

Nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Mercurius:
EurekAlert!: A closer look at Mercury's spin and gravity reveals the planet's inner solid core.
EurekAlert!: Scientists find evidence Mercury has a solid inner core.

Aarde: 
Live Science: 'Alien' Lights in Norway Were a NASA Test, Not an Extraterrestrial Visit.
ESA: Earth from space: Maritime highways.
Los Alamos National Lab: Data mining digs up hidden clues to major California earthquake triggers.
SpaceCom: Notre Dame Fire Damage Spotted from Space (Photo).
NASA: How NASA Earth Data Aids America, State by State.
Ars Technica: Surprise! Satellites show that thermometers don’t lie.

Maan:
PhysOrg: Beresheet: First privately-funded mission crashes on moon, but its significance is huge.
GeekWire: Beresheet bummer: Investigation of Israeli lunar lander’s crash points to human factor.
Spaceflight Now: Errant command doomed Israeli moon lander, officials vow to try again.
The Jerusalem Post: SpaceIL reveals preliminary reasons behind Beresheet crash.

Mars:
Universe Today: Scientists are Trying to Figure Out Why InSight’s “Mole” Can’t Dig Any Deeper.
The Martian Chronicles: Sol 2374: Taking some time for remote science.
The Martian Chronicles: Sol 2375: CheMin Success at Aberlady!
Universe Today: Curiosity has Finally Sampled a Clay-Rich Region on Mars.
Weekly Space Hangout: Apr 17, 2019 - Dr. Dorothy Oehler Talks "Is there Methane on Mars?"
SETI Institute: Mars Exploration Rovers: Spirit and Opportunity with Nathalie Cabrol.
JPL: Things Are Stacking up for NASA's Mars 2020 Spacecraft.
TASS: Scientists suggest testing Russia’s Martian moon probe on Apophis asteroid first.

Jupiter:
Met drie interessante filmpjes:
NASA: Commanding the Spacecraft: Juno, welcome to Jupiter.
NASA: Juno Engineering: Precision Matters.
NASA: The Story of Data: Unexpected Data Discoveries from Juno.

Saturnus:
NASA: NASA's Cassini Reveals Surprises with Titan's Lake.

Neptunus:
Universe Today: NASA Wants to Send a Low-Cost Mission to Explore Neptune’s Moon Triton.

Planetoïden:
The Science Times: Defending the Earth from Asteroids.
XinhuaNet: China invites world scientists to explore asteroid, comet together.
SciNews: China seeks partners for Chang’e-6 and asteroid missions (filmpje).
Space News: China to Launch Ambitious Asteroid-Comet Mission in 2022.

Amerikaanse ruimtevaart-industrie is booming.
Space News: Space investment hits record high in 2018.
Fox Business: Investment in US space industry reaches record levels in 2018.

Spacewatch Global: Space Robotics Market to surpass $3,5BN by 2025.

En naar aanleiding van de onduidelijkheid rond de Space Force en het nieuwe SDA (zie één van de vorige hoofdstukjes):
Space News: Space industry in wait-and-see mode amid organizational shuffle.

Nieuws uit de wereld der kleine satellieten.
Parabolic Arc: BlackSky Completes Critical On-Orbit Milestones with Global-1 and -2 Satellites.
Spacewatch Global: Scottish New Space: Alba Orbital sells seven PocketQube satellites on Rocket Lab launch mission
Air & Cosmos: Safran Reosc develops mini-camera for nanosatellite.
NASA: NASA Demos CubeSat Laser Communications Capability.
Space News: Sky and Space Global, low on cash, seeks new investors for IoT constellation.
Space News: LyteLoop plans dozens of smallsats for data-in-motion secure storage service.

Via Satellite: Made in Space Develops In-Space Manufacturing System for Smallsat Interferometry.
Space News: Made In Space unveils small satellite interferometry tool.

Satellite Servicing / Debris Removal.
Space News: Thales Alenia Space mulls satellite servicing venture.
Via Satellite: Maxar to Ship NASA’s Restore-L Spacecraft in 2020.

PhysOrg: Ridding space of old satellites and debris.

Intelsat-29e “total loss”.
Intelsat: Intelsat Reports Intelsat 29e Satellite Failure.
Space News: Intelsat-29e declared a total loss
Reuters: Intelsat says satellite made by Boeing fails.

The Verge: The latest lost satellite is now space junk that could put other spacecraft at risk.

En een beetje de samenvatting van het nieuws van vorige week.
Spaceflight Now: Stricken with fuel leak, Intelsat 29e seen drifting in geostationary orbit

Oef: Geen pepsi-reclame in de ruimte.
Space News: Pepsi drops plans to use orbital billboard.

Ook dat nog: Usain Bolt – Ook de snelste in de ruimte.
ODN: Can you sprint in space?! Usain Bolt’s most bizarre races.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen