We hebben er even op moeten wachten, maar deze week was het zover. ESA verspreidde de eerste foto’s van een PROBA 3 zonsverduistering. Dat ging spijtig genoeg gepaard met vuurwerk toen bij SpaceX een Ship ontplofte tijdens de voorbereiding op een static fire. Ondertussen bleek dit ook de week van uitstel te zijn, o.a. voor New Shepard maar vooral voor Axiom 4. Dat laatste omwille van lekproblemen in het ISS. Dat en nog veel meer in het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart van deze week.

Bij de foto: ESA toonde afgelopen week de eerste foto genomen door PROBA 3 – Foto: ESA/Proba-3/ASPIICS/WOW algorithm

Belgisch ruimtevaartnieuws. 

PROBA 3 en zijn eerste foto’s van een kunstmatige zonsverduistering.
ESA: Proba-3’s first artificial solar eclipse.
Deze persmededeling in het Nederlands vind je hier.

VRTNWS: Beelden vrijgegeven van eerste kunstmatige zonsverduistering (met grote Belgische inbreng).
SpaceCom: Behold! 1st images of artificial solar eclipse captured by ESA's Proba-3 mission.

Foto’s:
ESA: Solar corona viewed by Proba-3’s ASPIICS.
ESA: Solar corona viewed by Proba-3’s ASPIICS.
ESA: Proba-3’s artificial solar eclipse.
ESA: The Sun and its corona viewed by Proba-2, Proba-3 and SOHO.

Filmpjes:
ESA: First artificial solar eclipse in space.
ESA: Proba-3 Images Revealed at Le Bourget.
Scott Manley: Solar Eclipses On Demand - Europe's PROBA-3 Mission.

Altius klaar voor zijn payload.
Altius is gebaseerd op het Hammerhead-satellietplatform van Redwire. Dat platform is een verdere evolutie van het PROBA-platform.
Redwire: Redwire Successfully Completes Integration of Hammerhead Spacecraft for Upcoming European Mission.
Meer informatie over het Hammerhead-platform vind je hier bij Redwire.

Enkele andere artikels over Altius:
2008 – ESA: BIRA denkt aan kleine satelliet voor onderzoek van de atmosfeer.
BIRA: Ozone mission – Belgian space experiment for atmospheric sounding.
BELSPO EO: Altius.
2018 – BIRA: ALTIUS: Atmospheric Limb Tracker for the Investigation of the Upcoming Stratosphere.
2020 – BELSPO EO: ALTIUS: een missie voor het milieu, een uitgelezen kans voor Belgische actoren.

De lanceringen van de afgelopen week.

17.06.2025 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten Group 15-9 (VSFB).
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launches 26 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB.
SpaceCom: SpaceX launch from California sends 26 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit.
Info over de lancering vind je hier bij SpaceX.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch 26 Starlink satellites to orbit from California.
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 274 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 17 June 2025.

18.06.2025 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten Group 10-18 (CCSFS).
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.
De (beperkte) SpaceX info vind je hier.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch 28 Starlink  satellites to orbit from Florida.
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 275 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 18 June 2025.

19.06.2025 – Russische Angara A5 lanceert Cosmos 2589 (?).
TASS: Russia’s Angara-A5 carrier rocket with satellites blasts off from Plesetsk spaceport.
Russian Space Web: Angara-5 carries its first payloads.

20.06.2025 – Chinese Lange Mars 3B/E lanceert ZhongXing-9C (ChinaSat).
CGTN: China launches Chinasat-9C satellite into orbit

Filmpje:
CCTV: China Launches Satellite Chinasat-9C.
SciNews: Long March-3B launches ZhongXing-9C (ChinaSat-9C).

Te verwachten lanceringen.

22.06.2025 – NS-33 – Uitgesteld tot 22.02.
Blue Origin: Conservationists Join Blue Origin’s Next New Shepard Flight, NS-33.

SpaceCom: Blue Origin reveals passengers for 13th space tourism launch.
SpaceCom: Meet the crew of Blue Origin's NS-33 tourism launch to the edge of space.

Filmpje:
Blue Origin: Replay: New Shepard Mission NS-33 Launch Attempt.

??.06.2025 – Axiom 4 / Ignis – Nog altijd niet vertrokken.
NASA: NASA, Partners Review Axiom Mission 4 Launch Opportunities.
NASA: NASA Shares New Space Station Ops, Axiom Mission 4 Launch Update.
NASA: NASA Provides Latest Axiom Mission 4 Launch, Station Operations Update.

Space News: NASA sets new potential launch date for Ax-4 mission to ISS.
SpaceCom: SpaceX, NASA target June 19 for launch of private Ax-4 astronauts after ISS leak repairs.

India Defense News: Indian principal investigators and ISRO coordinate with Axiom Space to refresh experimental specimens ahead of Ax-4 mission.
UPI: Axiom-4 mission to space station put on hold.
SpaceCom: Leak on International Space Station delays SpaceX launch of Axiom-4 astronauts.

Raketnieuws.

Gaat FAA een belasting heffen op elke kg die de ruimte in gaat?
Gizmodo: Rocket Companies Like SpaceX May Soon Pay Per Pound to Use the Sky.

Succesvolle motortest Chinese Kinetica 2.
Space Daily: Kinetica 2 engine test hits milestone with successful multi-engine trial.

Statische test voor Chinese Zhuque 3 – Landspace.
Space News: Landspace performs 9-engine static fire test for reusable Zhuque-3 rocket.

Filmpje:
CCTV: China's Reusable Rocket Zhuque-3 Completes Major Engine Cluster Test.

Honda doet hop-test v/e experimentele herbruikbare raket.
Honda: Honda Conducts Successful Launch and Landing Test of Experimental Reusable Rocket.
Payload: Honda Hops Reusable Booster Prototype.

Filmpje:
SciNews: Honda experimental reusable rocket test.

Spyder-raket doet succesvolle hypersonische testlancering.
UP Aerospace: UP Aerospace Successfully Launches Maiden Flight of the Spyder Hypersonic Rocket.
Een beetje info over Spyder vind je op de website van UP Aerospace.

Weldra Falcon 9 lanceringen vanuit Zuid-Afrika?
Business Insider: Elon Musk considers launching SpaceX rockets from South African soil.

ArianeGroup werkt aan herbruikbare raketmotor voor Franse ruimtevaartbureau CNES.
European Spaceflight: CNES Taps ArianeGroup to Lead Reusable Rocket Engine Project.

Europa moet lanceerfrequentie Ariane 6 en Vega C opdrijven.
Aviation Week: Europe's Space Launcher Industry Prioritizes Ariane 6, Vega-C Ramp-Up.
European Spaceflight: Arianespace and Avio Call for Enforced European Launcher Preference.

Wordt het Polaris-ruimtevliegtuig een Air-to-Air raketlanceerder?
European Spaceflight: POLARIS Spaceplanes to Equip its Vehicles with Air-to-Air Missiles.

RocketLab, Neutron en LC 3 op Wallops.
RocketLab (filmpje): Neutron | Launch Complex 3.

Relativity Space en Terran R.
NSF: Relativity Space accelerates production and testing of first Terran R.

Bemande ruimtevaart / Ruimtestations.

Europese terugkeercapsules leiden misschien tot bemande capsule.
Space News: The Exploration Company outlines plans for human spaceflight – NYX.
European Spaceflight: The Exploration Company Unveils Proposed Crew Capsule.

NSF: How ATMOS Space Cargo is shaping Europe’s spaceflight future through reentry capsules.

Virgin Galactic en het Delta ruimtevliegtuig.
Aviation Week: Virgin Galactic Ramps Up For Delta Spaceplane Final Assembly.

ISS – Crew 12 – De epsilon-missie van Sophie Adenot.
ESA: Sophie Adenot – Introducing εpsilon.
ESA: εpsilon: Sophie Adenot’s first mission name and patch unveiled.
ESA: εpsilon patch.

ESA (filmpje): President Macron calls Sophie Adenot from Paris Air Show 2025.

ISS – De blogentries.
NASA ISS Blog: Science Maintenance and Window Inspections Kick Off Week.
NASA ISS Blog: Crew Works Exercise and Earth Studies, Spacesuit Checks, and Lab Inspections.
NASA ISS Blog: Expedition 73 Wraps Week with Relaxation, Light Science, and Emergency Drill.

Over de Sally Ride documentaire.
Space Daily: Queer astronaut documentary takes on new meaning in Trump's US.

ISS – Meer nieuws uit het ruimtestation.
TASS: Roscosmos chief says ISS not shutting down for at least another three years.

NASA: A Researcher’s Guide to: Microgravity Materials Research.
Rechtstreeks te downloaden via deze link (PDF).

Filmpjes:
NASA: Astronaut Discusses Life In Space With U.S. Air Force Academy Association – Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
NASA: NASA Astronauts to Answer Questions from Students in New York, Utah.

Commerciële ruimtestations – Orbital Reef – VAST en HAVEN 1.
ESA: The European Space Agency, Thales Alenia Space and Blue Origin to explore collaboration opportunities.
Space News: ESA signs agreement for potential use of Orbital Reef.

Space Explored: Fly around Vast’s Haven-1 space station using the Apple Vision Pro.

CSS – Meer nieuws uit het Chinese ruimtestation.
Space Daily: China Shenzhou XX crew advances cognitive and biotech research aboard Tiangong.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: Shenzhou-20 Crew Advances Mission During Productive Week.

Naar de Maan (en Mars).

Artemis 3 – Opnieuw mensen op de Maan / HLS.
NASA: NASA Engineers Simulate Lunar Lighting for Artemis III Moon Landing.

Artemis – Naar de Maan en Mars.
NASA: NASA’s Lunar Rescue System Challenge Supports Astronaut Safety.

Filmpje:
NASA: The Next Steps in Lunar Exploration.

Pad Abort Test voor Mengzhou.
Space News: China conducts pad abort test for crew spacecraft, advancing moon landing plans.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: China's New-Generation Manned Spacecraft Completes Zero-Altitude Escape Flight Test.
SciNews: Mengzhou launch abort system test.

ILRS – China naar de Maan.
Space News: China lays foundation for cislunar infrastructure with spacecraft in novel lunar orbits – DRO – QUEQIAO – TIANDU.

Starship – Tegenslag voor IFT 10 – Ship 36 ontploft bij tankbeurt voorafgaande aan een static fire.
Space News: Starship destroyed in test stand explosion.
Spaceflight Now: Next Starship explodes on test stand.
SpaceCom: SpaceX's Starship explodes in Texas during preparations for 10th test flight.
Ars Technica: SpaceX’s next Starship just blew up on its test stand in South Texas.
Space Scout: Starship 36 Explodes During Static Fire Testing.

SpaceCom: SpaceX traces Starship test-stand explosion to failure of pressurized nitrogen tank.
NSF: Ship 36 experiences anomaly during engine testing, next steps unclear.

VRTNWS: Waarom mislukken lanceringen van SpaceX zo vaak? "Er zit wel degelijk een strategie achter".

Filmpjes:
LabPadre Space: Whoops...What Happened to Booster 16? - SpaceX Weekly #171.
NSF: Starship 36 Rolls to Masseys for Testing Ahead of Starship Flight 10.
NSF: SpaceX Performs A Static Fire of Ship 36.
NSF: Is This the Fastest Turnaround Yet? | Starbase Update.

Lab Padre: Ship 36 Experiences Anomaly (Loss of Vehicle) - LabPadre Space.
NSF: SpaceX Starship 36 Explodes During Flight 10 Testing at Starbase.
NSF: SpaceX Ship 36 RUDs During Testing.
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX's Starship blew up at its test site, here's what we know.
Marcus House: Starship Exploded and We Now Know How BAD The Damage Is!

Op ontdekking door het zonnestelsel.

Gecrashte Japanse maanlander gespot door LRO – HakutoR / Resilience.
NASA: NASA’s LRO Views ispace HAKUTO-R Mission 2 Moon Lander Impact Site.

SpaceCom: NASA moon orbiter spies grave of crashed Japanese lunar lander.
Inside Outer Space: NASA Moon Orbiter Spots Japan’s Crashed ispace Lunar Lander.

Filmpje:
SciNews: Hakuto-R M2 Impact Site.

ESA’s Moonraker moet de Maan in kaart brengen.
ESA Activity: Moonraker: Mapping the Moon with high resolution LIDAR.
GPS World: ESA moves forward with Moon mapping study.
SatNews: SFL Missions Inc. included on team awarded ESA contract for a Moon mapping study.

Het Franse Venture Space stelt de Mona Luna voor.
Venturi Space: Venturi Space presents Mona Luna, the European Lunar Rover.
Payload: Venturi Space Unveils its All-European Rover.
Space News: Venturi Space announces European lunar rover design.

Firefly Aerospace, Elytra en de Ocula (commerciële) maanfoto service.
Firefly Aerospace: Firefly Aerospace Announces New Lunar Imaging Service on its Elytra Spacecraft.
Meer info over Ocula vind je hier.

Space News: Firefly announces commercial lunar imagery service.
Spaceflight Now: Firefly Aerospace aims to deploy first commercial lunar imaging service.
SpaceCom: Firefly Aerospace to launch 'Ocula' moon-imaging service as early as 2026.

Filmpje:
Aviation Week: Venturi Space Unveils Its European Lunar Rover At Paris Air Show.

Met Psyche gaat het goed (in backup mode).
NASA: NASA’s Psyche Spacecraft Resumes Full-Time Propulsion.
Ars Technica: Psyche keeps its date with an asteroid, but now it’s running in backup mode.

Meer nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Ruimteweer:
SpaceCom: Powerful X-class solar flare erupts from sun, knocking out radio signals across the Pacific.
NewsWeek: Map Reveals Blackout Over US States After 'Extreme' Solar Flare.

Zon:
Universe Today: NASA's PUNCH Mission Captured Images of a Huge Solar Eruption.

Aarde:
ESA (filmpje): Introducing CryoSat’s incredible ice, snow and water products.
Space News: BlackSky unveils wide-area imaging satellite – AROS.
NASA (filmpje): From Space to Soil: How NASA Sees Forests.
NASA: NASA Scientists Find Ties Between Earth’s Oxygen and Magnetic Field.
NewsWeek: Satellite Images Reveal Scale of Wildfires Scorching New Mexico.
De Morgen: Satelliet ziet kleurverandering in oceanen: meer plankton in het noorden, minder in het zuiden.
Universe Today: There's a Link Between the Earth's Atmosphere and its Magnetic Field.

Maan:
SpaceCom: 50 years later, Apollo 17’s moon samples are still revealing secrets about lunar volcanoes.

Mars:
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Curiosity Blog, Sols 4573-4574: Welcome to the Uyuni Quad.
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Curiosity Blog, Sols 4575-4576: Perfect Parking Spot.
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Curiosity Blog, Sols 4577-4579: Watch the Skies.
Inside Outer Space: China’s Mars Sample Return – New Details.

Ceres
Universe Today: Using a Space Elevator To Get Water Off Ceres.

Meer ruimtevaartnieuws.

ESA op het lucht- en ruimtevaartsalon van Le Bourget.
ESA: ESA at Le Bourget 2025 - Day One Highlights;
De ESA-CNES persconferentie op die eerste dag kan je hier herbekijken.
ESA: ESA at Le Bourget 2025 - Day Two Highlights.
ESA: ESA at Le Bourget 2025 – Day Three Highlights.
ESA: ESA at Le Bourget 2025 - Day Four Highlights.

ESA (filmpje): ESA - European Commission Press Conference at Paris Air Show 2025.
ESA (filmpje): Call with Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski at Paris Air Show 2025 – Axiom 4 / Ignis.
ESA (filmpje): The Future of ESA Transportation.

ESA (filmpje): ESA Director General reflects on #50YearsofESA.
ESA: ESA 50 Years booklet – Je kan het rechtstreeks downloaden via deze link (PDF).

European Spaceflight: ESA Director Says Europe Has the Capabilities to Replace NASA Contributions.
Space Policy Online: ESA moves forward while NASA prepares to stop back in S&T.

Financial Times: European Space Agency seeks €1bn for satellite network with military capabilities.
Space News: ESA moving ahead with ‘resilience from space’ satellite imaging program.

Aviation Week: Thales Alenia Space Gears Up For LEO Navigation Satellite Demo.
Aviation Week: France Launches Military Space Projects.

Eutelsat / OneWeb zoekt meer geld.
European Spaceflight: Eutelsat Eyes €1.35B Capital Raise After Signing €1B Framework Deal.
The Register: Eutelsat seeks €1.35B to boost LEO network and take the fight to Starlink.
Space News: French government to lead Eutelsat’s $1.56 billion capital boost.
France 24: France becomes biggest shareholder in Eutelsat, EU rival to Musk's Starlink.

NASA op zoek naar commerciële vervanger van het TDRS systeem.
Executive Gov: NASA Issues RFI for Commercial Space Communication Capabilities.

NASA Budget FY2025.
The Space Review: How NASA’s proposed budget cuts are felt across the Atlantic.
The Space Review: NASA’s 2026 budget in brief: Unprecedented, unstrategic, and wasteful.

Wie wordt de nieuwe NASA Administrator?
Space News: Members of Congress want White House to quickly nominate new NASA administrator.

Space Force – Nieuws.
Space News: Ursa Major secures $32.9 million contract to supply engines for U.S. military hypersonic tests.
Breaking Defense: Commercial ISR satellite operators petition Congress to reverse NRO cuts.
Via Satellite: Remote Sensing CEOs Call Out Risks of Potential Budget Cuts.
Breaking Defense: Space Force is contracting with SpaceX for new, secretive MILNET SATCOM network.
GovConWire: Astrion’s Axient Business Wins Spot on $237M Space Force STEP 2.0 Contract.
Space News: Pentagon struggles to build unified satellite network.
Space Daily: NASA prepares sensor breakthrough for upcoming hypersonic rocket flights – FOSS.

Golden Dome – Missile Defense Shield.
Space News: Trump officially nominates Space Force Gen. Guetlein to lead ‘Golden Dome’.
Air & Space Forces: Trump Formally Nominates Guetlein as Golden Dome Czar.

American Physical Society: Strategic ballistic missile defense – Challenges to defending the U.S.
Het rapport (versie 02.2025) is hier te downloaden (PDF).

Trump en de ruimtevaart.
Payload: NASA Begins Workforce Cuts Without A Spending Plan.
Space News: Trump’s dispute with Musk shows the danger of private monopolies in space.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen