Het is deze week nog eens overduidelijk geworden. Musk  en Trump willen naar Mars. Volgens Musk mag het ISS al zo goed als meteen opgedoekt worden. De vraag is nu hoe lang het gaat duren voor ook het Artemis-programma op de schop gaat. Dat en nog veel meer in het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart van deze week.

Bij de foto: De segmenten van de twee SRB’s voor Artemis 2 zijn op elkaar gestapeld. De lancering is wel eerst voorzien in april volgend jaar. Foto: NASA/Kim Shiflett.

Belgisch ruimtevaartnieuws. 

Redwire (Kruibeke) doet studie voor ESA naar ARRAKIH – een satelliet op zoek naar donkere materie.
Redwire: Redwire Awarded Contract to Lead Study for the European Space Agency’s Next Dark Matter Mission

De lanceringen van de afgelopen week.

15.02.2025 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten Group 12-08 (CCSFS).
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.
SpaceX: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 21 Starlink satellites on record-setting 26th flight.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch 21 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities.
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 233 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 15 February 2025.

19.02.2025 – Rocketlab Electron lanceert “Fasten Your Space Belts”.
Satellite Pro ME: BlackSky and Rocket Lab set launch window for first Gen-3 satellite.
Spaceflight Now: Rocket Lab launches BlackSky Gen-3 satellite on 60th Electron flight.
Space News:Rocket Lab and SpaceX perform launches minutes apart.
De persmap voor deze vlucht vind je hier (PDF).

Filmpjes:
RocketLab: Rocket Lab - 'Fasten Your Space Belts' Launch.
SciNews: Electron launches the first BlackSky Gen-3 satellite.
RocketLab: Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 | The World's First Private Orbital Launch Site.

19.02.2025 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten Group 10-12 (CCSFS) – Booster landt nabij de Bahamas.
SpaceX: Starlink missie Group 10-12.
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX sticks first Falcon 9 booster landing in The Bahamas.
SpaceCom: SpaceX Starlink mission lands rocket off coast of The Bahamas for 1st time.
Space News: Rocket Lab and SpaceX perform launches minutes apart.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch 23 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 234 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 18 February 2025.

21.02.2025 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten Group 12-14 (CCSFS).
SpaceCom: SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites on 450th Falcon rocket.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch 23 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities.
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 235 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 21 February 2025.

Te verwachten lanceringen.

25.02.2025 – NS-30 – New Shephard lanceert nieuwe groep toeristen tot in de ruimte.
SpaceCom: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin announces crew for 10th space tourism launch.
SpaceCom: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin targeting Feb. 25 for 10th space tourism launch.

01.03.2025 – SpaceX lanceert SPHEREx & PUNCH.
SPHEREx = Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer.
PUNCH is een NASA Small Explorer missie (SMEX) en bestaat uit 4 satellieten.
SpaceCom: NASA's launching a PUNCH satellite constellation this month to study the solar wind in 3D.
NASA: NASA’s PUNCH Mission to Revolutionize Our View of Solar Wind.

NASA: NASA’s SPHEREx Space Telescope Will Seek Life’s Ingredients.
SpaceCom: NASA's new SPHEREx space telescope to launch in February — it can do what the JWST can't.
Universe Today: NASA’s SPHEREx Launches Soon and Will Search For Water in Molecular Clouds.

NASA: NASA Sets Launch Coverage for Missions Studying Cosmic Origins, Sun.

Filmpjes:
NASA: SPHEREx Mission Countdown: Preview to Launch.
NASA: See the Spacecraft: SPHEREx Nears Launch (LIVE Q+A).
Science At NASA: How NASA Will Observe the Universe with SPHEREx.

NASA: NASA's PUNCH Mission to Launch to Study Solar Wind Media Teleconference.
NASA: NASA’S PUNCH Mission.

NASA: Trailer: SPHEREx and PUNCH Launch.
NASA: SPHEREx and PUNCH Science Overview News Conference.
NASA: SPHEREx and PUNCH Pre-Launch News Conference.

Raketnieuws.

Tweede lancering Ariane VI uitgesteld. Nieuwe datum nog te bepalen.
Arianespace: Flight VA263: New launch date to be confirmed soon.

ISAR Aerospace doet statische testen met Spectrum-raket. Klaar voor lancering.
European Spaceflight: Isar Completes Final Static Fire Tests Ahead of Inaugural Spectrum Flight.
NSF: Isar Aerospace completes static fires of Spectrum rocket ahead of first European launch.
SpaceNews: Isar Aerospace completes testing of first Spectrum rocket.
Ars Technica: German startup to attempt the first orbital launch from Western Europe.

PLD Space wil Miura 5 ook lanceren vanuit Oman.
European Spaceflight: PLD Space Signs Agreement to Launch Miura 5 from Oman.
Space News: PLD Space signs agreement to launch from spaceport in Oman.

Meer lanceernieuws vanuit Oman:
Satellite Pro ME: Omani Etlaq Spaceport announces five test launches for 2025.

Voor wanneer de eerste orbitale lancering vanuit de UK.
NSF: Launch providers step closer to first orbital launch from UK soil.

The Exploration Company test Typhoon raketmotor.
European Spaceflight: The Exploration Company Tests Pre-Burner for High-Thrust Rocket Engine.

SpaceX mag NEO Surveyor lanceren.
NASA: NASA Awards Planetary Defense Space Telescope Launch Services Contract.
Space News: NASA selects SpaceX to launch NEO Surveyor.

Een overzicht van Chinese raketten met een mogelijk debuut in 2025.
Zie dit bericht van Andrew Jones op BlueSky.

Chinese versies van Starship.
Dongfang Hour (filmpje): These Chinese Startups Are Building Their Own Starship.

Over het Chinese Orienspace.
Space News (filmpje): China's answer to SpaceX.

Vastebrandtofbooster Vulcan ondergaat test n.a.v. de gebeurtenissen bij de 2de lancering.
NSF: GEM-63XL motor test fired at Promontory as part of Vulcan Cert-2 investigation

Firefly Aerospace klaar voor Alpha Flight 6. Firma ook gekozen voor het ‘Victus’ programma. MLV nieuws.
Firefly Aerospace (filmpje): Alpha Flight 6 is Ready For Launch.

Air and Space Forces: Space Force Pursues Quick Launch Capability with New ‘Victus’ Program.
Breaking Defense: Space Force taps Firefly to launch mysterious Victus Sol ‘responsive space’ mission.

Firefly Aerospace (filmpje): MLV First Stage Rocket Hardware Development.

Nieuws van het Canadese Reaction Dynamics en hun Aurora 8 raketmotor.
SpaceQ: Reaction Dynamics begins Aurora-8 engine testing.

Verzekeringsmaatschappij voor het gerecht gedaagd na opkuis lanceerpad op Kodiak Island.
KMXT.org: Alaska Aerospace sues insurance group over cleanup costs at Kodiak Island spaceport

Bemande ruimtevaart / Ruimtestations.

Trump en Musk – Over het lot van de Starliner-astronauten.
Space News: Musk and Trump repeat inaccurate claims about Starliner astronauts.
SpaceCom: Musk and Trump repeat false 'stranded' Starliner astronauts narrative, but they are not stranded.
Fox 13 (filmpje): Elon vs the astronauts | FOX 13 Seattle.

Trump en Musk – Het einde van het ISS al in 2027 ? Ten voordele van Mars.
Ars Technica: Elon Musk recommends that the International Space Station be deorbited ASAP.
SpaceCom: The ISS should be deorbited 'as soon as possible,' Elon Musk says: 'Let's go to Mars'.
TASS: Musk proposes deorbiting ISS, launching mission to Mars.
Politico: Musk, after spat with astronaut, calls for deorbiting the International Space Station.
Space News: Musk calls for deorbiting ISS “as soon as possible”.
Space Policy Online: NASA responds to Musk statements about deorbiting ISS, Butch and Suni.

VRTNWS: Elon Musk wil internationaal ruimtestation al in 2027 opdoeken: "Zijn strategie is duidelijk, alles op Mars inzetten".

ISS – De blogentries. Station Science Top News.
NASA ISS Blog: Crew Works Robotics Competition and 3D Bioprinter to Manufacture Cells, Tissues.
NASA ISS Blog: Spacesuits, Exercise Gear, and Spacecraft Operations Fill Wednesday Schedule.
NASA ISS Blog: Crew Works Ongoing Spacecraft Operations, Robotics, and Combustion Science.
NASA ISS Blog: Muscle, Eye, and Breath Research Keeping Crews Healthy in Weightlessness.

NASA: Station Science Top News: Feb., 14, 2025.

ISS – Meer nieuws uit het ruimtestation.
TASS: Space station’s orbit raised ahead of Soyuz MS-27 crewed spacecraft launch.
Russian Space News: Progress MS-28 cargo ship will undock from the ISS on February 25.

SpaceCom: How Sen's 4K live cameras on the ISS offer a new perspective from space (op-ed).
Voor de live beelden, check het YouTube kanaaal van SEN.

NASA: 2024 Annual Highlights of Results from the International Space Station Science.

Filmpjes:
NASA: Space to Ground: Pushing Boundaries: Feb. 21, 2025.
NASA: 2024 Annual Highlights of Results from the International Space Station.

CSS – Meer nieuws uit het Chinese ruimtestation.

Filmpjes:
CCTV+: Shenzhou-19 Crew Reaches Midpoint of Space Mission.
CNSA Watcher: Shenzhou 19 Crew Completes Over Half of Space Trip Tasks.

Naar de Maan (en Mars).

Artemis 2 – Mensen rond de Maan.
NASA: Artemis II Rocket Booster Stacking Complete.

Artemis 4 – Gateway.
NASA: NASA Marks Artemis Progress With Gateway Lunar Space Station.
Universe Today: Lunar Gateway’s Core HALO Module Enters the Clean Room.

The Space Review: Redirecting NASA’s focus: why the Gateway program should be cancelled.

Artemis – Naar de Maan en Mars.
Space Policy Online: House Committee plans Artemis hearing next week.

SpaceCom: Boeing plans to lay off hundreds of employees working on NASA's SLS moon rocket: reports.
NASA: NASA Stennis Teams Install New Production RS-25 Engine for Upcoming Hot Fire.

Ars Technica: Turning the Moon into a fuel depot will take a lot of power.
Payload: Australia’s Lunar Plans are Just Getting Started.

Universe Today: Should Astronauts Be Worried About Mars Dust?

Filmpjes:
Philip Sloss: In the shadow of politics: the Artemis big picture today.

India’s plannen voor de Maan.
The Times of India: No mega rocet for crewed Moon missions, ISRO to rely on docking. 

ILRS – China naar de Maan.
Space News: China invites bids for lunar satellite to support crewed moon landing missions.

Starship – Opbouwen naar IFT 8.
NSF: Starship Flight 8 vehicles prepare to join forces at Pad A.
Florida Today: SpaceX proposes Cape Canaveral Gigabay for Starship

Payload: The Highway to Mars.

Filmpjes:
LabPadre Space: Boom! SpaceX Conducts Double Static Fire Tests Ahead of Flight 8! - SpaceX Weekly #154.
NSF: Starship’s Longest Static Fire Yet! What We Learned From Ship 34 | Starbase Update.
NSF: "Hey Look, That's The Pad B Chopstick Moving" | SpaceX Boca Chica.
WAI: Official Launch Date For Starship Flight 8! Here's what's going to happen next!

Op ontdekking door het zonnestelsel.

China redt twee “verloren” maansondes – DRO-A en DRO-B.
IEEE Spectrum: China Rescues Stranded Lunar Satellites.

Wanneer we spreken van een geslaagde (maan)landing?
The Space Review: What makes a lunar landing mission “successful”?

CLPS – Blue Ghost Mission 1 – Voorbereiden op een maanlanding.
NASA Blog: Blue Ghost Prepares for Landing, NASA Instrument Breaks Record.
SpaceCom: Blue Ghost moon lander lowers its orbit to fly closer to the lunar surface.

Filmpjes:
Firefly Aerospace: In Lunar Orbit! Blue Ghost Week 5 Update.
SciNews: Blue Ghost M1 captures the Moon.

iSpace en Hakuto R Mission 2.
SpaceCom: Japan's Resilience moon lander aces lunar flyby ahead of historic touchdown try.

CLPS – 2026 – Intuitive Machines IM 3 – CADRE.
Universe Today: CADRE’s Three Adorable Rovers Are Going to the Moon.

Collect Space: First look at Intuitive Machines' next moon lander's footpad designs.
NASA: Houston, we have podcast: Intuitive Machines Returns to the Moon.

China bereidt lancering Tianwen 2 voor – Planetoïde Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3) en komeet 311P/PANSTARRS.
ECNS: China schedules launch of Tianwen 2.
Space News: China readies Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return spacecraft for launch.
Inisde Outer Space: China’s Asteroid Mission: Tianwen-2 at Launch Site.

Filmpjes:
CCTV+: China's Tianwen-2 Probe Arrives at Launch Site.
CCTV+: China's Tianwen-2 Probe to Collect Samples from Asteroid 2016HO3.
CCTV+: China's Tianwen-2 Probe to Explore Comet 311P.

Planetoïde 2024 YR4 – Het gevaar geweken (?).
SpaceCom: 'City-killer' asteroid 2024 YR4 could hit the moon instead of us, scientists say
ESA: 2024 YR4 surpasses Apophis as ‘riskiest’ asteroid ever detected.
SpaceCom: NASA massively lowers impact risk of 'city-killer' asteroid 2024 YR4 to 1 in 360.

Filmpjes:
The Planetary Society: Asteroid 2024 YR4 and how asteroid probabilities work.
NASA: NASA Expert Answers Your Questions About Asteroid 2024 YR4.

Nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Ruimteweer:
SpaceCom: 'Sailing' satellites of the future could provide early warning of dangerous space weather.
Space News: BAE wins $230.6 million contract for space weather program.

Venus:
ESA: Solar Orbiter ready for close encounter with Venus.

Aarde:
ESA: Sentinel-4: European air quality monitoring for Copernicus.
ESA: MTG-S and Sentinel-4 in the cleanroom at Bremen.
ESA: Two atmospheric missions on one satellite.
EC: Copernicus Sentinel-4: a new era in European air quality monitoring.
ESA: ESA and Red Cross partnership brings space technology to disaster management.
SpaceCom: 20 years of satellite data reveal 'staggering' levels of glaciers melting, sea levels rising.

Maan:
Times of India: Chandrayaan-4 will have 5 modules, need multiple dockings: work on Lupex marches on.
Ars Technica: Moon rocks reveal hidden lunar history.
Universe Today: The Moon Solidified 4.43 Billion Years Ago.

Mars:
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Sols 4454-4457: Getting Ready to Fill the Long Weekend with Science.
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Sols 4458-4460: Winter Schminter.
SpaceCom: NASA's Curiosity Mars rover discovers evidence of ripples from an ancient Red Planet lake .
European Spaceflight: Italy’s CubeSat Mission to a Martian Moon Enters Phase B Development.
Inside Outer Space: Time to Revisit the Viking Mars Lander, Search for Life Results.

Planetoïden:
Universe Today: Spring-loaded Robot Could Explore the Asteroid Belt Almost Indefinitely.

Aan de rand van het zonnestelsel
SpaceCom: Leaving Pluto in the dust: New Horizons probe gearing up for epic crossing of 'termination shock'.
Space News: AI to power China’s mission to the edges of the solar system.

Meer ruimtevaartnieuws.

Reentry van 2de trap Falcon 9 doet brokstukken neerkomen in Polen.
SatTrackCam Leiden: The reentry of a Falcon 9 upper stage over NW Europe on 19 February.
SpaceCom: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket debris creates dramatic fireball over Europe, crashes in Poland.
TASS: Falcon 9 rocket debris fall near Poland's Poznan — space agency.

VRTNWS: Puin van Falcon 9-raket ontdekt in Polen na "spectaculaire lichtshow" aan nachtelijke hemel.

Verzekeringsnieuws – 2024 maakte het barslechte 2023 niet goed.
Seradata: Profitable 2024 for space insurers does not make up for dire 2023.

Aandelen Eutelsat zakken naar een laagste waarde ooit.
SatNews: Eutelsat: “What a mess”.
SatNews: Eutelsat suffers a 71% reduction by bank.

SpaceX-personeel “werkt” nu voor de FAA.
Ars Technica: SpaceX engineers brought on at FAA after probationary employees were fired.
Space News: SpaceX invited to provide input on FAA air traffic control modernization.

Trump en de Iron Dome – Missile Defense Shield.
Space News: Trump’s Iron Dome order needs constructive debate to reach its full potential.
Space News: Ursa Major eyes ‘Iron Dome’ applications for its mid-size rocket engine.
Space News: Trump orders $50 billion cut from 2026 defense budget, shields ‘Iron Dome’ initiative.

Trump en Elon.
The Verge: How close is Elon Musk to controlling a nuclear weapon?
Payload: Rep. Brian Babin on SLS, Artemis, and Committee To-Dos.
Payload: Space Advocates Seek To Protect NASA Workforce.
SpaceCom: Over 1,000 NASA employees saved from dismissal as Trump downsizes federal workforce.
Space Policy Online: NASA’s Jim Free retires as the Agency escapes dramatic workfource cuts from now.
Space News: Jim Free, NASA associate administrator, to retire.
PhysOrg: Moon or Mars? NASA's future at a crossroads under Trump.
Space News: House members seek more details on DOGE activities at NASA.
NASA Watch: House Science Committee Leaders Are Unsatisfied with NASA Responses.
NASA Watch: Janet Petro NASA Update 21 February 2025.
Newsweek: Donald Trump Says Elon Musk Should Be 'More Aggressive'.

Isaacman laat van zich horen.
Ars Technica: NASA nominee previews his vision for the agency: Mars, hard work, inspiration .

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen