Veel ruimtevaartnieuws, maar de Maan springt er deze week toch uit. Deze zondagochtend landde Firefly Aerospace zijn Blue Ghost zonder problemen op het maanoppervlak. Een hele opluchting na de vorig jaar omgevallen maanlander van Intuitive Machines. Die krijgen in de loop van de week die volgt een nieuwe poging met hun tweede maanlander. IM-2 werd eerder deze week gelanceerd en volgde een snellere route dan Blue Ghost. Met twee andere sondes – Lunar Trailblazer en Odin – aan boord van die Falcon 9 gaat het minder goed. Dat en nog veel meer in het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart van deze week.

Bij de foto: Blue Ghost staat op de Maan. Met de Aarde op de achtergrond. Foto: Firefly Aerospace.

Belgisch ruimtevaartnieuws. 

Proba 3 maakt een eerste opname.
ESA: A first look of the CSC.
ESA: Proba-3 stargazing to warm up for corona observations.
ESA: Star field image taken by Proba-3's ASPIICS coronagraph.

Nog een berichtje van een tweetal weken geleden.
Redwire Europe (linkedin): Winter has come.

STARFAB, een Europees project gecoördineerd door Sapce Applications Services – ISOS.
Space News: EU Sets Ambitious Goals for In-Space Operations and Services.

Aerospacelab en de bouw van zijn mega-satellietfabriek.
Aerospacelab (linkedin): Quick peek alert!

ULB, het ISS en kinderharten.
BELSPO: Van ruimtegeneeskunde naar kinderharten.

De lanceringen van de afgelopen week.

22.02.2025 – Lange Mars 3B/E lanceert ChinaSat 10R.
SpaceNews: China launches ChinaSat-10R communications satellite from Xichang.
ECNS (foto’s): China launches Zhongxing-10R satellite.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: China Successfully Launches New Satellite.
SciNews: Long March-3B launches ZhongXing-10R (ChinaSat-10R).

23.02.2025 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten Group 15-01 (VSFB).
SpaceCom: SpaceX launches 22 Starlink internet satellites from California.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch 22 Starlink satellites to orbit from California.
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 236 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 23 February 2025.

25.02.2025 – NS-30 – New Shephard lanceert voor de 10de keer een groep toeristen tot in de ruimte.
Blue Origin: Blue Origin’s New Shepard Completes 30th Mission to Space.
SpaceCom: Blue Origin launches 'Perfect 10' space tourists on New Shepard rocket.
Space News: Blue Origin launches tenth New Shepard suborbital human spaceflight.

Filmpjes:
Blue Origin: Replay: New Shepard Mission NS-30 Webcast.
Blue Origin: New Shepard Mission NS-30: Apogee.
Blue Origin: The Journey of NS-30.
Blue Origin: New Shepard POV: Karsen Kitchen.
Blue Origin: New Shepard Astronaut Experience.
SciNews: Blue Origin NS-30 New Shepard launch and landing.

27.02.2025 – CLPS – Intuitive Machinese IM2 / Prime 1 & ODIN & Lunar Trailblazer. Deze twee laatste zitten in de problemen.
NASA: Five Facts About NASA’s Moon Bound Technology.
NASA: Fourth Launch of NASA Instruments Planned for Near Moon’s South Pole.
NASA: Liftoff! NASA Tech, Science En Route to Moon with Intuitive Machines.
NASA:  Intuitive Machines-2 Lifts Off.

SpaceCom: First (and last?) look at Intuitive Machines' next moon lander's footpad designs.
SpaceCom: Shooting for the moon, Intuitive Machines to launch daring lunar lander for NASA on Feb. 26.
Space News: Second Intuitive Machines lunar lander ready for launch.
NSF: Falcon 9 launches second lunar mission of 2025 with IM-2 lander.
Collect Space: Ad Lunam iterum: Intuitive Machines' second lander lifts off to moon.
SpaceCom: SpaceX rocket launches private moon lander and NASA 'trailblazer' to hunt for lunar water.
Space News: Falcon 9 launches second Intuitive Machines lunar lander.

NASA Lunar Trailblazer Blog: NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Spacecraft Separates From Falcon 9 Second Stage.
NASA Lunar Trailblazer Blog: Initial Signal Acquired, NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Powered Up.
NASA Lunar Trailblazer Blog: NASA Working to Reestablish Communications With Lunar Trailblazer.

Space News: Lunar Trailblazer, Odin spacecraft suffering problems after IM-2 launch.
SpaceCom: NASA's brand-new Lunar Trailblazer probe suffers glitch on way to the moon.
SpaceCom: 1st private spacecraft to attempt to travel beyond the moon appears to be in trouble.
Spaceflight Now: NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer, AstroForge’s Odin face post-deployment challenges.

Collect Space: Columbia Sportswear offers limited edition apparel for moon mission.
Payload: Talking IM-2 With Tim Crain.

Een persmap voor IM-2 vind je hier.

Filmpje:
Lockheed Martin: Lunar Trailblazer Launching Soon.
NASA: NASA CLPS IM-2 Lunar Science & Tech media teleconference.
NASA: NASA CLPS IM-2 Lunar Delivery Readiness media teleconference.
NASA: Intuitive Machines-2 Launch to the Moon (Official NASA Broadcast).

SciNews: Athena Nova-C IM-2 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing.
SciNews: Athena Nova-C IM-2 deployment.

Scott Manley: Three Lunar Landers? Why Everyone Is Going To The Moon.
Marcus House: How Do Space Missions Stay Connected? - Intuitive Machines IM-2 Lunar Mission.

27.02.2025 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten Group 12-13 (CCSFS).
SpaceCom: SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellite on new Falcon 9 rocket, aces nighttime landing.

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 237 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 27 February 2025.

27.02.2025 – Chinese Lange Mars 2C lanceert SuperView Neo 1-03 en 1-04.
ECNS: China launches two new satellites.
ECNS: China launches two satellites featuring highest spatial resolution (foto’s).

Space News: China adds to SuperView remote sensing constellation with Long March 2C launch.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: China Launches Two New Satellites.
SciNews: Long March-2C launches SuperView Neo-1 03 & 04.

27.02.2025 – Rusland lanceert bevoorradingsschip Progress MS-30 naar het ISS.
NASA: NASA to Provide Coverage of Progress 91 Launch, Space Station Docking.
TASS: Russia’s Progress MS-30 resupply hip to deliver new Orlan spacesuit to orbital outpost.
TASS: Russia’s Progress MS-30 space freighter taken to orbit.

Collect Space: Progress cargo ship launches with logo for cosmonaut's centennial – Belyayev.

Filmpjes:
Roscosmos: Uitzending lancering Progress MS-30.
NASA:  Progress 91 Cargo Ship Launch - Thursday, February 27, 2025.
SciNews: Progress MS-30 launch.

Te verwachten lanceringen.

04.03.2025 – SpaceX liet de oorzaak weten van het falen van IFT-7. – Vlucht Starship IFT-8 krijgt FAA-goedkeuring.
SpaceCom: Explosion of Starship Flight 7 traced to fires in rocket's 'attic,' SpaceX says.
Space News: SpaceX completes investigation into Starship Flight 7 mishap.

SpaceX publiceerde ondertussen ook een samenvatting van IFT 7. De “Starship | Seventh Flight Test” vind je hier.

SpaceCom: SpaceX targeting Feb. 28 for next launch of Starship megarocket.
SpaceCom: SpaceX rolls huge Super Heavy booster to pad ahead of Starship Flight 8 launch.
SpaceCom: SpaceX delays Flight 8 of Starship megarocket to March 3.
SpaceCom: SpaceX gets FAA approval for Flight 8 of Starship megarocket.
Ars Technica: SpaceX readies a redo of last month’s ill-fated Starship test flight.
SpaccNews: FAA gives approval for next Starship test flight.

The Space Review: What Starship can, and can’t, do.

Filmpjes:
NSF: Starship Flight 8 Is Ready—But Flight 9’s Catch Test Steals the Show! | Starbase Update.
Space Capital: SpaceX Starship is About to Change the Space Economy Forever!
LabPadre Space: Special Update - For Flight 8.
NSF: Will the Ship be Stacked in Time? - Countdown to Launch.
NSF: License Updated, but Mishap Investigation Remains Open - Countdown to Launch.
NSF: "We Are Barreling Towards The Next Flight of Starship" | SpaceX Boca Chica.

Marcus House: What Really Happened to Starship? The Full Story!

05.03.2025 – 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.

De lancering werd uitgesteld van 1 naar 5 maart.

SpaceCom: 2 NASA missions will carpool on a SpaceX rocket this Friday to help map the cosmos.

Nog enkele vorige lanceringen.

Falcon 9 – Het probleem met de 2de trap.
Space News: Propellant leak blamed for Falcon 9 upper stage uncontrolled reentry.
SpaceCom: SpaceX says its Falcon 9 rocket debris crash over Europe was caused by propellant leak

Raketnieuws.

NG-31 – Volgende vlucht New Shepard wordt er eentje met een vrouwelijke bemanning.
Blue Origin: Blue Origin Announces Crew For New Shepard’s 31st Mission.
Space Policy Online: Next New Shepard has star-studded, all-female crew.
SpaceCom: Katy Perry will launch to space with historic all-female crew on Blue Origin rocket.

Nog even wachten op Virgin Galactic.
Space News: Virgin Galactic to start assembly of first new spaceplane in March.
Virgin Galactic (filmpje): Galactic 10: Latest Virgin Galactic Milestones

RocketLab en de Neutron-raket.
Space News: Rocket Lab reaffirms 2025 first launch of Neutron.
Space Voyaging; Rocket Lab Unveils Neutron Ocean Landing Platform.

Via Satellite: Rocket Lab Q4: Record Revenue, Neutron Delay, and a New Constellation Sat Offering.

Filmpje:
The Space Bucket: Rocket Lab Still Wants To Launch Neutron This Year.

Bemande ruimtevaart / Ruimtestations.

ISS – Vertrek Progress MS-28.

Filmpje:
Roscosmos: Uitzending van het loskoppelen van het Progress MS-28 vrachtruimteschip .
SciNews: Progress MS-28 undocking.

ISS – Koppeling Progress MS 30.
TASS: Russia’s Progress MS-30 carrying new suit, equipment, other cargo docks at ISS.
SpaceCom: Russian cargo ship docks at space station with science, spacesuit and supplies.

Filmpjes:
Roscosmos: Uitzending koppeling.
SciNews: Progress MS-30 docking.

ISS – En zo trek je dus je broek aan.
Mooi getoond in dit filmpje door Don Pettit.

ISS – De blogentries. Station Science Top News.
NASA ISS Blog: Crew Off-Duty Monday Before Week of Research, Cargo Spacecraft Missions.
NASA ISS Blog: Free Flying Robotics, Space Agriculture Ahead of Cargo Mission Swap.
NASA ISS Blog: Progress Cargo Craft Departs Station After Six Months.
NASA ISS Blog: Crew Explores Cellular Immunity, Digestion and Waits for Cargo Mission.
NASA ISS Blog: Crew Works Eye Checks, Stomach Scans Before Cargo Mission Launches Today.
NASA ISS Blog: Progress Cargo Craft Counts Down to Launch Today on NASA+.
NASA ISS Blog: Progress Cargo Mission Lifts Off to Station for Saturday Arrival.
NASA ISS Blog: Crew Studies Space Exercise While Waiting for Saturday Delivery.
NASA ISS Blog: Progress Cargo Craft Docks to Station Resupplying Crew.

NASA: Station Science Top News: Feb., 21, 2025.

ISS – Meer nieuws uit het ruimtestation.
NASA: Science in Orbit: Results Published on Space Station Research in 2024.
PhysOrg: Recent ISS findings address drug stability in space and astronaut balance after spaceflight.

Science Daily: The International Space Station is overly sterile; making it 'dirtier' could improve astronaut health.
Science News: The International Space Station lacks microbial diversity. Is it too clean?

Filmpjes:
NASA: Space to Ground: The Power of 10: Feb. 28, 2025.
NASA: NASA Astronaut Suni Williams Talks with the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association- February 25, 2025.

CSS – Er gaat een Pakistaan naar het Chinese ruimtestation.
ECNS: Pakistani astronaut to enter Chinese space station.
Space News: China to train Pakistani astronaut for Tiangong space station mission.

Filmpjes:
CCTV+: First Paksitani Astronaut to Enter Chinese Space Station.

CSS – Meer nieuws uit het Chinese ruimtestation.

Filmpjes:
CCTV+: Shenzhou-19 Crew Conducts Scientific Experiments, Training Aboard Space Station.
New China TV: Shenzhou-19 crew successfully tests pipeline inspection robot on space station.

Naar de Maan (en Mars).

Artemis 2 – Mensen rond de Maan.

Filmpjes:
NASA: MOON MINUTE: Recovering the Artemis Crew.
Philip Sloss: Artemis II Boosters stacked, Gateway HALO nears shipment, first RS-25 restart engine completed.
Philip Sloss: How NASA EGS will get Orion ready for the Artemis II launch, Part 1.

Artemis 4 – Gateway.
NASA: NASA Prepares Gateway Lunar Space Station for Journey to Moon.

Filmpje:
NASA: How Gateway Will Support NASA’s Artemis Campaign and Pave the Way for Future Mars Missions.

Artemis 5 – Lunar Terrain Vehicle.

Filmpjes:
NASA: The Shake, Rattle, and Roar of an RS-25 Engine Powering #Artemis Missions to the Moon.

Artemis – Naar de Maan en Mars.
Inside Outer Space: Hearing: Step by Step: The Artemis Program.
Space Policy Online: House Committee backs Moon-to-Mars , but changes may be meeded.
Space News: House hearing debates ways to improve Artemis.
SpaceCom: NASA must 'consider alternatives' to put Artemis astronauts on the moon, experts tell US Congress.
Payload: NASA Must Speed Up Decision Making to Beat China to the Moon, Experts Say.

ESA: Argonaut, a lunar ship.

Op ontdekking door het zonnestelsel.

CLPS – Blue Ghost Mission 1 staat op de Maan!
SpaceCom: Private Blue Ghost moon lander captures amazing footage of Earth behind and lunar surface below.
GPS World: LuGRE receiver captures GNSS signals in lunar orbit.
SpaceCom: Private Blue Ghost lander sees far side of the moon in breathtaking detail ahead of lunar landing.
SpaceCom: Private Athena moon lander beams home gorgeous views of Earth from space.
Inside Outer Space: Firefly’s Blue Ghost Moon Lander: Ready for Touchdown.

Spaceflight Now: Live coverage: Firefly Aerospace first Moon landing with Blue Ghost.
Space News: Firefly’s Blue Ghost 1 lands on the moon.
SpaceCom: 'We're on the moon!' Private Blue Ghost moon lander aces historic lunar landing for NASA.
VRT NWS: Maanlander Blue Ghost van Amerikaanse privébedrijf Firefly Aerospace succesvol geland op de maan.

Collect Space: Land your own Blue Ghost with Firefly's moon lander building blocks.

Filmpjes:
Firefly Aerospace: Blue Ghost Mission 1 - Moon Fly By.
Firefly Aerospace: Moon Landing in Sight! Blue Ghost Week 6 Update.
Firefly Aerospace: Firefly's Blue Ghost Mission 1 Lunar Landing.
Firefly Aerospace: Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1 Lunar Landing News Conference.

SciNews: Blue Ghost M1 landing on the Moon.
SciNews: Blue Ghost M1 – first image from the Moon.

China bereidt lancering Tianwen 2 voor – Planetoïde Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3) en komeet 311P/PANSTARRS.

Filmpje:
SciNews: Tianwen-2 will sample asteroid 2016 HO3 and study comet 311P.

Planetoïde 2024 YR4 – Het gevaar geweken (?).
Ars Technica: Asteroid 2024 YR4 is going to miss Earth, but the story doesn’t end there.
Space Policy Online: Asteroid 2024 YR4 no threat to Earth, but maybe the Moon.
ESA: Asteroid 2024 YR4 no longer poses significant impact risk.

Mars en zijn “rode” kleur.
ESA: Have we been wrong about why Mars is red?
SpaceCom: What makes Mars the 'Red' Planet? Scientists have some new ideas.
NASA: NASA: New Study on Why Mars is Red Supports Potentially Habitable Past.

Filmpje:
ESA: Have we been wrong about why Mars is red?

Chinese Marsrover ontdekt voormalige kustlijn.
ECNS: China's Mars rover data suggests existence of ancient oceans on Mars.
SpaceCom: Ancient beach on Mars discovered by China's Zhurong Mars rover: 'This strengthens the case for past habitability'.
Univere Today: Rover Finds the Shoreline of an Ancient Beach on Mars.

Nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Zon:
Space News: China to send a spacecraft out of the ecliptic to study the Sun’s poles.
PhysOrg: Indian spacecraft Aditya-L1 observes massive solar flare.

Venus:
NASA: NASA Installs Heat Shield on First Private Spacecraft Bound for Venus – RocketLab.

Aarde:
European Spaceflight: Sentinel-2A Given One-Year Exceptional and Temporary Extension.

Maan:
Daily Galaxy: NASA’s LRO Snaps a Rare Photo of a Bizarre Spacecraft Speeding at 11,500 KM/H over the Moon’s Orbit — We Finally Know What It Is – Danuri.
ECNS: Magma ocean hint revealed by Chang'e 6.
CCTV (filmpje): Chang'e 6 Samples Provide Evidence Suggesting Global Magma Ocean on Early Moon.
SST: Some Unsolved Questions about the Early Differentiation of the Moon.
SST: In Situ Investigation of Charged Dust Particles Above the Lunar Surface at the Chang’E-5 Landing Site.
AGU: Micro-CT Characterization of the Chang'e-5 Lunar Regolith Samples.

Mars:
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Sols 4464-4465: Making Good Progress.
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Sols 4466-4468: Heading Into the Small Canyon.
NASA Perseverance: Gardens on Mars? No, Just Rocks!
Universe Today: Perseverance Takes A Second Look At Some Ancient Rocks.
EU/Horizon: Mars time machine: researchers create virtual model to decode Red Planet’s climate evolution.
PhysOrg: Mars's northern ice cap is surprisingly young, planetary scientists find.

Mars/Jupiter:
SpaceCom: NASA's Europa Clipper will fly close to Mars today on way to Jupiter's icy moon.
NASA: NASA’s Europa Clipper Uses Mars to Go the Distance.

Planetoïde Bennu:
aPPEL Knowladge Services: Historic OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Holds Surprises.

Planetoïde Donaldjohanson: 
NASA: NASA’s Lucy Spacecraft Takes Its 1st Images of Asteroid Donaldjohanson.
SpaceCom: NASA's asteroid-hopping Lucy probe takes 1st images of its next target: Donaldjohanson.
Universe Today: Lucy Sees its Next Target: Asteroid Donaldjohanson.
NASA: NASA Selects Participating Scientists to Join Lucy Asteroid Mission.

Om af te ronden: 
WG Maan en Planeten: Podcast: Recente ontwikkelingen in het zonnestelsel – februari 2025.

Meer ruimtevaartnieuws.

Tweede VARDA-capsule terug op de Aarde.
Australian Space Agency: World-first historic space return lands in Australia.
Enkele Varda Space tweets met foto’s vind je hier, hier en hier.
Space News: Varda Space capsule lands in Australia with critical data for hypersonic vehicles.
Payload: Varda Conducts First Reentry Mission into Australia.
Via Satellite: Varda’s Second Capsule Successfully Lands in Australia.
Over de mogelijkheden van de capsule op het vlak van hypersonische testen, zie Varda Space voor meer details.

Satellite Pro ME: Rocket Lab delivers third Pioneer spacecraft for Varda Space.

Trump –  Iron Dome wordt Golden Dome – Missile Defense Shield.
Breaking Defense: Space Force team mapping service’s contributions to Iron Dome missile shield.
Space News: Space Force to play ‘central role’ in Iron Dome U.S. missile defense initiative.
Defense One: Space Force sets up team to sort out support for ‘Iron Dome’—that is, ‘Golden Dome’.
Space Policy Online: “Iron Dome” becomes “Golden Dome”.
Space News: Golden Dome replaces Iron Dome: Pentagon renames missile defense initiative.

Trump en Elon.
Space Policy Online: NASA wins flexibility on probationairy employees.
NASA Watch: D.O.G.E. Just Sent You An Ultimatum.
NASA Watch: 20 Questions About That OPM Request.
NASA Watch: Update: NASA Policy On Responding to the OPM Memo.
Space News: NASA employees advised to delay responses to “what did you do” email.
NASA Watch: You Can Ignore That OPM Email
NASA Watch: That OPM Email: Wait – There’s More.
SpaceCom: NASA tells employees to ignore Trump administration's 'What did you do last week?' email.
NASA Watch: More DOGE Homework.

Space Policy Online: More leadership changes at NASA.
Space News: NASA associate administrator for exploration to retire.

MSNBC: Why did Elon Musk take center stage at a White House Cabinet meeting?
MSNBC: DOGE has made some costly mistakes. But Elon Musk doesn’t seem to be worried.
Gizmodo: FAA Might Drop Verizon for Starlink as Elon Musk Controls U.S. Government.
MSNBC: The unseen costs of Elon Musk’s influence.
Space News: Space industry hunts for ways to adapt to Trump’s trade policies.
Space News: How independent space companies can fight back against misinformation from Elon Musk and Donald Trump.
Payload: Op-ed: A Trump Presidency Means More Money for Space. So, What Can We Expect?

Payload: Office of Space Commerce ACES Committee Cut By Trump Order.
SpaceCom: Scientists warn of consequences as over 800 NOAA workers are fired: 'Censoring science does not change the facts'.
Space Policy Online: NOAA hit hard by DOGE layoffs.

Space News: Two senators question Air Force nominee’s SpaceX connections.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen