Met de terugkeer van 3 ISS-bewoners (waaronder 2 nieuwe recordhouders) zal het ruimtestation voor een tijdje slechts 3 bewoners kennen. Eerst in april vertrekt er een Soyuz met een nieuwe bemanning. Op de eerste bemande vlucht in kader van het Commercial Crew programma blijft het nog even wachten. De Crew Dragon ligt nu duidelijk in pole-position, zeker gezien de recente software-problemen bij de demo-vlucht van Starliner (die er al niet in slaagde om naar het ISS te vliegen). Verder is OneWeb begonnen met zijn satellietnetwerk. Zij gaan de concurrentie aan met Starlink. Ondertussen zijn we in blijde verwachting van de Europese Solar Orbiter, kende Cheops ‘first light’ en is een Belgische cubesat op weg naar zijn lanceerraket. Dat en nog veel meer in het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart van deze week.

Bij de foto: Had de sneeuw niet bruin gekleurd, je zou niet meteen weten waar je de Soyuz-capsule moet zoeken. Het terugkeergedeelte bracht 3 ISS-bewoners veilig en wel terug naar de Aarde. Die werden kort na de landing ondergebracht in de lange tent, rechts van het midden. Foto NASA/Bill Ingalls.

Eerste 34 OneWeb satellieten gelanceerd met Soyuz door Arianespace.
OneWeb: OneWeb successfully launches 34 more satellites into orbit.
Arianespace: Mission success: Arianespace and Starsem launch 34 OneWeb satellites to help bridge the digital divide.
Een persmap vind je hier (PDF).
Foto’s van de lancering vind je hier.

NasaSpaceFlight: The 50th Arianespace, Starsem mission completes OneWeb launch.
SpaceCom: OneWeb launches 34 internet satellites into orbit to boost broadband megaconstellation.

GovUK: 34 satellites launched in one night.
BBC: OneWeb: London start-up launches first big batch of satellites.

Spaceflight Now: First satellites off OneWeb’s new Florida assembly line set for launch this week.
Spaceflight Now: Soyuz rolls out to launch pad with OneWeb satellites
Spaceflight Now: Successful Soyuz launch deploys 34 satellites for OneWeb network.

Space News: OneWeb plans April launch break to tweak satellite design.

OneWeb wil geen 720 maar 1980 satellieten.
Space News: OneWeb, U.S. senator, urge FCC to act on 2018 request for 1,260 more satellites.

De filmpjes:
Arianespace: Arianespace TV ST27 Launch Sequence.
Arianespace: Arianespace ST27 Successful Mission.
Arianespace: Arianespace ST27 Full Launch (het live verslag).

SciNews: Soyuz-2.1b ready to launch 34 OneWeb satellites.
SciNews: Soyuz-2.1b launches 34 OneWeb satellites.

Starlink en andere satellietconstellaties.
New Scientist: Legal action could be used to stop Starlink affecting telescope images.
Popular Mechanics: Astronomers Might Sue the FCC Over SpaceX's Starlink.
SpaceQ: The Canadian Astronomical Society issues a statement on satellite constellations.

Parabolic Arc: Shotwell: SpaceX Could Spinoff Starlink as IPO.
Geek Wire: Report: SpaceX is planning to spin out Starlink satellite broadband network and take it public.
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX considers Starlink spinoff as teams ready for mid-February launch.

Parabolic Arc: SpaceX, Kepler and Swarm Included on Australian List of Foreign Providers.
Teslarati: SpaceX Starlink is a step closer to beaming satellite internet to Australia.

Het toekomstbeeld?
AGI: 57,000 Planned Satellites.

Dit lijkt me best grappig.
Sputnik News: SpaceX’s Starlink 5G Project Poses Immediate Threat of Extinction to Life on Earth – Report.

Lancering Solar Orbiter op 10 februari (5u03 onze tijd).
NASA: Atlas V Rocket, Solar Orbiter Spacecraft Arrive at Launch Pad.

Mét een Belgisch instrument!
KSB: 10 februari 2020 — Lancering Solar Orbiter.
Volg de lancering o.a. via de Twitter-account van het EUI-instrument.

Airbus: Solar Orbiter ready for its close-up with the Sun.
NASA: How ESA-NASA’s Solar Orbiter Beats the Heat.

Er was deze week o.a. een Science Briefing. Deze kan je hier herbekijken.
Geïnteresseerd in de filmpjes en foto’s die tijdens deze Science Briefing getoond werden?
Wel, dat vind je allemaal hier.
Beelden van de pre-launch briefing vind je hier.
Ondertussen is de raket naar het lanceerplatform gebracht, beelden vind je hier.

Wie de lancering live wil volgen kan o.a. hier terecht.
Bij ULA vind je een korte “mission overview” voor deze lancering (PDF).
Over de lancering en de uiteindelijke baan van Solar Orbiter:
ESA: Solar Orbiter launch and deployment sequence.
ESA: Solar Orbiter: journey around the Sun.

In vorige NUDR’s werd er al veel aandacht besteed aan ESA’s Solar Orbiter.
Bij deze nog enkele informerende prentjes.
ESA: Solar Orbiter: what’s new.
ESA: Solar Orbiter: Operating in extreme environments.
ESA: Solar Orbiter: Answering the big questions.
ESA: Solar Orbiter Instruments.
ESA: Extreme exploration with Solar Orbiter and Parker Solar Probe.
ESA: Missions studying the Sun.
ESA: Anatomy of the Sun.

Iran (bijna) klaar om opnieuw een satelliet te lanceren.
Times Of Israel: After failed launch last year, Iran preparing to send satellites into space

Sputnik News: Iran Doubles Down on Plans to Launch Imaging Satellites Despite US Sanctions, Launch Failures.
Sputnik News: Iran to Launch Zafar Satellite at Earliest Possible Opportunity – Defence Ministry.

Ars Technica: Troubled Iranian rocket industry preparing for another launch attempt.
NPR: Imagery Suggests Iran Is Preparing To Try To Launch A Satellite.

Radio Farda: Iran Satellite Launch Delayed For Time-Being, Space Official Says.

Nog dit:
Space News: Satellites at war: A week of U.S.-Iran tensions sum up military reliance on space.

ISS – Drie ruimtevaarders verlaten het ruimtestation. Het einde van Luca’s Beyond-missie.
US National Lab: NASA Astronaut Christina Koch to Return From Record-Setting Mission.
Roscosmos: Oleg Skripochka assumes command of the ISS.
TASS: ISS crew returning to Earth boards Soyuz MS-13, closes hatches.
Roscosmos: Soyuz MS-13 undocked from ISS.

SpaceCom: Record-breaking astronaut Christina Koch talks space records and more.

ESA: The science behind and beyond Luca's mission.

Filmpjes:
NASA: Expedition 61 - 62 Change of Command Ceremony.
NASA: Expedition 61 Soyuz MS13 Farewells and Hatch Closure - February 5, 2020 (live uitzending).
NASA: Expedition 61 Soyuz MS 13 Undocking - February 5, 2020 (live uitzending).
Wat korte versies:
SciNews: Soyuz MS-13 hatch closure.
SciNews: Soyuz MS-13 undocking and departure.

NASA: Advice on Returning to Earth for Astronaut Christina Koch from Scott Kelly.

ESA: Intense ‘Beyond’ mission for Luca
ESA: Multi-site in-flight call with ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano.

NASA: Christina Koch - Space Station Scientist.
NASA: Expedition 61 PAO InFlight with Christina Koch and Various Media.

ISS – Twee recordhouders terug op Aarde.
NASA: NASA Astronaut’s Record-Setting Mission Helps Scientists for Future Missions.
NASA: Record-Setting NASA Astronaut, Crewmates Return from Space Station.
Roscosmos: Utyosy are back to Earth.
Roscosmos: Cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov is back home.
ESA: Record-breaking spacewalker returns from orbit.

NasaSpaceFlight: Soyuz MS-13 crew return to Earth.
Spaceflight Now: Koch and crewmates back on Earth.
Collect Space: Astronaut Christina Koch lands on Earth after record-setting mission.
BBC: Christina Koch: Nasa astronaut sets new female space record.

De filmpjes.
NASA: Expedition 61 - Soyuz MS 13 Deorbit Burn and Landing - Full Broadcast - February 6, 2020 (live uitzending).
NASA: Christina Koch Returns To Earth (kort).
NASA: Expedition 61 Crew Receives a Warm Welcome in Kazakhstan.

ESA: Luca Parmitano: return to Earth.
ESA: Luca Parmitano: back from Beyond (interview).
ESA: Luca speaks with European media.

ISS – Cubesats en een nieuwe Cygnus lanceringsklaar.
Spaceflight Now: Cygnus departs space station, deploys CubeSats.
NanoRacks: Nanoracks Deploys 250th Satellite, Eighth Cygnus Mission.

Over de nieuwe Cygnus:
Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman Set to Launch Cygnus Spacecraft to the International Space Station for NASA.
NASA: New Research Launching to Station Aboard Northrop Grumman’s 13th Resupply Mission.
America Space: Antares Raised For NG CRS-13 Launch (filmpje)
CSA: Canadarm2 gears up to catch Cygnus ship on a resupply run to International Space Station.

De lancering is gepland nu zondag, 9 februari om 23u39, live te volgen via deze link.

ISS – De blogentries, Daily Summary Reports en Science Highlights.
NASA: Space Station Blog: Station Preps for Crew Departure and New U.S. Cargo Ship.
NASA: Space Station Blog: Station Crew Splits Up Thursday before Next Cargo Mission.
NASA: Space Station Blog: NASA TV Broadcasts Return of Christina Koch and Expedition 61 Crewmates.
NASA: Space Station Blog: Expedition 61 Crew Enters Soyuz Crew Ship, Says Farewell Before Homecoming.
NASA: Space Station Blog: Expedition 61 Crew with Christina Koch Prepares to Undock Live on NASA TV.
NASA: Space Station Blog: Christina Koch Undocks in Soyuz Crew Ship With Expedition 61 Crew.
NASA: Space Station Blog: Christina Koch Completes 328-Day Mission in Space.

NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 1/31/2020.
NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 2/03/2020.
NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 2/04/2020.
NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 2/05/2020.

NASA: Space Station Science Highlights: Week of February 3, 2020.

ISS – Meer nieuws uit het ruimtestation.
TASS: Launch of Nauka module in November hardly possible, says Roscosmos chief.

ESA: Space station to forge ultra-fast connections.

Filmpjes:
NASA: Space to Ground: Record Breaking: 02/07/2020
NASA: SpaceCast Weekly - February 7, 2020.
NASA: Christina Koch’s Memorable Moments: Part 5

China en zijn ruimtestation.
ECSN: China's Long March-5B carrier rocket arrives at launch site.
Met enkele foto’s en een video.

CCTV: China's Long March-5B Carrier Rocket Arrives at Launch Site for Rehearsals, Maiden Flight (filmpje).

Commercial Crew: Boeing in erger problemen dan gedacht na testvlucht Starliner.
NASA: NASA Shares Initial Findings from Boeing Starliner Orbital Flight Test Investigation.
Boeing: Statement on Independent Review Team Recommendations for the Starliner Orbital Flight Test Anomalies.

Space News: NASA safety panel calls for reviews after second Starliner software problem.
Space News: Starliner investigation finds numerous problems in Boeing software development process.

Parabolic Arc: Starliner Software Sign of Systemic Problems at Boeing.
SpaceCom: Boeing's Starliner test flight had a 2nd critical software issue, NASA panel finds (report).
The Verge: Boeing’s passenger spacecraft actually suffered a second unknown software glitch during debut flight.

Filmpje:
Bij NASA was de Media Call niet meteen terug te vinden, gelukkig nam iemand alles op:
America Space: NASA & Boeing Update on Starliner OFT Investigation (Feb 7 media call).
NPR: NASA Calls For Reviews Of Boeing Spacecraft After Software Bugs Plague Test Flight (podcast).
What About It?: SpaceX Starship Updates – Possible Starship launch date - Starliner Problems Worsening.

Ook dit nog:
Collect Space: New Boeing video shows Snoopy's ride on Starliner orbital flight test.

Blue Origin test maanmotor. 
SpaceCom: Blue Origin will test moon lander engine at Air Force rocket lab.
Geek Wire: Air Force and Blue Origin team up on a new California test site for BE-7 lunar lander engine.

Nog dit:
Florida Today: At Cape Canaveral, Blue Origin's water tower is one of the tallest in the world.

Als afsluiter:
Pararbolic Arc: Bezos Sells More Amazon Shares.

Artemis – Is er iets aan de hand met CLPS?
Space News: Industry puzzled by NASA withdrawal of CLPS task order.

Artemis – SLS/Orion.
Aerojet Rocketdyne delivers RL10 engines that will help send NASA astronauts to deep space.
NasaSpaceFlight: Upper Stage RL10s arrive at Stennis for upcoming SLS launches.

Spaceflight Now: First SLS core stage installed on test stand in Mississippi.

Een filmpje:
America Space: Workhorse RL-10 Engine to Power SLS Artemis Upper Stage.

Artemis – Naar de Maan in 2024 (?).
NPR: A Moon Landing In 2024? NASA Says It'll Happen; Others Say: No Way.
The Space Review: New challenges for NASA’s Moon 2024 goal.

NASA Podcast: Rocket Ranch Episode 19: Launching Artemis.

SpaceX – Starship.
Teslarati: SpaceX ramps Starship hiring as Elon Musk talks Texas rocket factory's "awesome" progress
Teslarati: SpaceX Starship factory eyes cutting-edge industry solutions for inspiration [updated].

The Verge: SpaceX requests permission to fly new Starship rocket on 12-mile-high test flight.
Parabolic Arc: SpaceX Seeks FCC Approval to Fly Starship to 20 Km.

Voyager weer in orde.
Al is daar op de Voyager-website van NASA nog niks van te lezen.
SpaceCom: Voyager 2 bounces back from glitch in interstellar space.
VRT NWS: NASA krijgt ruimtesonde Voyager 2 op 18,5 miljard kilometer afstand weer aan de praat.

Belgische PICASSO zet belangrijke stap richting lancering.
AAC Clyde Space: AAC Clyde Space delivers PICASSO, the golden cubesat.
Zie ook dit Twitter-bericht.

Meer nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Zon:
SpaceCom: NASA's Parker Solar Probe spotted 'stealth' outburst on the sun.

Aarde:
De Tijd: Familie Frère koopt 'ogen van de planeet'.
NASA: NASA’s CALIPSO Satellite Animation Shows Smoke from Australian Fires, Spreading High and Far East (met filmpje).
PhysOrg: NASA satellite observes Tropical Storm Francisco's formation
ESA: Space key to wetland conservation.
ESA: Copernicus4regions debate (filmpje).
NASA: NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Earth Science Mission.

Maan:
ECNS: China's lunar rover travels 367 meters on moon's far side.
BBC: Green light for UK commercial telecoms Moon mission.
SciTechDaily: Moon Rocks Analyzed Atom by Atom Using New Technique.

Mars:
Inside Outer Space: Curiosity Mars Rover: Mission-record Setting Tilt.
Inside Outer Space: Curiosity Mars Rover: Go for 24th Drill Hole.
SpaceCom: This picture is from Mars. It's probably not what you think.
NASA: MAVEN Explores Mars to Understand Radio Interference at Earth (filmpje).
SpaceCom: Discovery of 'rifts' and 'layers' above Mars may aid radio communications on Earth.

Saturnus:
DeltaVeeMedia: Exploring Titan Cassini Huygens Dragonfly Taster (filmpje)(voordracht).

Pluto:
Spaceflight Insider: Pluto’s hazy atmosphere is similar to that of Titan.
Science Daily: Pluto's icy heart makes winds blow.
New Scientist: Pluto's icy nitrogen heart makes its atmosphere spin backwards.

Allerlei kometennieuws:
ESA: Rosetta and the chameleon comet.
Gizmodo: Comet 67P Repeatedly Changed Color During the Historic Rosetta Mission.
ESA: ESA starts definition phase for Comet Interceptor.

En nog dit:
NASA JPL: Beyond the Pale Blue Dot: Seeing Distant Planets (Live Public Talk).

‘First light’ voor Cheops.
ESA: A perfect blur – First image by exoplanet watcher Cheops.
ESA: Cheops image of its first target star.

SpaceX – Falcon 9 nieuws.
Teslarati: SpaceX rocket booster makes it back to port after hard drone ship landing.
Teslarati: SpaceX's workhorse rocket is almost halfway to reaching ambitious reusability goals.
Teslarati: SpaceX's next rocket launch on track to break a 20-month-old booster reusability record.

Via Satellite: SpaceX Now Accepts Bookings for Dedicated Small Satellite Launches.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen