En ik die dacht dat het corona-virus ook het ruimtevaartwereldje – net als de rest van de wereld – grotendeels zou stilleggen. En dat is ook zo, maar anderzijds lijkt er meer dan ooit te gebeuren. Wat o.a. blijkt uit de lengte van deze NUDR. Al wil ik toch twee hoogtepunten vermelden. Er zijn spectaculaire beelden van hoe men bij Rocket Lab na een lancering de eerste trap van de Electron-raket wil opvangen om die dan later te gebruiken. Met een helikopter ! En er was ook de passage van BepiColombo langs de Aarde. Deze Europese sonde is dan wel op weg naar Mercurius, maar deze passage was noodzakelijk om dichter bij de zon te geraken. Dat en nog véél meer in het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart van deze week.

Bij de foto: Een rakettrap vangen met een helikopter. Het lijkt gek, maar het kan werken. De filmpjes die je verderop in deze NUDR vindt, zijn spectaculairder dan deze foto zelfs laat vermoeden. Foto: Rocket Lab.

ISS – Laatste Dragon 1 keert terug naar de Aarde.
Teslarati: SpaceX's original Dragon spacecraft departs space station, splashes down for the last time.
Teslarati: SpaceX Dragon spacecraft returns to California port for the last time.
ISS National Lab: SpaceX Successfully Completes CRS-20, Returning ISS National Lab-sponsored Payloads to Earth.

Space News: Final first-generation cargo Dragon spacecraft returns to Earth.
SpaceCom: SpaceX Dragon cargo ship, the last of its kind, heads back to Earth from space station.
NasaSpaceFlight: Final Dragon 1 completes return to Earth to conclude CRS-20.
Spaceflight Now: With successful splashdown, SpaceX retires first version of Dragon spacecraft.

Filmpjes:
SciNews: SpaceX CRS-20: Dragon departure.
Engineering Today: SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft for NASA | End of One Era.

ISS – Na geslaagde lancering arriveert nieuwe bemanning in het ruimtestation.
Russian Space News: “Soyuz MS-16” crews approved.
Spaceflight Now: NASA astronaut, two cosmonauts set for Thursday launch to space station.
Spaceflight Now: Rocket for next space station crew arrives on launch pad in Kazakhstan.

NASA: Launching the Next Crew to the Space Station.
NASA: NASA Astronaut Chris Cassidy, Crewmates Arrive Safely at Space Station.

Collect Space: Soyuz crew 'socially distances' from Earth, launches for space station.
Space News: Soyuz launches new crew to the International Space Station.
NasaSpaceFlight: Russia conducts first Soyuz 2.1a human launch; MS-16 crew arrives at Station.

Spaceflight Now: Soyuz crew docks with the International Space Station.

De filmpjes:
SciNews: The first Soyuz-2.1a is ready to launch Soyuz MS-16.
NASA: Video File Expedition 63 Crew Activities 200406.

NASA: T - 60 Seconds with Chris Cassidy.
NASA: Astronaut Moments: Chris Cassidy.

NASA: Expedition 63 Crew News Conference - April 8, 2020.

NASA: Expedition 63 Launch to the International Space Station (de live uitzending).
Wie liever de Russische versie ziet, die vind je hier.

NASA: Expedition 63 Crew Launches to the International Space Station (met beelden van de uren voor de lancering).
Roscosmos: De lancering vanuit verschillende standpunten.
SciNews: Soyuz-2.1a launches Soyuz MS-16.
Video From Space: Watch a Soyuz 3rd stage separation in amazing spacecraft view.

NASA: Expedition 63 - Soyuz MS 16 Docking Coverage - April 9, 2020.
NASA: Video File - Expedition 63 Docking and Hatch Open - April 9, 2020.
NASA: Expedition 63 -Soyuz MS 16 Hatch Opening - April 9, 2020.
SciNews: Soyuz MS-16 docking.
SciNews: Soyuz MS-16 hatch opening.

NASA: Expedition 62 Crew News Conference - April 10, 2020.

Indonesische satelliet gaat verloren bij mislukte Chinese lancering.
South China Morning Post: Chinese Long March-3B rocket fails during launch of Indonesian satellite.
Xinhua Net: China's launch mission on Palapa-N1 satellite fails.

NasaSpaceFlight: Long March 3B fails during Indonesian satellite launch.
Space News: Long March 3B carrying commercial Indonesian satellite fails
Spaceflight Now: Chinese rocket fails during launch of Indonesian communications satellite.

Beelden van de debris vind je in dit twitter bericht.

Duimen dat deze goed gaat:
ECNS: New version of Long March to make its debut.

En nog even terugblikken op de fout afgelopen lancering van de eerste LM7A.
SupChina: The Quiet, Public Failure Of China’s New Long March Rocket.

Rocket Lab demonstreet hoe het zijn raket wil recupereren na een lancering.
Rocket Lab: Rocket Lab Successfully Completes Electron Mid-Air Recovery Test.

Space News: Rocket Lab tests Electron stage recovery.
Teslarati: SpaceX reusability may soon be in good company as Rocket Lab catches rocket with a helicopter.
The Verge: Rocket Lab catches dummy rocket in midair with helicopter in ongoing quest to make its vehicles reusable.

Filmpjes:
Rocket Lab: Mid-Air Recovery Demo.
Rocket Lab: 360º VR | Recovery Helicopter View - Mid Air Recovery Demo.
Rocket Lab: 360º VR | Test Article View - Mid Air Recovery Demo.
Rocket Lab: 360º VR | Capture Line View - Mid Air Recovery Demo (zeker naar beneden kijken !)
Meer details in volgend (heel interessant) interview:
Everyday Astronaut: How To Catch A Rocket From Space With A Helicopter (Peter Beck Interview, Spring 2020).

Bij deze nog enkele minder recente artikels (met sommige feiten waar o.a. naar verwezen wordt in het interview met de Everyday Astronaut):
C4ISRnet: NRO to launch more payloads from New Zealand with Rocket Labs.
Space News: Rocket Lab to acquire smallsat component manufacturer.
Via Satellite: Rocket Lab Acquires Satellite Hardware Company.
Via Satellite: Rocket Lab’s Electron Receives NASA Certification.

Nieuws van Virgin Orbit en LauncherOne.
Virgin Orbit: US Air Force to launch three smallsat missions on LauncherOne.
Space News: Virgin Orbit’s VOX Space wins $35 million U.S. Space Force launch contract.
NasaSpaceFlight: LauncherOne wins three dedicated national security smallsat missions.

Virgin Orbit: Up Next: Our Final Development Test.

SatelliteEvolutionTV: SatTV talks to Virgin Orbit (filmpje).

En nog wat minder recente artikels:
Douglass Messier: Virgin Orbit Cosmic Girl 747 Taxi Test with Fueled LauncherOne Attached -- Mojave, California (filmpje).
Space News: Virgin Orbit working toward first launch, schedule reassessed amid pandemic.
Space News: Virgin Orbit’s space launch business deemed ‘essential service,’ work allowed to continue at Long Beach

Kwaliteitsproblemen bij Russische Proton. Corona legt productie Soyuz stil.
Sputnik News: 3 Proton-M Rockets Sent Back to Manufacturer Over Quality Control Issues – Space Industry Source.

TASS: Progress center suspends assembly of Soyuz-2 rockets due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Space News: Russia suspends Soyuz rocket production amid coronavirus.

Al blijven de plannen ambitieus:
TASS: Russian space agency plans more than 30 launches in 2020.
PhysOrg: Russia space chief spars with Elon Musk over launch pricing.

Corona-virus doet lanceringen uitstellen.
Space News: Pandemic pushes SpaceX GPS 3 launch to late June.
C4ISRNet: Space Force delays GPS 3 launch to minimize COVID-19 exposure.
Teslarati: SpaceX's first Space Force launch delayed by coronavirus pandemic.

C4ISRNet: The launch of three US spy satellites is delayed due to COVID-19. 

Florida Today: Coronavirus: Rocket maker United Launch Alliance employee tests positive for COVID-19 at Denver facility.
Via Satellite: ULA, SpaceX, Blue Origin React to COVID-19 Cases Among Employees.

Commercial Crew – Boeing gaat onbemande testvlucht Starliner opnieuw uitvoeren.
Boeing: Boeing Statement on Starliner's Next Flight.
NASA: Boeing to Fly Second Uncrewed Orbital Flight Test for NASA.

Collect Space: Boeing to refly Starliner uncrewed test after curtailed first spaceflight.
Spaceflight Now: After problem-plagued test flight, Boeing will refly crew capsule without astronauts.
Space Policy Online: Boeing will refly Starliner uncrewed test flight. 
The Washington Post: After botched test flight, Boeing will refly its Starliner spacecraft for NASA.

Commercial Crew – Voorbereidingen op eerste bemande Crew Dragon vlucht.
NASA: NASA, SpaceX Team Up for Emergency Egress Exercise.
Teslarati: SpaceX test emergency egress drills ahead of upcoming crew mission.

ISS – Slecht rapport voor NASA en CASIS.
NASA: NASA Shares Findings, Recommendations, and Response to Review of International Space Station National Lab.

SpaceRef: Message from the CASIS Board of Directors in Response to the Findings and Recommendations of the Independent Review of the International Space Station.
Space News: Report criticizes management of ISS National Laboratory.

ISS – De blogentries, Daily Summary Reports en Science Highlights.
NASA ISS Blog: Station Gets Ready to Send off Cargo Ship and Welcome New Crew.
NASA ISS Blog: Dragon Leaves Station, Returns to Earth with Valuable Science.
NASA ISS Blog: New Crew Reaches Orbit, Heads Toward Station.
NASA ISS Blog: New Crew Docks to Station, Hatches Open Soon.
NASA ISS Blog: New Crew Enters Station, Begins 195-Day Mission.

NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 6/02/2020.
NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 4/08/2020.
NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 4/09/2020.

Space Station Science Highlights: Week of April 6, 2020.

ISS – Meer nieuws uit het ruimtestation.
Deze week keren 3 ISS-bewoners terug naar huis.
SpaceCom:Watching coronavirus outbreak from space a 'surreal' experience, astronauts say
Federal News Network: After months in space, astronauts returning to changed world

NASA: Cardiac Research on the Space Station.
EurekAlert: UC San Diego to advance stem cell therapies in new space station lab.
ISS National Lab: LambdaVision Receives $5 Million Award From NASA for Additional ISS Research.

Filmpjes: 
NASA: SpaceCast Weekly - April 10, 2020
NASA: Space to Ground: Departing Baikonur: 04/10/2020.
Video From Space: Exercise in isolation! This is how astronauts do it on Space Station.

Artemis – CLPS – Masten mag maanlanding uitvoeren.
NASA: NASA Awards Contract to Deliver Science, Tech to Moon Ahead of Human Missions.
Masten Aerospace: Masten Space Systems Will Deliver NASA and Commercial Payloads to the Lunar Surface in 2022

Filmpje:
Scott Manley: Masten Is Going To The Moon! The “Little Rocket Company That Could” Gets a Big Opportunity From NASA

Artemis – Gateway.
NASA: Video Announcement: Gateway Logistics Services Announcement for SpaceX (filmpje).

NASA: Gateway Lunar Outpost Animation (filmpje).

Artemis – Naar de Maan in 2024 (of later).
NASA: Help Pave the Way for Artemis: Send NASA Your Mini Moon Payload Designs.
NASA: When the Moon Dust Settles, It Won’t Settle in VIPER’s Wheels.

NASA Watch: NASA's Lunar Exploration Pace Has Not Slowed Down.

SpaceX – Starship.
Teslarati: SpaceX's Elon Musk reveals next Starship's Raptor engines, explains latest failure.
Teslarati: SpaceX's next Starship rapidly coming together as Elon Musk shares latest progress.

Popular Mechanics: SpaceX's Starship Can Lift a Lot More Than We Thought.

Filmpje:
What About It?: SpaceX Starship Updates - Crew Dragon Demo Mission 2 Update - Starliner Delayed Until 2021.
Engineering Today: SpaceX Starship Update | Elon Musk Unveils New Starship's Raptor Engines | Explains SN3 Failure.

BepiColombo passeert Aarde op zijn reis naar Mercurius.
ESA: BepiColombo takes last snaps of Earth en route to Mercury.

ESA: BepiColombo closing in on Earth ahead of flyby – full sequence.
ESA: BepiColombo’s last close-ups of Earth during flyby.

ESA: Where is Bepi? Explore the journey of ESA’s Mercury mission.
ESA: BepiColombo shadow transit during Earth flyby.

ESA: BepiColombo bids farewell to Earth and the Moon.

ESA: Top Five Mercury mysteries that BepiColombo will solve.

Filmpjes en simulaties:
ESA: BepiColombo's first flyby.
ESA: BepiColombo bids farewell to Earth en route to Mercury (animatie).
ESA: BepiColombo’s Earth flyby – a final goodbye (simulatie).
ESA: BepiColombo’s Earth flyby – as seen from Rio de Janeiro (simulatie).
ESA: BepiColombo Earth flyby – what the spacecraft will see (simulatie).
ESA: Zoom past Earth with BepiColombo in virtual reality simulation.

Nog wat artikels:
Spaceflight Now: BepiColombo flies by Earth, completing first leg of journey to Mercury.
Sky & Telescope: BepiColombo’s Flyby Past Earth.
DLR: Gravity deceleration manoeuvre close to Earth – with a view of the Moon.
ESA: BepiColombo Earth Flyby.

Meer nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Zon:
Physics-Astronomy: NASA’s Solar Probe Found Things Near the Sun That We Can’t Explain.
SciShow: 3 Times We Captured Physical Pieces of the Sun.

Aarde:
Spaceflight Now: NASA satellite (SORCE) ends 17-year mission measuring the sun’s impact on climate.
VRT NWS: Massaal thuiswerk stelt wetenschappers in staat de lichtste aardbevingen te meten.
AGU: The northern and southern lights are different - this animation shows why (filmpje).
Spacewatch: Historic RapidEye constellation captures last light.
ESA: CryoSat still cool at 10.
Airbus: Happy birthday to a cool satellite.
Space News: NOAA awards first contracts for future satellite constellation.

Mars:
NASA: Sols 2729-2730: Keeping It Clean.
Primal Space: How Long Does Curiosity Have Left On Mars? (filmpje).
ESA: Choosing rocks on Mars to bring to Earth
Grappig: The Onion: NASA Launches Vengeance Rover To Pay Back Mars For Killing Opportunity Back In 2018.

Saturnus:
NASA: Data From NASA's Cassini May Explain Saturn's Atmospheric Mystery.

Uranus:
SpaceCom: What smacked Uranus on its side? Something icy and as massive as Earth, scientists say.

Bennu:
NASA: Rehearsal Time for NASA’s Asteroid Sampling Spacecraft.

Psyche:
Parabolic Arc: New Observations Suggest Psyche’s Composition Different Than Thought.

Toerisme – Hoe het is om te vliegen met SpaceShipTwo.
Twee filmpjes:
Virgin Galactic: Science with Virgin Galactic | Beth Moses, Travelling to Space.
Virgin Galactic: Science with Virgin Galactic | How To Design A Spaceship.

De jacht op grondstoffen uit de ruimte.
Space Policy Online: New executive order calls for international agreements for space resource rights, but no new threaty.
Space News: White House looks for international support for space resource rights.

Links naar de officiële documenten vind je in volgend artikel:
Inside Outer Space: New White House Executive Order: Recovery and Use of Space Resources.

TASS: Russian space agency says Trump paving way to seize other planets.

50 Jaar Apollo – Een terugblik op Apollo 13.
NASA: NASA Commemorates 50th Anniversary of Apollo 13, ‘A Successful Failure’.
NASA: Houston We Have a Podcast: Apollo 13.

De bemanning: 
SpaceCom: Jim Lovell: NASA astronaut and Apollo 13 commander.
SpaceCom: Jack Swigert: Apollo 13 command module pilot.
SpaceCom: Fred Haise: NASA astronaut and Apollo 13 crewmember.

SpaceCom: Apollo 13: The moon-mission that dodged disaster.
SpaceCom: Apollo 13 timeline: The hectic days of NASA's 'successful failure' to the moon.
SpaceCom: Celebrate Apollo 13 at 50 with NASA's 'Home Safe' documentary (and much more!).
SpaceCom: Apollo 13 at 50: How NASA turned near disaster at the moon into a 'successful failure' in space.
SpaceCom: Failure was not an option: NASA's Apollo 13 mission of survival in pictures.

Collect Space: Houston, we've had a delay: Apollo 13 50th celebrations rescheduled.
Collect Space: Astronauts on space station reflect on Apollo 13 50th anniversary.
Collect Space: Moon-metal medallions, space pens and more mark Apollo 13 50th.
Collect Space: Apollo 13 50th anniversary exhibit to launch new space rental service.
Collect Space: Apollo 13 in Real Time offers new insight into mission, 50 years later.
De website vind je hier.

Air&Space Mag: Apollo 13: New photo’s from old movies.
PhysOrg: Apollo 13's most famous quotes originated in Hollywood.

Nog enkele filmpjes:
NASA: Apollo 13: Home Safe.
Scott Manley: What Caused The Explosion That Crippled Apollo 13?
Video From Space: Apollo 13's 'successful failure' explained.
NASA Goddard: The Apollo 13 Booster Impact Experiment - with Newly-Discovered Audio.
DeltaVeeMedia: Apollo 13 Fiftieth Anniversary: Lecture and Livestream Q & A.
BBC: Apollo 13: One family's agony and triumph.

Dan Beaumont Space Museum: APOLLO 13 LAUNCH "LIVE ON CBS-TV" Walter Cronkite (video quality) April 11, 1970.
Dan Beaumont Space Museum: APOLLO 13 SPLASHDOWN "LIVE ON CBS-TV" Walter Cronkite, April 17, 1970.

Om af te ronden – Het failliet van OneWeb.
Een panelgesprek over het einde van OneWeb:
Space News Inc: OneWeb's Bankruptcy: Impacts and Implications for the Satellite Industry.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen