Ooit zei wijlen president John F. Kennedy over het waarom van reizen naar de maan: “not because it is easy, but because it is hard”. En dat laatste geldt nog altijd. In 2019 gingen twee sondes verloren bij een poging om op de Maan te landen, met name Beresheet uit Israël en de maanlander van Chandrayaan 2. Dit jaar liep het ook mis voor de Japanse Hakuto-R. En wellicht mogen we nu ook de Russische Luna 25 bij op dat lijstje zetten. Bij een maneuver ter voorbereiding van de afdaling naar het oppervlak liep het mis. Officieel is men (voorlopig?) het contact met de sonde verloren. Volgens sommige geruchten zou het gaan om een verkeerd ingetypt commando en hebben de motoren te lang gebrand waardoor de sonde veel te snel en veel te vroeg kennis maakte met het oppervlak. De mislukking was door velen voorspeld (zij het om andere redenen) en misschien door nog meer mensen gewenst. In India zullen ze er niet rouwig om zijn. De Indische maanlander Vikram (Chandrayaan 3) doet woensdag hopelijk waar zijn voorganger niet in slaagde. Zacht landen op de Maan. Dat en nog veel meer in het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart van deze week.

Bij de foto: Toen Luna 25 in een baan om de Maan arriveerde, ging initieel alles nog goed. Zoals deze foto van de krater Zeeman moet bewijzen. Wat later liep het dan fout. Achtergrond: NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter LROC camera data. Voorgrond: IKI RAS

Luna 25 – Alle contact verloren met de sonde in een baan om de Maan.
Eerst de berichten die de afgelopen week bij TASS verschenen.
TASS: Russian lunar probe activates scientific devices in its travel to Moon — Roscosmos.
TASS: Cuban paper praises launch of Luna-25 moon lander as showcase feat of Russian science.
TASS: Russia’s Luna-25 lunar probe enters orbit of Earth’s natural satellite — Roscosmos.
TASS: All systems of Luna-25 moon lander on lunar orbit function normally.
TASS: Russia’s Luna 25 spacecraft captures first image of Moon surface.
TASS: Roscosmos publishes first results of Luna-25 spacecraft instrument measurements
TASS: Abnormal situation occurs during transfer of Luna-25 probe to pre-landing orbit

De voorbije week leek alles naar wens te verlopen … 
Inside Outer Space: Russia’s Moon Probe: First Images.
SpaceCom: Russia's Luna-25 moon lander snaps 1st pictures from space (photos).
Inside Outer Space: Russian Moon Lander Swings into Lunar Orbit.
SpaceCom: Russia's Luna-25 moon lander reaches lunar orbit.
The Times of India: Russia’s Luna-25 set to land in south pole on Monday, two days prior to Chandrayaan 3 landing.
SpaceCom: Russia's Luna-25 moon lander snaps 1st photo of lunar surface.
Scientific American: Can Russia's Luna-25 Moon Mission Transcend Earthly Politics?
Inside Outer Space: Russia’s Luna-25: First Science Results.
CNN: Russia’s lander experiences ‘emergency situation’ while approaching lunar surface.

… Maar dan kwam het slechte nieuws.
Ars Technica: Is Luna 25 alive? Russia says an “emergency situation” has occurred.
Space Policy Online: Russia’s Luna-25 Lunar Lander Experiences anomaly.
Space News: Luna-25 malfunctions during lunar orbit maneuver.

VRTNWS: Is de nieuwe Russische maanmissie mislukt? Loena-25 ondervindt "technische problemen".

Filmpje:
SciNews: Luna-25’s first image of the Moon.

12.08.2023 – Turkije lanceert sondeerraket, de voorloper van een orbitale raket (?).
Dailysabah: Leap in space tech as Türkiye launches homegrown probe rocket.

14.08.2023 – Chinese Kuaizhou lanceert vijf satellieten.
China Daily: Kuaizhou 1A rocket launched into orbit.
CGTN: China's Kuaizhou-1A rocket launches five satellites for smart transportation security.

Filmpjes:
CGTN: China's Kuaizhou-1A rocket launches five new satellites.
SciNews: Kuaizhou-1A launches HeDe-3 A-E.

17.08.2023 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten (Cape Canaveral).
Teslarati: SpaceX plans back-to-back Starlink launches.
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launches Starlink mission from Florida, delays west coast mission.
UPI: SpaceX successfully launches another batch of Starlink satellites into space.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX: Starlink Mission.
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 99 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 17 August 2023.

De Vandenberg Starlink-launch werd uitgesteld door een naderende orkaan.
KSBY News (filmpje): SpaceX further postpones rocket launch from Vandenberg SFB due to Hurricane Hilary.

Europese Vega-lancering in september.
European Spaceflight: Arianespace to Launch Europe’s Final Mission of 2023 Aboard Vega in September.

Intuitive Machines kondigt lanceerdatum aan voor hun eerste maanmissie – IM-1.
Space News: Intuitive Machines sets mid-November launch date for first lunar lander.
Space Policy Online: Intuitive Machines sets november for launch of IM-1 Lunar Lander.
Ars Technica: Intuitive Machines says it is ready to fly to the Moon.

Astra krijgt het moeilijk.
Space News (juli): Astra to raise up to $65 million in stock sale.

En sinds het begin van deze maand:
Space News: Astra lays off, reassigns employees as it refocuses on satellite propulsion.
Via Satellite: Astra Restructures to Focus on Engine Business, Lays Off 70 Employees 
Ars Technica: Astra’s new rocket won’t launch until 2024—if it ever flies.
Space News: Astra seeks strategic investors as cash reserves decrease.

ISS / AXIOM: Polen weldra met Axiom naar het ruimtestation.
Space News: Poland signs agreement to fly astronaut on Axiom Space ISS mission.

Nog een artikel uit juli:
Space News: Interest grows for human spaceflight in Europe.

ISS / Crew 7.
SpaceCom: SpaceX's Crew-7 mission will launch international crew to ISS next week.
SpaceCom: SpaceX Dragon capsule arrives at launch pad ahead of Crew-7 liftoff (photos).
ESA: Watch Huginn launch.

ISS – De blogentries, Daily Summary Reports en Science Highlights.
NASA ISS Blog: Crew Studies Life Science to Improve Health on Earth and in Space
NASA ISS Blog: Busy Crew Assists Each Other for Space Science and Lab Upkeep
NASA ISS Blog: Exercise, Physics, and Robotics Research Ahead of Cargo Mission
NASA ISS Blog: Biomedical, Physics Research as Cargo and Crew Missions Near Launch
NASA ISS Blog: Week Ends with Array of Science Before Cargo, Crew Missions Launch

NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 09/08/2023.
NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 10/08/2023.
NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 11/08/2023.
NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 14/08/2023.
NASA: ISS Daily Summary Report – 15/08/2023.

Space Station Science Highlights: Week of August 11, 2023.

ISS – Meer nieuws uit het ruimtestation.
TASS: ISS swerves on Saturday to avoid space garbage — Roscosmos.
TASS: Cosmonaut Ovchinin to serve as backup for two crew members onboard Soyuz MS-24 — Roscosmos.
TASS: Belarusian cosmonaut Marina Vasilevskaya to blast off for ISS mission early in 2024
TASS: Progress MS-22 to undock from ISS on August 21 — Roscosmos.

ESA: Europe’s robotic arm excels in first two years on Space Station.

SatelliteProME: UAE astronauts conduct spacewalk training at Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory.

Filmpjes:
NASA: Space to Ground: Tracking a Trend: Aug.18, 2023.
NASA: How will astronauts keep their spacesuit underwear clean?  #space #moon #shorts.
NASA: Expedition 69 Space Station Crew Answers Galveston, Texas, Student Questions - Aug. 14, 2023.

CSS – Nieuws uit het Chinese ruimtestation.

Filmpjes:
CGTN: Shenzhou-16 taikonauts implement fluid mechanics experiments in space station.
WION: China's Tiangong space station faces equipment delay from India | Latest World News.

ROSS – Voorlopig doet niemand mee met nieuwe Russische ruimtestation.
TASS: No response for now from other states to join orbital station project — Roscosmos

Artemis 2.
ExecutiveGov: United Launch Alliance Delivers Critical Orion Spacecraft Target for Artemis II Mission.
NSF: Lockheed Martin, NASA working around the clock to finish Artemis II Orion assembly and hold 2024 launch date

SpaceCom: What 1st Canadian astronaut on moon mission is learning from his crewmates (exclusive).
NASA: Artemis II Orion Crew Module Acoustic Testing Complete.

NASA Artemis Blog: Mobile Launcher Rolls to Launch Pad for Artemis ll Testing.
NASA Artemis Blog: Mobile Launcher Arrives at Launch Pad 39B for Artemis ll Preps.
Spaceflight Now: NASA’s moon program mobile launcher rolls back to the launch pad for testing.
PhysOrg: NASA's tale of two towers: Both Artemis mobile launchers see action.
Ars Technica: With NASA’s mobile launcher on the move, here’s a road map to Artemis II.
SpaceCom: NASA rolls Artemis 2 mobile launch tower to pad for tests (photos).

Filmpje:
ESA: Artemis II crew visit spacecraft.

Artemis 4.
SpaceCom: Artemis 4 astronauts will be 1st crew to use NASA's moon-orbiting Gateway in 2028

Artemis – Gateway.
SpaceCom: Artemis 4 astronauts will be 1st crew to use NASA's moon-orbiting Gateway in 2028.

Artemis – Naar de Maan en Mars.
Space News: NASA developing larger cubesat payload adapter for SLS.
Zie ook: NASA MSFC SLS Payload Integration Office:  NASA Space Launch System CubeSats: First Flight and Future Opportunities (PDF).

Universe Today: We Could Get Material On The Moon By Shocking It With Lightning.
Universe Today: Spacecraft Could Shuttle Astronauts and Supplies to and From the Moon on a Regular Basis.
SpaceCom: Space mining company developing nuclear reactor and more for moon projects.
SpaceRef: Astrostrom Releases Extensive Plan for Space-Based Power Built on Lunar Resources.

Space News: DARPA to study integrated lunar infrastructure.
ExecutivGov: DARPA Launches 10-Year Lunar Architecture Capability Study.

Space Policy Online: State Department kicks off International Lunar Year discussions.

Starship – In afwachting van de tweede testvlucht (met B9 en S25).
Payload: SpaceX Files its Starship Mishap Report to the FAA.
SpaceCom: SpaceX submits Starship mishap report to the FAA.
Tesmanian: SpaceX plans to upgrade Starship's Raptor Engines for a 20% Increase in Thrust, shares Elon Musk.
Teslarati: Will Starship launch anytime soon?
Ars Technica: Let the review begin—SpaceX takes another step toward launching Starship again
Tesmanian: SpaceX Gears Up for Second Starship Test Flight Attempt to Orbit with Major Super Heavy Rocket Upgrades
NSF: Starship Update: Booster 9 wearing a crown, construction, and HLS test article

Filmpjes:
Engineering Today: The Big Design Changes In The Booster | Why SpaceX B7 Successful Static Fire Brings Attention Again?
Lab Padre: Insane Progress at Starbase as SpaceX Enters B9's Final Testing Phase - Starbase Weekly Update #75.
NSF: Starbase Update | HLS Mockup Revealed! Mystery Structures & Booster 9 / Ship 25 Progress.
NSF: Orbital Launch Mount Tested for Next Starship Launch | SpaceX Boca Chica.
Engineering: Countdown to Excitement: SpaceX Starship Launch Date Revealed! Hot Stage Ring has been Stacked on B9.
NSF: SpaceX's Starship: The Ultimate Multipurpose Rocket - Too Ambitious or Game-Changing?

Chandrayaan 3 – Lander Module maakt zich klaar.
The Times of India: Chandrayaan-3 gets closer to 100km circular orbit; 1 move away before Vikram separation.
The Times of India: Chandrayaan-3: 8 days before Vikram attempts landing on Moon.
The Times of India: Chandrayaan-3: As Vikram prepares for deboosting, here’s how it separated from spacecraft on Thursday.
The Times of India: ISRO releases close up images of Moon taken by Vikram lander.
The Times of India: Vikram comletes first deboost.
The Times of India: Chandrayaan-3: Vikram 2nd de-boost at 2am Sunday will set stage for August 23 landing.
The Times of India: Chandrayaan-3 mission: 150kg fuel left in propulsion module, life span now years.

SpaceCom: India's Chandrayaan-3 moon lander successfully separates, prepares for Aug. 23 touchdown.
PhysOrg:Indian lunar lander splits from propulsion module in key step.

SpaceCom: Chandrayaan-3 vs. Luna-25: Are India and Russia racing to the moon's south pole?

Filmpje:
SciNews: Chandrayaan-3’s first images of the Moon.

Nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Venus:
SpaceCom: NASA's Parker Solar Probe to make closest flyby of Venus on Aug. 21

Aarde:
NASA(filmpje): NASA Science Live: The Summer of Record-Breaking Heat.
Fast Company: Maui wildfires: These before-and-after satellite photos show the extent of the devastation.
SpaceCom: Satellites watch wildfires rage across Canadian northwest (photos).
SpaceCom: Maui satellite photo shows full scale of deadliest US fire in more than a century.

Maan:
Reuters: Explainer: Moon mining - Why major powers are eyeing a lunar gold rush?
SpaceCom: China makes Chang'e 5 moon samples open to international researchers.
NASA: NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Gets Final Payload for Moon Water Hunt

Mars:
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Sols 3916-3918: Enjoying the Climb.
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Sols 3919-3920: A 'Blissful' Martian Rock Paradise, Straight Ahead!
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Sols 3921-3922: Cruising to the Contact.
NASA (filmpje): Meet the Mars Samples: Atmo Mountain and Crosswind Lake (Samples 17 and 18).
NASA: Delight at Dream Lake.
SpaceCom: NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter aces 55th Red Planet flight.
Science Direct: Tianwen-1 and MAVEN observations of Martian oxygen ion plumes.
Sky & Telescope: What mud cracks mean for life on Mars.

Neptunus:
NASA HST: Neptune's Disappearing Clouds Linked to the Solar Cycle.
ESA: Neptune cloud cover over three decades.
NASA (filmpje): Neptune’s Disappearing Clouds Linked to the Solar Cycle.

Bennu:
Lockheed Martin (filmpje): OSIRIS-REx Sample to Return to Earth on Sept. 24.

Psyche:
NASA: Psyche Spacecraft Headed for Xenon Fueling.
Your Space Journey (filmpje): Psyche's Epic Voyage to a Metal Asteroid - Interview with Chief Engineer David Oh.

New Horizons:
NH Website: The Science Perspective: Looking for Light with New Horizons.
NH Website: All Eyes on the Ice Giants.
Science Alert: New Horizons Is Now So Far Away, It Can Measure The True Darkness of Space
SpaceCom: NASA's New Horizons will investigate Uranus from the rear (Neptune, too). Here's how you can help
SpaceCom: This Week In Space podcast: Episode 74 — New Horizons' future in the Kuiper Belt with Alan Stern.

Ruimtetoerisme en de link met het Titan-drama.
SpaceCom: Space tourism companies might learn a lesson from the Titan sub disaster. But are they ready to listen?
SpaceCom: How will space tourism be impacted by the Titan submersible tragedy?

The Space Review: The highs and lows of extreme tourism: The Titan accident and commercial expeditions to space and the deep sea.
The Space Review: Should the loss of the Titan submersible impact space tourism?

Filmpje:
Space Thoughts: Episode 73: Space Sector Regulation and the Titan Incident.

“Belg” Max Haot wordt CEO bij VAST.
VAST: Vast appoints Max Haot as its new CEO and Alex Hudson as its first CTO
Via Satellite: Vast Names New CEO and CTO

Nieuws uit de ruimtevaartindustrie.
Payload: The Space Economy Reaches $546B, The Space Foundation Says.
Aviation Week: Podcast: How The Small Satellite Market Continues To Take Off

Astrum (filmpje): What Billionaires Really Want from Space | Astrum SleepSpace Podcast.
Truthout: Rocket-Launching Billionaires Promise a New Pie in the Sky.

Space News: BAE Systems to acquire Ball Aerospace for $5.5 billion.
Breaking Defense: BAE Systems to acquire Ball Aerospace in $5.6 billion deal.
Via Satellite: BAE Systems Sees Potential to Double Ball Aerospace Sales by 2030 With Acquisition.

Safran Group: Safran to acquire Collins Aerospace’s actuation and flight control business.
Reuters: Safran agrees to buy Collins flight controls business.

Via Satellite: Momentus Signs SDA Deal, But Risks Running Out of Funds.
Space News: Momentus cuts workforce while evaluating strategic options

Eerdere berichten over Momentus:
Space News: Momentus offers smallsat bus based on Vigoride
Space Ref: Momentus Deploys All Payloads from Vigoride-6 Mission
Via Satellite: Momentus Secures Second Picosatellite Transportation Deal with Apogeo Space 
Space News: Momentus successfully test-fires thruster on Vigoride-5

Parabolic Arc: Terran Orbital Increases Revenue as Rivada Constellation Advances.
Space News: Terran Orbital expects $180 million payment from Rivada Space this year.

Nog enkele berichten van eerder dit jaar over Terran Orbital enerzijds, en Rivada Space anderzijds (alle maart 2023).
Tesmanian: Rivada Space Networks signs a contract with SpaceX to launch 300 satellites on twelve Falcon 9 missions.
Space News: Terran Orbital further expands satellite production facilities.
Payload: Terran Orbital Triples Revenue.

MarketWatch: SpaceX valuation rose by 12%, says fund where rocket launcher is top holding.
Tesmanian: SpaceX Reportedly Achieved Profitability In The First Quarter Of 2023.
De Standaard (abonnees): Musk maakt voor het eerst winst met ruimte-avonturen.

Via Satellite: York Space Systems Completes New Facility to Double Production Capacity.

CNBC: Space company Redwire trims quarterly losses, builds order backlog past $270 million.
Space News: Redwire to supply cameras for True Anomaly’s inspector satellites (Jackal).
Space News: True Anomaly opens spacecraft manufacturing facility in Colorado
Redwire is de huidige moederfirma van het vroegere Verhaert Space.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen