Het werd een week zonder echte uitschieters. Als we dan toch iets moeten kiezen zijn het de problemen met de volgende Cygnus-lancering. Deze bevoorradingsvlucht werd voor onbepaalde tijd uitgesteld omdat de capsule (in een beschermende container) beschadigd werd tijdens het transport. Dat en toch veel meer in het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart van deze week.

Bij de foto: Nog een jaar wachten en dan is het (eindelijke) tijd voor de tweede vlucht in het Artemis-programma, de eerste bemande vlucht naar de Maan sinds het einde van Apollo. De Orion-capsule (met de European Service Module) wordt ondertussen al ingepakt met het oog op die lancering. Foto: NASA/Allison Tankersley.

OPGELET: Volgend weekend is er GEEN "Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart".

Belgisch ruimtevaartnieuws. 

Proba-3 stap dichter bij de operationele fase.
ESA: Proba-3's first autonomous formation flight.
VRTNWS: Millimeterwerk om beter zonnestormen te voorspellen: Proba-3-satellieten voeren in primeur zonsverduistering uit.

De lanceringen van de afgelopen week.

24.03.2025 – SpaceX lanceert NROL-69 (CCSFS). Met onverwachte gevolgen voor Europa.
Space News: NRO expands spy satellite network with back-to-back SpaceX launches.
Live Science: Dying SpaceX rocket triggers giant spiral of light above UK and Europe during secret mission.

SatTrackCam Leiden: USA 498, the NROL-69 payload, found.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch the USSF_SSC and NatReconOfc’s NROL-69 mission from pad 40 in Florida.
SciNews: NROL-69 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing.

26.03.2025 – Rocketlab / Electron lanceert “Finding Hot Wildfires Near You”.
RocketLab: From Contract to Launch in Four Months: Rocket Lab Schedules Electron Launch on a Rapid Turnaround for OroraTech Wildfire Detection Mission.
De persmap voor deze lancering vind je hier (PDF).

Space News: Rocket Lab launches eight OroraTech satellites.
SpaceCom: Rocket Lab launches 8 wildfire-hunting satellites into orbit from New Zealand.
Spaceflight Now: Rocket Lab launches 8 wildfire detection satellites for OroraTech on Electron rocket.

Filmpjes:
RocketLab: Rocket Lab - 'Finding Hot Wildfires Near You' Launch.
SciNews: Electron launches 8 OroraTech satellites.

26.03.2025 – Chinese lm 3B/E lanceert Tianlian-2-04 ter ondersteuning ruimtestation.
Space News: China launches new Tianlian data relay satellite to support human spaceflight.

Filmpjes:
CGTN: China launches new data relay satellite.
SciNews: Long March-3B launches TianLian-2 04.

26.03.2025 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten Group 11-7 (VSFB).
Spaceflight Now: Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 27 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB.
SpaceCom: SpaceX launches 27 Starlink satellites to orbit from California, lands rocket at sea.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch 27 Starlink satellites to orbit from California.
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 242 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 26 March 2025.

Te verwachten lanceringen.

30.03.2025 – ISAR probeert opnieuw om Spectrum te lanceren – Eerste lancering vanuit Noorwegen.
Een eerste poging op 24.03 werd uitgesteld. En uitgesteld en uitgesteld.
SpaceCom: 1st-ever orbital rocket launch from European soil delayed due to unsafe winds.

EuroNews: Isar Aerospace scraps attempt to launch test flight of new rocket, citing poor weather.

Ars Technica: This launcher is about to displace the V-2 as Germany’s largest rocket.

NSF: Isar Aerospace set for second attempt at first orbital launch from continental Europe.

01.04.2025 – Fram2 klaar voor lancering.
SpaceCom: Private SpaceX Fram2 mission ready for world's 1st crewed flight over Earth's polar regions.
SpaceCom: Meet the astronauts of SpaceX's Fram2 mission, the 1st to fly over Earth's poles.
Spaceflight Now: Fram2 astronauts arrive in Florida ahead of polar spaceflight.

14.04.2025 – New Shepard NS-31 met zes vrouwelijke ruimtetoeristen.
Blue Origin: New Shepard’s Crewed NS-31 Mission Targets Liftoff on April 14.
Gizmodo: Blue Origin’s Upcoming Launch Is by Far the Most Annoying Private Mission Yet.
Fox News: William Shatner shares extreme warnings ahead of Katy Perry, Gayle King’s space flight.

Raketnieuws.

Amerikaanse Vulcan-raket (ULA) goedgekeurd voor militaire lanceringen.
ULA: ULA’s Vulcan Rocket Certified to Launch National Security Space Launch Missions Ushering in New Era of Space Capability for our Country.
Space News: Space Force certifies Vulcan for national security launches.
Ars Technica: With Vulcan’s certification, Space Force is no longer solely reliant on SpaceX.
Air & Space Forces Mag: Space Force Clears ULA’s New Rocket to Compete with SpaceX.
Space Policy Online: ULA’s Vulcan wins certification for national security space launches..

NSSL – Rocket Lab en Stoke Space ook gekozen voor Phase 3 Lane 1.
GovConWire: Space Force Adds 2 Launch Providers to NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 Contract.
Space News: Rocket Lab, Stoke Space join National Security Space Launch competition.

NASA kiest ook Starship voor het NASA Launch Services contract – NLS II.
NASA: NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for SpaceX Starship.

ESA start Launcher Challenge.
European Spaceflight: After Delays, ESA to Publish Launcher Challenge Call Next Week.
European Spaceflight: ESA Issues Call for European Launcher Challenge Proposals.
Payload: ESA Launches its Launcher Challenge.

ESA: Submit your proposal to the European Launcher Challenge.

Space News: ESA issues call for proposals for European Launcher Challenge.
Payload: ESA Launches its Launcher Challenge.

Wil het Verenigd Koninkrijk onafhankelijkheid op vlak van lanceerders?
European Spaceflight: UK Must Foster Sovereign Launch Capability, Experts Tell Committee.

MaiaSpace vindt eerste klant voor lancering.
Space News: MaiaSpace signs first commercial launch contract.
European Spaceflight: MaiaSpace Has Secured Its First Commercial Customer.
Payload: Exotrail Inks Multi-Launch Deal with MaiaSpace.

Tachtig jaar na de feiten – V1 en V2 bommen in Vlaanderen.
VRTNWS: 80 jaar na de laatste V2 van de nazi's: hier vind je de littekens van de Duitse V-bommen in de provincie Antwerpen.
VRTNWS: Marktplein in Ekeren ontstond na dodelijke V2-bom 80 jaar geleden: "Als kind ontsnapte ik hier nipt aan de dood".
VRTNWS: "Mijn wieg lag vol scherven, maar ik overleefde": Caroline uit Wintam keert terug naar huis waar broers en zus stierven door V-bom tijdens WO II.
VRTNWS: Libellen en salamanders overleven steeds hetere zomers dankzij 80-jarige kraters van Duitse V-bommen in Kalmthoutse Heide.

Bemande ruimtevaart / Ruimtestations.

Cygnus NG-21 verlaat het ISS.

Filmpjes:
NASA: NASA’s Northrop Grumman Cargo Resupply Services-21 Departure – Friday, March 28, 2025.
SciNews: NG-21 S.S. Francis R. Scobee Cygnus departure.

Cygnus NG-22 beschadigd en moet vervangen worden.
Ars Technica: After a spacecraft was damaged en route to launch, NASA says it won’t launch.
Space News: Cygnus mission to ISS scrapped after finding spacecraft damage.

Crew 9 terug op Aarde. 
NASA Watch: Fact Checking The Crew 9 Return Timeline.

The Space Review: A final twist in the Starliner saga.

Filmpje:
NASA: NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 Post-Flight News Conference.

NASA kondigt Crew 11 aan. Starliner ten vroegste in 2026.
NASA: NASA Shares SpaceX Crew-11 Assignments for Space Station Mission.
Spaceflight Now: NASA switches Starliner crew to SpaceX Dragon as testing continues on troubled Boeing capsule.

SpaceCom: Boeing's next Starliner launch for NASA could slip to early 2026 after fixes.
Ars Technica: NASA to put Starliner’s thrusters through an extensive workout before next launch.

ISS – De blogentries. Station Science Top News.
NASA ISS Blog: Expedition 72 Astronauts Relax as Cosmonauts Keep Up Research, Maintenance.
NASA ISS Blog: Exercise Study, Blood Research Top Schedule Ahead of Cargo Missions.
NASA ISS Blog: Science-Packed Day Advancing Crew Health Before Cargo Mission Ends.
NASA ISS Blog: Cellular Immunity, Robotics, and Cargo Departure Preps Top Crew Day.
NASA ISS Blog: Cygnus Departs Station After Release from Robotic Arm.

ISS – Meer nieuws uit het ruimtestation.
CSA: Canadian science experiments conducted onboard the International Space Station.

Filmpjes:
NASA: Space to Ground: Transitional Period: March 28, 2025.

CSS – Meer nieuws uit het Chinese ruimtestation.
Space News: Shenzhou-19 astronauts complete third spacewalk, install final debris shielding on Tiangong.

Filmpjes:
CCTV+: China's Space Station to Welcome Planaria for Scientific Research.

Naar de Maan (en Mars).

Artemis 2 – Mensen rond de Maan.
SpaceCom: NASA completes SLS core stage stacking for Artemis 2 moon mission.
NASA: NASA’s Artemis II Core Stage Integration Complete at Kennedy.
Space Policy Online: Artemis 2 on track, but NASA awaits Starship milestones for Artemis 3.

Filmpjes:
NASA KSC: Let's Build a Rocket! Side Boosters for NASA's Space Launch System Complete.
Philip Sloss: Artemis II Orion Service Module encapsulated, SLS Core Stage stacking begins.
NASA: MOON MINUTE: Exploring Iceland's Geology for Artemis Moon Missions.

Artemis 4 – Gateway.

Filmpjes:
NASA: Gateway Lunar Space Station Module Will Journey to US.

ESA Moonlight Programma.
Satellite Pro ME: Viasat joins ESA’s Moonlight project alongside Telespazio.

Trump en Artemis.
SpaceCom: NASA says removal of 'first woman, person of color' language from Artemis websites 'does not indicate' moon mission crew change.

Artemis – Naar de Maan en Mars.
Payload: Startups Tap Sun, Nukes To Keep Lunar Rovers Kicking – LunaGrid.

NASA: NASA Propellant Tech Could Fuel Long-Duration Missions.

NASA: How NASA’s Perseverance Is Helping Prepare Astronauts for Mars.
NASA: The Sky’s Not the Limit: Testing Precision Landing Tech for Future Space Missions.

Space News: Artemis 2.0: A model for really winning the new moon race.

Filmpjes:
NASA: Preparing for Artemis: NASA's Geology Training for Lunar Exploration.

Starship – Wachten op IFT 9.
NSF: SpaceX Continues Progress on Next Generation Facilities.

Filmpjes:
LabPadre Space: Big Changes Coming to Starbase! - SpaceX Weekly #159.
NSF: The Final Days of the Starbase High Bay | SpaceX Boca Chica.
NSF: The End of the High Bay & the Rise of Giga Bay | Starbase Update.
NSF: Starbase Prepares to Bury their STARGATE | SpaceX Boca Chica.

Op ontdekking door het zonnestelsel.

CLPS – Het einde voor Blue Ghost Mission 1 na een twee weken succesvolle missie.
NASA: NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Views Blue Ghost on Moon’s Surface.
NASA: NASA’s Dust Shield Successfully Repels Lunar Regolith on Moon.

CLPS – Blue Ghost Mission 3.
Firefly Aerospace: Firefly Aerospace Selects Blue Origin’s Honeybee Robotics to Provide Rover for Lunar Mission to Gruithuisen Domes.

CLPS – IM-2 Athena landt op de Maan en valt om. Einde missie. 
NASA: NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Views IM-2 on Moon’s Surface.
Inside GNSS: Lunar Node-1: Demonstrating Autonomous Navigation on the Moon.

Intuitive Machines wil meer en ander werk dan alleen maar maanlanders.
Space News: Intuitive Machines emphasizes diversification beyond lunar landers.

Chinese plannen voor het zonnestelsel.
Ars Technica: As NASA faces cuts, China reveals ambitious plans for planetary exploration.

Nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Ruimteweer:
ECNS: Phase II of space project completed.

Zon:
NASA: NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Completes 23rd Close Approach to Sun.
SpaceCom: NASA's daredevil solar spacecraft survives 2nd close flyby of our sun.
ESA: Solar Orbiter: Watch wind whirl from the Sun.

Aarde:
Cosmos: Coal mining methane emissions data in spotlight again.
Space News: ESA taps Thales Alenia Space to build digital twin for European agriculture.
Satellte Pro ME: Thales Alenia Space to lead ESA’s SaveCrops4EU project.

Maan:
Universe Today: There are a Billion Craters Waiting to Be Explored Near the Moon's South Pole.

Mars:
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Sols 4491-4492: Classic Field Geology Pose.
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Sols 4493-4494: Just Looking Around.
NASA: NASA’s Curiosity Rover Detects Largest Organic Molecules Found on Mars.
SpaceCom: Strange sphere-studded rock on Mars found by NASA's Perseverance rover.
ESA: Hera asteroid mission tested self-driving technique at Mars.
NASA (filmpje): Largest Organics Yet Discovered on Mars.
Space News: Airbus wins contract for ExoMars lander platform.

En ook nog dit:
Maan en Planeten Podcast: Recente ontwikkelingen in het zonnestelsel - maart 2025.

Meer ruimtevaartnieuws.

Het einde van Gaia.
ESA: Farewell, Gaia! Spacecraft operations come to an end.
SpaceCom: So long, Gaia: Europe officially retires prolific star-mapping space telescope.
VRTNWS: ESA heeft stekker van ruimtesonde Gaia definitief uitgetrokken.

Filmpjes:
ESA: Final commands sent to Gaia.
ESA: The disappearance of ESA’s Gaia spacecraft!
ESA: Gaia leaves for retirement orbit.
ESA: Gaia: Rewriting the story of the Milky Way.

Musk, Starlink en Italië.
Payload: Starlink Faces an Uphill Battle in Italy.

PWSA – Nieuws.
Defense One: Space Force may use SpaceX satellites instead of developing its own, senator says.

Space Force – Nieuws.
Space News: Space Force eyes commercial satellites to boost surveillance in geostationary orbit.
Space News: Space Force gets $40 million boost for commercial space services.
Space News: Companies in the Space Force commercial reserve program will not be publicly identified.
Breaking Defense: Space Force ‘transitioning’ SATCOM contracts from DISA.
Breaking Defense: New ‘Space Warfighting Framework’ coming to codify Space Force concepts, terms.
Space News: Space Force budget squeeze: Saltzman worries about keeping pace with China amid cuts.

Space News: Senator raises concerns over Air Force possibly shifting satellite contracts to SpaceX.

Payload: Space Force to Launch 100+ Sats in 2025.

Trump –  Golden Dome – Missile Defense Shield.
Space News: Booz Allen unveils ‘Brilliant Swarms’ satellite concept for missile defense.
Payload: Booz Allen Preps for the Golden Dome.

Trump, Musk en Isaacman.
De Morgen: Wie is Steve Davis, de topmedewerker van Elon Musk die de facto DOGE leidt? ‘Hij is als chemo’.

Space News: NASA terminating $420 million in contracts.
NASA: NASA Statement on Nomination of Greg Autry for Agency CFO.

CNN: ‘Targeted’ and ‘cruel’: NASA staff react to layoffs as broader changes loom.

Payload: Former Astronauts Rally Behind Jared Isaacman.

Cybersecurity in de ruimte.
Enisa: From Cyber to Outer Space: A Guide to Securing Commercial Satellite Operations.
Het document “ENISA Space Threat Landscape 2025” vind je hier (PDF).
Space Insider: Cybersecurity in Orbit: A Deep Dive into ENISA’s Space Threat Landscape and Its Implications for Commercial Satellite Operators.

ITU: Protect satellite navigation from interference, UN agencies urge.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen