Afgelopen woensdag werd een hoogtepunt in de Belgische ruimtevaart met het uitzetten van QARMAN, een Belgische cubesat van het von Karman Instituut. Eerder werd een Belgische internetmodem afgeleverd bij het ruimtestation. En er is nog meer Belgisch fraais op komst. Deze week waren er ook alweer 4 lanceringen. Die van SpaceX hadden pech bij de recovery van de eerste trap. En de ruimtevaart maakte opnieuw een slachtoffer. Mad Mike werd door velen misschien eerder als een curiosum beschouwd, de man kwam dit weekend om het leven toen hij zijn stoomraket wou lanceren. Dat en nog veel meer in het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart van deze week.

Bij de foto: De lancering van de Belgische cubesat QARMAN.

Belgisch ruimtevaartnieuws: Modem afgeleverd bij het ISS. QARMAN gelanceerd. 
De “internet-modem” van Antwerp Space voor het ISS ging mee met de pas gelanceerde Cygnus (zie verderop in deze NUDR).
Antwerp Space: Antwerp Space triples the download capacity of the International Space Station.
VRT NWS: Eerste stukje Antwerpse ruimtetechnologie goed aangekomen in ruimtestation ISS
Spacepage: Antwerps bedrijf rust in primeur Internationale Ruimtestation ISS uit met breedband internet.
ATV: Hobokens bedrijf zorgt voor communicatie tussen astronauten en de aarde (met filmpje).
GVA: Antwerpse ‘ruimtemodem’ na twee jaar voorbereiding succesvol afgeleverd aan astronauten ISS
HLN: Antwerpse modem maakt rondjes rond de aarde.
Spaceflight Now: Cygnus freighter delivers new British-made antenna to International Space Station.

Belgisch ruimtevaartnieuws: De lancering van QARMAN vanuit het ISS.
VKI: 19/02: Successful in-orbit deployment of Qarman nano-satellite. First signals received at the VKI ground station!
VKI: Live Streaming of the Qarman CubeSat In-Orbit Deployment (filmpje).
Een kortere versie vind je hier.
The Brussels Times: Belgian nanosatellite successfully launched.
HLN: Satelliet uit Sint-Genesius-Rode succesvol in een baan rond de aarde gebracht.

De QARMAN was niet de enige cubesat die werd uitgezet.
Nanoracks: Nanoracks Completes 17th Commercial Space Station CubeSat Deployment Mission.

Belgisch ruimtevaartnieuws: Nog twee cubesats op komst. En er is nog Altius, en LaRa naar Mars.
In maart vertrekt een Europese Vega-raket met twee Belgische cubesats: PICASSO en SIMBA.
Daily Science Brussels: Twee Ukkelse wetenschappelijke satellieten klaar voor lancering.
BIRA: Picosatelliet PICASSO is klaar voor lancering.
Een ESA Tweet (met foto) over PICASSO vind je hier.
Een ESA Tweet (met foto) over SIMBA vind je hier.

En eerder kon je hier ook al lezen over Altius, de volgende Belgische-satelliet in de PROBA-klasse.
Space News: QinetiQ to build ozone-monitoring satellite for European Space Agency.
De Tijd: Belgische satelliet monitort ozonlaag.

En deze zome rmoet er nog een Belgisch experiment naar Mars vertrekken.
ESA: ExoMars radio science instrument readied for Red Planet.

SpaceX lanceert nieuwe Starlink-batch, maar verliest eerste trap.
Het had een mooi rond getal kunnen worden …
Teslarati: SpaceX Starlink launch ready to set crucial rocket reusability record on Monday.
… maar dat werd het dus niet.
Teslarati: SpaceX nails Starlink launch but narrowly misses landing after fastest booster reuse yet.

De SpaceX persmap vind je hier (PDF).

Space News: SpaceX launches fifth batch of Starlink satellites, misses booster landing.
NasaSpaceFlight: SpaceX successfully conducts fifth Starlink launch – booster misses drone ship.
The Verge: SpaceX loses Falcon 9 booster at sea after successful Starlink launch.

Spaceflight Now: Timeline for Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX: Starlink Mission (de live uitzending).
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink launch & Falcon 9 first stage failed landing, 17 February 2020.
Scott Manley: SpaceX's Latest Successful Mission Ends With A Failed Landing

En nog dit:
Investor’ Business Daily: SpaceX To Play Bigger Role In This 'Massive' Live-Fire Air Force Exercise.

Arianespace lanceert twee satellieten.
Arianespace: Arianespace orbits two satellites – JCSAT-17 and GEO-KOMPSAT-2B – to support connectivity and environmental monitoring in Asia.
ESA: Ariane 5’s second launch of 2020.

De persmap van deze lancering vind je hier (PDF).

Space News: Japanese communications satellite and South Korean weather satellite launch on Ariane 5.
NasaSpaceFlight: Ariane 5 lifts Japanese, South Korean satellites to Geostationary Transfer Orbit.
Spaceflight Now: Ariane 5 deploys communications and environmental monitoring satellites.

Filmpjes:
Arianespace: Arianespace Flight VA252 - Launch Campaign.
Arianespace: Arianespace TV - VA252 Launch Sequence.
Arianespace: Arianespace TV VA252 Successful Mission.
Arianespace: Arianespace TV VA252 Full Launch.
SciNews: Ariane 5 ECA launches JCSAT-17 and GEO-KOMPSAT-2B satellites.
SciNews: JCSAT-17 and GEO-KOMPSAT-2B satellites separation.

Soyuz lanceert negende militaire Meridian.
TASS: Russia launches Soyuz rocket with Meridian-M military satellite from Plesetsk spaceport.

NasaSpaceFlight: Soyuz 2-1a launches ninth Meridian satellite.
Spaceflight Now: Soyuz rocket launches Russian military satellite after one-month delay.

De vertraging was te wijten aan een probleempje met de raket.
TASS: Upper stage of Soyuz rocket to be replaced after cancelled launch - source

Beelden van de lancering vind je hier.

China lanceert vier satellieten met nieuwe raket.
Space News: China resumes space launch activity amid coronavirus outbreak.
NasaSpaceFlight: Long March-2D conducts maiden launch from Xichang with four satellites.
Spaceflight Now: China launches four ‘technology experiment satellites’.

Enkele filmpjes:
CCTV: China Launches 4 New Technology Experiment Satellites.
SciNews: Long March-2D launches four satellites.

Ruimtevaart eist nog een slachtoffer: “Mad Mike” komt om het leven.
SpaceCom: 'Mad Mike' Hughes, daredevil who built a homemade steam rocket, dies in launch attempt.

ISS – Cygnus koppelt met succes aan ruimtestation.
NASA: Space Station Blog: Robotic Arm Reaches Out and Captures Cygnus Cargo Craft.
NASA: Space Station Blog: Cygnus Cargo Craft Attached to Station for Three-Month Stay.

NasaSpaceFlight: NG-13 Cygnus arrives at Station, quickest back-to-back Cygnus missions.

Enkele video’s.
SciNews: NG-13: S.S. Robert H. Lawrence Cygnus capture.
SciNews: NG-13: S.S. Robert H. Lawrence Cygnus berthing.

ISS – Wat de volgende bemande ISS-lancering betreft, Rusland vervangt zijn twee kosmonauten door de reserve- bemanning.
Roscosmos: Soyuz MS-16 crew replacement.
Roscosmos: Cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner passed the manual approach test (met foto’s).
TASS: Roscosmos mulls sending backup crew to upcoming ISS mission.

Collect Space: Russia replaces cosmonauts on next ISS crew for 'medical reasons'.
Spaceflight Now: Russian space agency replaces cosmonauts on next space station crew.

ISS – De blogentries, Daily Summary Reports en Science Highlights.
NASA: Space Station Blog: Cygnus Open for Business as New Science Starts.
NASA: Space Station Blog: Bone Research and Pilot Studies as Crew Trains for Emergencies.

NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 2/15/2020
NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 2/17/2020
NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 2/18/2020.
NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 2/19/2020
NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 2/20/2020

NASA: Space Station Science Highlights: Week of February 17, 2020.

ISS – Meer nieuws uit het ruimtestation.
TASS: Russia’s Proton-M rocket ready to deliver Nauka research lab to space station.

NASA: The CubeSat Launch Initiative Celebrates its 100th CubeSat Mission Deployment

SciTechDaily: Researchers Analyze Nasty Species of Bacteria That Has Colonized Space Station’s Water Dispenser.

Filmpjes:
NASA: Space to Ground: Liftoff from Virginia: 02/21/2020.
NASA: SpaceCast Weekly - February 21, 2020.
EuroNews: Back to Earth: Astronaut Luca Parmitano reflects on his 6-month mission on board the ISS.

Commercial Crew – Crew Dragon.
Teslarati: NASA confirms SpaceX will become the first private company to send astronauts to the space station

Artemis – SLS.
NasaSpaceFlight: SLS debut slips to April 2021, KSC teams working through launch sims.
NASA: Simulations are ‘Great Days’ for NASA’s Artemis I Launch Team.

Artemis – Naar de Maan 20 2024 (of 2028).
SpaceCom: NASA needs to put a price on its moon landing missions to gain support from Congress.

SpaceCom: ‘By any means necessary': Vice President Pence urges NASA on moon-Mars goal.
Space News: White House, NASA emphasize bipartisan support for lunar plans.

Space News: Op-Ed | The United States won’t go back to the moon, I’ll follow China there instead.

Popular Mechanics: To Drive on the Moon, We'll Need Tough-as-Hell Tires.

Universe Today: A New Technique to Make Lighter Radiation Shielding For Spacecraft: Rust.

Enkele filmpjes:
NASA: Vice President Mike Pence addresses employees at NASA’s Langley Research Center.
NASA: Artemis at Kennedy Space Center.

SpaceX- Starship.
Teslarati: SpaceX’s first Starship test flight imminent as rocket nosecone nears completion.
Teslarati: SpaceX revives plans for launch vehicle construction in Los Angeles.
Parabolic Arc: Harbor Commissioners Approve SpaceX Lease at Port of Los Angeles.

NasaSpaceFlight: SpaceX beginning final assembly of Starship SN1 ahead of roll to the pad.

GeekWire: SpaceX reportedly seeking to raise $250M as Starlink and Starship efforts ramp up.
Reuters: Elon Musk's SpaceX to raise $250 million, valuing it at $36 billion: CNBC.

Filmpjes:
What About It? : SpaceX Starship Updates – Zubrin Talks Starship Facts With Musk.
What About It? : SpaceX Starship Updates – Starlink Launch With Complications

Blue Origin: Nieuwe fabriek en motortesten.
Blue Origin: Blue Origin opens Huntsville engine factory.
Space News: Blue Origin opens rocket engine factory.
Geek Wire: Blue Origin lays out ambitious plan for rocket engine production as it opens Alabama factory.

Parabolic Arc: Blue Origin, NASA Refurbish Engine Test Stand at Marshall.

AmericaSpace: Blue Origin BE-4 Engine Progress (Feb 2020) (filmpje).
Parabolic Arc: Blue Origin Fact Sheet on New Glenn, Engine Development.

Meer nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Ruimteweer:
Space News: NOAA warns of risks from relying on aging space weather missions.

Zon:
ESA: Solar Orbiter braves challenging early days.
ESA: First Solar Orbiter Instrument sends measurements.
ESA: Solar Orbiter boom deployment and first magnetic field measurements.

Maan:
Inside Outer Space: China’s Farside Mission Reawakens to Continue Exploration.
SpaceCom: What's up with that rock? China's moon rover finds something strange on the far side.

Mars:
NASA: NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Undergoes Memory Update.
Icarus: First year of coordinated science observations by Mars Express and ExoMars 2016 Trace Gas Orbiter.
Inside Outer Space: Insight Mars Lander: New Mole Meanderings.
JPL: NASA's Mars InSight Lander to Push on Top of the 'Mole'.
Space News: InSight to try to push mole into Martian surface.
BBC: Nasa's 2020 rover: Can we finally answer the big question about Mars?
NASA: Mars 2020 Rover Undergoing Processing at Florida Spaceport.
Space Upclose: Nine finalists selected for NASA’s Mars2020 rover naming contest.
Spaceflight Now: Phobos sample return mission enters development for 2024 launch.
The Verge: Japan’s mission to explore Mars’ moons gets a green light.
JAXA: MMX Mission to Proceed to the Development Phase!

Jupiter:
NASA: Findings From NASA's Juno Update Jupiter Water Mystery.
RocketStem: NASA prepares robot to traverse beneath oceans of Europe.

Psyche:
NASA: Inside NASA's Psyche Mission to Study a Metallic Asteroid (filmpje).

Virgin Galactic en Virgin Orbit nieuwtjes.
CNBC: Speculative space stock Virgin Galactic is up 170% in just two months.
Observer: Space Tourism Oddity: How Virgin Galactic Stock Surged 500% in Two Months.

Parabolic Arc: Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo Returns to Mojave.

Chicago Sun Times: He paid Virgin Galactic $175K in 2007 to be on spaceflight. Now 80, he’s tired of waiting.

Parabolic Arc: Virgin Orbit Moves Toward First Launch.
Space News: Virgin Orbit nearing first launch.

Virgin Orbit: Virgin Orbit, ISI Partner to Develop Joint Responsive Space Service.

Nieuwtjes uit de ruimtevaartindustrie.
Airbus: Airbus Defence and Space enters consultation process with employee representatives on restructuring.
Space News: Airbus, citing weak space market, to cut more than 2,300 jobs.

Parabolic Arc: Former CASIS Chief Economist Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud.

Space News: Spaceflight Industries says sale of rideshare business a “win-win” for all parties.

Space News: Lockheed Martin lost $410 million on latest three commercial satellite orders.

En nog dit: Ook SpaceX gaat toeristen lanceren.
Teslarati: SpaceX looks to launch space tourists to record heights.
Space News: Space Adventures to fly tourists on Crew Dragon mission.
Collect Space: Space Adventures, SpaceX to launch private crew to Gemini heights.
The Verge: SpaceX will launch private citizens into orbit.
Spacepage: SpaceX gaat ruimtetoeristen in de ruimte brengen.

Een filmpje:
The Space Adventurer: Dragon Low Earth Orbit Spaceflight Experience

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen