De ruimtestations kenden drukke tijden. De bemanning van Soyuz MS-26 kwam terug naar de Aarde en een nieuw cargo-schip arriveerde bij het ISS. En Tiangong, het Chinese ruimtestation kent een bemanningswissel. Shenzhou 20 arriveerde met 3 nieuwe bemanningsleden, en deze week zullen de drie van Shenzhou 19 weer naar huis keren. En de ruimtesonde Lucy liet van zich horen met spectaculaire foto’s van planetoïde Donaldjohanson. Dat en nog veel meer in het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart.

Bij de foto: De ruimtesonde Lucy passeerde – op weg naar de Trojanen van Jupiter – de planetoïde Donaldjohanson. De hier getoonde foto werd gemaakt op 20 april op een afstand van 960 km. Foto:  NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL.

Belgisch ruimtevaartnieuws. 

Frank De Winne wil een Europese bemande capsule.
VRTNWS: Frank De Winne (ESA) pleit voor Europese ruimtevaart zonder hulp van Russen en Amerikanen: "Geopolitieke spanning speelt een rol".

De lanceringen van de afgelopen week.

19.04.2025 – Chinese Lange Mars 6A lanceert Shiyan 27 01-06.
Space News: China launches 6 classified experimental satellites with Long March 6A.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: China Successfully Launches New Test Satellites.
SciNews: Long March-6A launches Shiyan-27 01~06.

20.04.2025 – SpaceX lanceert NROL-145 (VSFB).
SatNews: SpaceX to launch NROL-145 on Saturday building largest government constellation — ever.
SpaceCom: SpaceX launches 10th batch of 'proliferated architecture' spy satellites for US government .
Space News: NRO reaches milestone with over 200 satellites deployed in two years.

NRO: NRO Launches Tenth Proliferated Architecture Mission with NROL-145.
Meer info over NRO’s Proliferated Architechture vind je hier (PDF).

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch the @USSF_SSC and @NatReconOfc’s NROL-145 mission from pad 4E in California.
SciNews: NROL-145 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing.

21.04.2025 – SpaceX lanceert SpX-32 naar het ISS. Capsule koppelt dag later met ruimtestation.
NASA: NASA’s SpaceX 32nd Resupply Mission Launches New Research to Station.
NASA: NASA’s SpaceX 32nd Commercial Resupply Mission Overview.
NASA: Atomic Clock and Plant DNA Research Launching Aboard NASA’s SpaceX CRS-32 Mission.
Via Satellite: ISS Resupply Mission Includes Expanded Drug-Development Platform by Redwire.
Aegis Aerospace: STP-H10 Fact sheet.
Aegis Aerospace: MISSE-21 → Meer info over MISSE.
SpaceCom: ELVIS in orbit: New 3D microscope arrives at the ISS to study microbes in space.

ESA: ACES on its way to space.
ESA: ACES: Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space.
ESA: The clocks of ACES.
VRTNWS: Atoomklok naar ruimte om relativiteitstheorie Einstein te testen: "Ook toepassingen voor internet en banksystemen"
ESA: ACES: time for science.
ESA: ACES finds its home in orbit.

SpaceCom: SpaceX's next Dragon cargo ship launch for NASA will lift off on April 21.
NASA: NASA Science, Cargo Launch on 32nd SpaceX Resupply Station Mission.
Space News: SpaceX launches cargo Dragon to ISS with additional crew supplies.

SpaceCom: SpaceX CRS-32 Dragon cargo capsule arrives at the ISS with 6,700 pounds of supplies.

Filmpjes:
NASA: Science Launching on SpaceX's 32nd Cargo Resupply Mission to the Space Station.
NASA: CRS-32 Prelaunch News Teleconference.
NASA: NASA's SpaceX 32nd Commercial Resupply Services Launch.
SciNews: SpaceX CRS-32 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing.
NASA: NASA's SpaceX 32nd Commercial Resupply Services Rendezvous and Docking.
SciNews: SpaceX CRS-32 Dragon docking.

22.04.2025 – SpaceX lanceert Bandwagon 3 (CCSFS). Duitse capsule Phoenix (van ATMOS Space Cargo) overleeft (wellicht) reentry.
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX’s rideshare Bandwagon-3 mission marks the 300th orbital flight from Cape Canaveral’s pad 40.
Space News: SpaceX launches third mid-inclination rideshare mission.

SpaceCom: South Korea sends 4th spy satellite to orbit on SpaceX rideshare launch.

European Spaceflight: ATMOS Raises €1M in New Funding as it Prepares for Inaugural Flight.
SpaceCom: SpaceX launches European reentry capsule on 'Bandwagon-3' rideshare mission.
European Spaceflight: ATMOS Space Cargo Tentatively Declares PHOENIX 1 Flight a Success.
Space News: Atmos Space Cargo declares first test flight a success despite reentry uncertainty.

Payload: Frontier Flies its Lab-in-a-Box on ATMOS’ Reentry Mission.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch the Bandwagon-3 mission to orbit.
SciNews: SpaceX Bandwagon-3 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing.

24.04.2025 – Chinese Lange Mars 2F/G lanceert een nieuwe bemanning naar Tiangong – Shenzhou 20.
De bemanning werd zoals gewoonlijk de dag voor de lancering voorgesteld.
ECNS: China to launch Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship at 5:17 p.m. Thursday.
ECNS: China unveils Shenzhou-20 crew for space station mission (foto’s).
SpaceCom: China reveals Shenzhou 20 astronaut crew launching to Tiangong space station.

De lancering:
ECNS: SAR astronauts gear up for debut mission.
ECNS: Shenzhou XX crew prepares for launch to Tiangong.
ECNS: See-off ceremony held for Chinese astronauts of Shenzhou-20 mission (foto’s).
ECNS: Shenzhou-20 astronauts head to launch tower after see-off ceremony.
ECNS: Astronauts embark on six-month space trip.

NSF: China launches three taikonauts to Tiangong, commercial sector continues to expand.
SpaceCom: China launches Shenzhou 20 astronauts to Tiangong space station.
Space Policy Online: New Chinese space station crew lifts off.
Spacepage: China brengt Shenzhou 20 bemanning succesvol in de ruimte.

Een goeie zes uur later volgde de koppeling:
ECNS: Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship docks with China's space station.

Space News: Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft arrives at Tiangong space station.
SpaceCom: China's Shenzhou 20 astronauts arrive at Tiangong space station.
Collect Space: Shenzhou-20 crew arrives at China's space station for 6-month stay.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: Shenzhou-20 Crewed Spaceship Ready for Launch.
CCTV: Shenzhou-20 Crewed Spaceflight System Optimized for Reliable, Safe Launch Mission.
CGTN: China to launch Shenzhou-20 crewed mission on April 24.
CGTN: Live: Special coverage of press conference on China's Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft launch.
CGTN: Live: Special coverage of China's Shenzhou-20 crewed mission members meeting the press.
CCTV: Astronauts of China's Shenzhou-20 Space Mission Meet Press.
CCTV: China Reveals Main Tasks of Shenzhou-20 Manned Space Mission.
CCTV: China's Shenzhou-20 Commander Determined to Lead Crew in Completing All Tasks.

CGTN: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center all set for Shenzhou-20 mission.
CCTV: Shenzhou-20 Astronauts Arrive at Launch Site, Prepare to Board Spacecraft.
CCTV: Shenzhou-20 Astronauts Board Spaceship Ahead of Launch.
CCTV: LIVE: Special Coverage of China's Shenzhou-20 Crewed Spacecraft Launch.
CCTV: China Launches Shenzhou-20 Manned Spaceship.

CCTV: Shenzhou-20 Spaceship Docks with Space Station Combination.
CCTV: Shenzhou-20 Astronauts Welcomed Aboard Space Station by Shenzhou-19 Crew.

SciNews: Shenzhou-20 crew announced.
SciNews: Shenzhou-20 launch.
SciNews: Shenzhou-20 docking.
SciNews: Shenzhou-20 hatch opening.

25.04.2025 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten – Group 6-74 (CCSFS).
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.
SpaceCom: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 28 Starlink satellites, aces droneship booster landing.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch 28 @Starlink  satellites to orbit from Florida.
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 249 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 25 April 2025.

Nog enkele vorige lanceringen.

New Shepard – Nog eens NG-31.
The Space Review: “A bonafide frigging flight”: How NS-31 broke spaceflight norms and created an online uproar.

Raketnieuws.

Blue Origin test 2de trap voor 2de New Glenn lancering.
NSF: Blue Origin test fires second stage and continues preparations for New Glenn’s second flight.
Zie ook deze tweet van Dave Limp (ULA).

Filmpje:
The Launch Pad: IGNITION! Blue Origin New Glenn 2nd Stage Test.

ESA test straffere booster voor Ariane 6 en Vega C.
European Spaceflight: Ariane 6 Booster Upgrade Test Set for 24 April.
ESA: P160C fires up successfully, a new chapter for Ariane 6 and Vega launchers.

Hypersonische raket wordt getest op het Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Ars Technica: Weapons of war are launching from Cape Canaveral for the first time since 1988.
Florida Today: Military launches mystery missile from Cape Canaveral; Army names hypersonic program 'Dark Eagle'.

RocketLab krijgt contract voor hypersonische testen met HASTE.
Zie ook vorige NUDR.
RocketLab: Rocket Lab Onramped To Multi-Billion Dollar U.S. and U.K. Defense Contracts To Expand Hypersonic Technology Development with HASTE.
RocketLab: Rocket Lab Awarded New HASTE Launch Contract for the DOD by Kratos.

Firefly Aerospace mag een betere “engine nozzle extension” ontwikkelen.
Firefly Aerospace: Firefly Aerospace Awarded AFRL Contract to Develop Ceramic Matrix Composite Rocket Engine Nozzle Extension

Over raketten en de switch naar methaan.
Eager Space (filmpje): Why do New Rockets Love Methane?.

Over herbruikbare raketten.
Ars Technica: Reusable rockets are here, so why is NASA paying more to launch stuff to space?

Bemande ruimtevaart / Ruimtestations.

20.04.2025 – Soyuz MS-26 terug naar de Aarde.
TASS: Soyuz MS-26 spaceship dedocked from ISS.
TASS: Soyuz MS-26 crew returns to Earth.
NASA: NASA Astronaut Don Pettit, Crewmates Complete Space Station Expedition.

Collect Space: NASA's oldest active astronaut lands from ISS on his 70th birthday.

Space Policy Online: NASA’s Pettit celebrates 70th birthday returning to Earth after 7 months in space.
Spacepage: NASA's oudste actieve astronaut keert op zijn 70ste verjaardag terug naar de aarde.

SpaceCom: Don Pettit, NASA's oldest active astronaut at 70, arrives in Houston after 7-month space mission.

Filmpjes:
NASA: NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Soyuz MS-26 Space Station Farewells and Hatch Closing.
NASA: NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Soyuz MS-26 Undocking.
NASA: NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Soyuz MS-26 Re-entry and Landing.
NASA: NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Returns to Houston.
SciNews: Soyuz MS-26 hatch closure.
SciNews: Soyuz MS-26 undocking and departure.
SciNews: Soyuz MS-26 landing.

Boeing en Starliner.
Space News: Boeing reports progress on containing Starliner costs.

ISS – De blogentries.
NASA ISS Blog: Astronaut, Cosmonauts Board Soyuz; Close Hatch for Departure.
NASA ISS Blog: Soyuz Crewmates Prep for Undocking; Expedition 72 Ends Soon.
NASA ISS Blog: Expedition 72 Trio Undocks for Earth Return Aboard Soyuz.
NASA ISS Blog: Soyuz Fires Braking Engines; Crew Entering Atmosphere Soon.
NASA ISS Blog: Astronaut Returns to Earth on 70th Birthday with Soyuz Crew.
NASA ISS Blog: NASA’s SpaceX CRS-32: Dragon Launches at 4:15 a.m. EDT.
NASA ISS Blog: Seven-Member Expedition 73 Crew Awaits Dragon and Preps for Spacewalk.
NASA ISS Blog: SpaceX Dragon Approaching Station with New Science, Supplies.
NASA ISS Blog: Dragon Docks to Station Delivering Science, Supplies to Crew.
NASA ISS Blog: Crew Unloads Dragon and Kicks Off New Space Experiments.
NASA ISS Blog: Crew Studies Advanced Biotech, Preps for Spacewalk as Station Orbits Higher.
NASA ISS Blog: Crew Studies Space Biology Advancing Health in Space and on Earth.

01.05.2025 – ISS – US EVA 93.

Filmpjes:
NASA: U.S. Spacewalk Preview News Conference.
NASA: US Spacewalk 93 Animation.
NASA: U.S. Spacewalk 93.

ISS – Meer nieuws uit het ruimtestation.
Voor de komst van Soyuz MS-27 draaide het ISS 180°. Bekijk dit (verrassend) filmpje.
Voor het vertrek van Soyuz MS-26 werd de Japanner Takuya Onishi ISS Commander.
JAXA: Astronaut Takuya Onishi appointed as ISS Commander.

TASS: ISS orbit raised by 2.1 kilometers.

ESA: Celebrating 20 years of KUBIK: a cornerstone of life science research in space.
NASA: Science in Space April 2025.

Sierra Space: Celebrating Human Spaceflight: Sierra Space's Contribution to the Plant Habitat-07 Experiment.
IEEE Spectrum: Honda Will Test a Fuel-Cell System in Space The ISS demonstration will help determine if the tech has a future beyond Earth.

Filmpjes:
NASA: Space to Ground: Birthday Homecoming: April 25, 2025.
JAXA: The road to become a JAXA astronaut – Astronaut candidates basic training.
Today In Space: The Evolution of the term ‘Astronaut'.
NASA: Houston, We have a podcast: This is Mission Control Houston.

Het einde van het ISS / Commerciële ruimtestations.
Space Policy Online: US-Russian ISS Commission: Controlled deorbit no gap, are imperatives.
Space News:  ISS implementation partners need to survive the transition to commercial LEO destinations.

CSS – Niet-Chinese bezoekers verwacht.
ECNS: HK, Macao astronauts expected to carry out space mission as early as 2026.

Filmpje:
CGTN: China-Pakistan: Soaring in space together.
CCTV: Two Pakistani Astronauts to Receive Spaceflight Training in China.

Qingzhou voorgesteld, een nieuwe cargo-capsule voor Tiangong.
ECNS: China unveils next-generation cargo spacecraft Qingzhou.
ECNS: China unveils new cargo spacecraft.

CSS – Meer nieuws uit het Chinese ruimtestation.
ECNS: Shenzhou XX crew starts takeover work of Tiangong.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: Shenzhou-19 Crew Conducts Experiments, Tests, Preparatory Work Before Returning.
CGTN: China's Shenzhou-19 crew ready for return after spacewalk record.

Naar de Maan (en Mars).

Artemis 3 – Opnieuw mensen op de Maan / HLS.
NASA: NASA Tests Key Spacesuit Parts Inside This Icy Chamber.
NASA: All Hands for Artemis III.
NASA: NASA’s Moon Seismometer Cleared for Construction – LEMS.

Artemis 4 – Gateway.
NASA: Lunar Space Station for NASA’s Artemis Campaign to Begin Final Outfitting.
Satellite Evolution Group: Northrop Grumman begins integration and testing of NASA’s habitation and logistics outpost.

Artemis 5 – Lunar Terrain Vehicle.

Filmpjes:
Spaceflight Now: Who is in pole position to build NASA's new "Moon Buggy"?
Spaceflight Now: Lunar Terrain Vehicle Highlight – Astrolab.
Spaceflight Now: Lunar Terrain Vehicle Highlight - Lunar Outpost.
Spaceflight Now: Lunar Terrain Vehicle Highlight - Intuitive Machines.

Artemis – Naar de Maan en Mars.
NASA: NASA Marshall Fires Up Hybrid Rocket Motor to Prep for Moon Landings.

Minder water dan verwacht ?
The Brief: Newly analyzed satellite scans of the deepest lunar craters reveal ”chilling” results.

Inside GNSS: NovaMoon: A New Paradigm in Lunar Exploration – LunaNet – Moonlight

Filmpjes:
NASA: NASA Marshall Fires Up Motor for Artemis Lander Study.

ILRS – China naar de Maan.
Inside Outer Space: China’s Moon Research Station Detailed.
Space Insider: As Competition Intensifies, China Reports Its on Schedule For Moon Landing, Plans For Lunar Nuke Plant

Filmpje:
CCTV:  China's Crewed Moon Landing Mission Progressing Steadily: CMSA.

Starship – Wachten op IFT 9.
NSF: Starship program laying groundwork for huge facilities in Texas and Florida.
Teslarati: SpaceX’s Starbase nears city status with voter support.

Filmpjes:
LabPadre: Starship's Next Launch Pad is a Huge Upgrade - SpaceX Weekly #163.
NSF: "They're Moving Pretty Quickly There" | SpaceX Boca Chica.
NSF: Starship Flight 9 Preps, Chopstick Testing, and Pad B Progress | Starbase Update.
WAI: SpaceX Lunar Starship Under Pressure: China Reveals Plans!
NSF: It's Leg Day at Starbase | SpaceX Boca Chica.
WAI: SpaceX Unveils Massive Next Generation Starship Upgrade! How Did We Miss This???
Marcus House: Starship Flight Test 9 Vehicles FINALLY Prepare, and Huge Starbase Upgrades – It's All Happening!

Op ontdekking door het zonnestelsel.

Lucy bezoekt planetoïde Donaldjohanson.
NASA: NASA’s Lucy Spacecraft Images Asteroid Donaldjohanson.
Sky & Telescope: Meet asteroid Donaldjohanson: Long and lumpy.
SpaceCom: NASA's Lucy probe captures 1st close-up images of asteroid Donaldjohanson, revealing 'strikingly complicated geology'.

Filmpjes:
SciNews: First images of Asteroid Donaldjohanson.
Scott Manley: Lucy Spacecraft Shows First Close Up Images of Asteroid Donaldjohanson.

DARPA en de Maan / Cislunar Space.
Space News: DARPA requests proposals for water-prospecting lunar orbiter – LASSO.
Via Satellite: DARPA Program Seeks Autonomous, Maneuverable Satellites For Cislunar Domain Awareness.
Meer over LASSO vind je hier bij DARPA..

Nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Ruimteweer:
The Space Review: Space weather and spaceflight.

Zon:
ESA: Solar Orbiter’s widest high-res view of the Sun.

Mercurius:
Daily Galaxy: NASA Discovers 10-Mile-Thick Diamond Layer Beneath Mercury’s Surface.

Aarde:
NASA: Celebrating Earth as Only NASA Can.
Het bijbehorende filmpje vind je hier.
BBC: What is Earth Day 2025, when is it and what has it achieved?
NOAA Satellites (filmpje): Happy Earth Day from NOAA Satellites.
ESA: Sentinel-1 captures ground shift from Myanmar earthquake.
ESA: Sentinel-1 interferogram of Myanmar earthquake.

Maan:
ECNS: Chang'e 5 samples to be shared with six nations.
BBC: China shares rare Moon rocks with US despite trade war.
CGTN (filmpje): China shares Chang'e-5 lunar samples with global scientists.
CGTN (filmpje): Intl researchers granted access to China's Chang'e-5 lunar samples for research.
CGTN: Chang'e-6 lifts the veil on the moon's mysterious far side
ECNS: 10 int'l projects picked for Chang'e 8 mission.
Space News: China to lend Chang’e-5 moon samples to U.S. universities
Space News: China selects international payloads for Chang’e-8 lunar south pole mission.
SpaceCom: 'We learned so much that we didn't know': Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost moon lander mission was full of surprises.
Payload: DARPA Eyes Orbital Mission to Map Lunar Water Ice.

Mars:
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Sols 4515-4517: Silver Linings.
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Sols 4518-4519: Thumbs up from Mars.
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Sols 4520-4521: Prinzregententorte.
SpaceCom: NASA's Curiosity rover finds major clue that Mars was once habitable.
Gizmodo: NASA’s Curiosity Rover Solves Ancient Mystery on Mars.
SpaceCom: Mars is covered in evidence of ancient lakes, rain and snow — but scientists aren't sure how that's possible.
LiveScience: NASA rover discovers out-of-place 'Skull' on Mars, and scientists are baffled – Perseverance.
NASA: NASA Orbiter Spots Curiosity Rover Making Tracks to Next Science Stop.
SpaceCom: Mars orbiter snaps 1st image of Curiosity rover driving on the Red Planet (photo).

Saturnus:
Sky & Telescope: Plumes from Saturn’s Moon Enceladus might come straight from its hidden ocean.
SpaceCom: NASA's Dragonfly nuclear-powered helicopter clears key hurdle ahead of 2028 launch toward huge Saturn moon Titan.

Uranus:
NASA: Planetary Alignment Provides NASA Rare Opportunity to Study Uranus.

‘Oumuamua: 
Astrum (filmpje): Everything We Know About 'Oumuamua.

Meer ruimtevaartnieuws.

Een nieuw hoofdkwartier voor NASA.
Dit is al een tijdje aan de gang.
Space News: States bid to host a revamped NASA headquarters.

Europa en ruimtevaart – Meer onafhankelijkheid gewenst (?).
Via Satellite: Seraphim White Paper Implores Europe to Spend More on Space Capabilities.
Het rapport “Whitepaper: The role of spacetec in solving Europe’s security dilemma” vind je hier bij Seraphim (PDF).

India gaat meer dan 100 satellieten lanceren voor de bescherming van zijn grenzen.
India Today: India to launch 150 satellites in 3 years to enhance border security: Isro chief.

PWSA – Nieuws.
In verband met Tranche 3.
Space News: SAIC wins $55 million Space Development Agency contract for satellite network integration.

Space Force – Nieuws.
Defense Now (filmpje): What Is USSPACECOM's Role In The Space Force?
Payload: EOs, Commercial Cooperation, and Culture: A Recap of Polaris After Dark

Via Satellite:  Northwood Space Raises $30M Series A to Disrupt Satellite Ground Stations.

Space News: GPS disruption and satellite maneuvers now hallmarks of modern warfare.

Trump –  Golden Dome – Missile Defense Shield.
Space News: L3Harris gains edge in race to build Golden Dome missile sensors.
Via Satellite: L3Harris Expresses Interest in Golden Dome, Logs Charges on Classified Space Programs

Trump, Musk en Isaacman.
Space News: Hidden and hampered: elevating the Office of Commercial Space Transportation.

Space News: OMB suggests NOAA scale back plans for geostationary satellites.
Space Explored: Trump’s proposed NASA budget would waste $3.4 billion of taxpayers money.

Via Satellite: Iridium CEO Details How Tariffs Impact Supply Chain, Estimates $3M Impact in 2025 .
Space News: Iridium shields supply chain as higher tariffs loom.
Payload: Iridium Is Fighting Starlink and Trump’s Tariffs

MSNBC: What the failure of Elon Musk's '5 things' email strategy means.
BBC: Musk to reduce Doge role after Tesla profits plunge.
Space Explored: Elon’s days in the White House may be numbered.
Teslarati: Donald Trump shares thoughts on Elon Musk’s DOGE step back.

Space News: Isaacman calls potential NASA science cuts not “optimal”.
SpaceCom: Senators press Jared Isaacman, Trump's pick for NASA chief, on his ties to Elon Musk.
Space Policy Online: Musk’s possible role in Meink, Isaacman nominations continues to raise concerns.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen