Eind 1968 draaide Apollo 8 rond de Maan. De eerste keer in de geschiedenis dat mensen zich rond een ander hemellichaam bevonden. Na de laatste maanvlucht in 1972 worden het komende voorjaar opnieuw mensen richting Maan gelanceerd. Het is iets om naar uit te kijken in het volgende ruimtevaartjaar. Het huidige jaar kent een wat minder einde. Met twee mislukte lanceringen en ook deze week een crash van een terugkerende eerste trap.

Bij deze dan ook allemaal nog prettige eindejaarsfeesten gewenst.

Het eerste weekend van het nieuwe jaar zal er geen “Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart” zijn. Op 11 januari zijn we terug.

Bij de foto: Twee melkwegstelsels, de armen in elkaar verstrengeld, dansend rond elkaar. Dit moet wel het einde van het jaar zijn :-) Foto: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Infrared: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Webb; Beeldbewerking: NASA/CXC/SAO/L. Frattare – Meer detail over de opname via deze link.

De lanceringen van de afgelopen week.

21.12.2025 – RocketLab/Electron lanceert “The Wisdom God Guides”.
SpaceCom: Rocket Lab launches final mission of 2025, sends Japanese Earth-observing satellite to orbit.
Satellite Pro ME: Rocket Lab completes iQPS mission, marks 21 launches in 2025.
Space News: Rocket Lab wraps up record launch year.

Filmpjes:
RocketLab: Rocket Lab - 'The Wisdom God Guides' Launch.
SciNews: Electron launches QPS-SAR-15 “SUKUNAMI-I”.

22.12.2025 – Japanse HIII - Mislukte lancering van Michibiki 5.
JAXA: The first information on the result of the 8th H3 Launch Vehicle (H3 F8) launch.
JAXA: Launch Failure of the 8th H3 Launch Vehicle and Setting up a Special Task Force.

SpaceCom: Japanese H3 rocket fails during launch of navigation satellite.
Space News: Japan’s H3 suffers second-stage anomaly, QZS-5 satellite lost.
Spaceflight Now: H3 rocket suffers upper stage anomaly, fails to correctly deploy navigation satellite.

The Asahi Shimbun: JAXA: Faulty nose cone is suspected in H3 mission failure.

Filmpjes:
JAXA: H3 Launch broadcast.
SciNews: H3 launches QZS-5.

23.12.2025 – Mislukte lancering Spaceward voor het Zuidkoreaanse  Hanbit-Nano.
UPI: South Korean commercial rocket crashes shortly after launch in Brazil.
SpaceCom: South Korean startup Innospace fails on its 1st orbital launch attempt.

Spacepage: Zuid-Koreaanse commerciële raket faalt bij eerste lancering.

Space News: Innospace plans second launch in 2026 after failure of first Hanbit-Nano rocket.

Filmpjes:
SciNews: HANBIT-Nano first launch.
The Launch Pad: WOW! Watch Innospace HanBit-Nano Rocket Explodes In Flight.

23.12.2025 – Geslaagde eerste lancering voor herbruikbare Chinese Lange Mars 12A. Eerste trap crasht bij landing.
China in Space: Shanghai Academy Debuts Reusable Rocket, Fails Landing Attempt [Long March 12A Y1].
Space News: Long March 12A reaches orbit in first reusable launch attempt, but landing fails.

Filmpjes:
Scott Manley: China's Latest Booster Crash Lands after Second Stage Reaches Orbit.

24.12.2025 – ISRO lanceert BlueBird 6.
The Times of India: ISRO to launch its heaviest US commercial sat BlueBird-6 on December 15.
The Times of India: ISRO’s BlueBird-6 launch rescheduled to december 21.
The Hindu: ISRO to launch U.S. satellite on December 24.

ISRO: LVM3-M6 / BlueBird Block-2 Mission.
De Mission Brochure vind je hier (PDF).

The Times of India: ISRO launches US comsat BlueBird Block-2; heaviest payload launched by LVM3.
SpaceCom: Indian rocket launches record-breaking BlueBird 6 smartphone satellite to orbit.
Space News: Indian rocket launches AST SpaceMobile’s next-gen BlueBird 6 satellite.
Space Daily: AST BlueBird 6 enters orbit as record low Earth orbit cellular array.

The Hindu: Success of LVM-3 mission reinforces India's growing role in global commercial launch market: PM Modi.

Filmpjes:
ISRO: LVM3-M6 / BlueBird Block-2 Mission | Live Launch | ISRO-NSIL.
ISRO: Lift-off and onboard camera views.
SciNews: LVM3 launches BlueBird 6.

24.12.2025 – Soyuz 2.1a lanceert Obzor-R n°1  en andere.
TASS: Launch of Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket from Plesetsk proceeded normally — Russian top brass.
Russian Space Web: Soyuz launches first Obzor radar satellite.

26.12.2025 – Chinese Lange Mars 8A lanceert SatNet LEO Group 17 – Guowang.
China in Space: Long March 8A Completes Debut Year With GuoWang Mission [Long March 8A Y6].

Filmpjes:
CGTN: China's Long March-8A rocket launches internet satellites.
SciNews: Long March-8A launches SatNet LEO Group 17.

26.12.2025 – Chinese Lange Mars 3B/E lanceert Fengyun-4C.
China in Space: Upgraded Weather Satellite Lofted Toward Geostationary Orbit [Long March 3B/E Y113].
ECNS: China launches satellite to aid in early extreme weather detection.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: China Launches Fengyun-4 03 Satellite.
SciNews: Long March-3B launches FengYun-4C (FengYun-4 03).

Raketnieuws.

Tory Bruno verlaat United Launch Alliance voor Blue Origin.
Het nieuws kwam in twee schuifjes. Eerst het (onverwachte) vertrek ...
Space News: United Launch Alliance chief Tory Bruno resigns.
Ars Technica: In a surprise announcement, Tory Bruno is out as CEO of United Launch Alliance.
Space Policy Online: Tory Bruno Leaves ULA, John Elbon Takes Over As Interim CEO.
Spaceflight Now: Tory Bruno steps down as President, CEO of ULA.

… en dan de bestemming.
Space News: Former ULA chief Bruno joins Blue Origin.
Space Policy Online: Tory Bruno Joins Blue Origin.
Spaceflight Now: Former ULA president and CEO Tory Bruno joins Blue Origin.

Filmpje:
NSF Breaking Space: Tory Bruno Leaves ULA: Leadership Shakeup at United Launch Alliance.

Eerste lancering v/e Soyuz 5 uitgesteld.
TASS: Soyuz-5 carrier rocket first launch postponed-Roscosmos.
TASS: Baikonur spaceport, Soyuz-5 carrier rocket ready for first launch — Roscosmos.
TASS: First launch from Baiterek space complex is planned for first quarter of 2026.

Het Soyuz-lanceerplatform in Baikonur in herstelling.
Russian Space Web: Repairs commence at Site 31.

Ariane 6 / Vega C.
European Spaceflight: Ariane 6 and Vega C P160C Booster Upgrade Fully Qualified.
European Spaceflight: Avio Launch Deal Highlights Uncertainty in Vega Upgrade Roadmap.

Ondertussen op Cape Canaveral SFS – Stoke Space / Relativity Space.
NSF: Commercial neighbors Stoke Space and Relativity Space Advance make progress on Cape launch sites.

Ondertussen op Wenchang.
China in Space: State-Owned Launch Provider Eyeing Wenchang Commercial Launch Pads for New Rocket.

Bemande ruimtevaart / Ruimtestations.

18-19.12.2025 – Gaganyaan – Parachutetesten.
ISRO: Successful accomplishment of Drogue Parachute Deployment Tests for Gaganyaan – met filmpje.
The Hindu: Drogue parachute deployment tests for Gaganyaan mission successful: ISRO.

Over de eerste bemande Starliner-missie.
Ars Technica: Safety panel says NASA should have taken Starliner incident more seriously.

ISS – Meer nieuws uit het ruimtestation.
NASA: Holidays in Space: 25 Years of Space Station Celebrations.
BBC: All you need to know about the International Space Station's 25 years in orbit.

TASS: 'Night' on ISS lasts 40 minutes even on Earth’s longest night, cosmonaut says.
ISS National Lab: Groundbreaking VR Series “Space Explorers: The ISS Experience” Adds Emmy to its Winning Streak.

Filmpjes:
NASA: Space Station Astronauts Offer 2025 Holiday Greetings.

Meer nieuws uit het Chinese ruimtestation – CSS.
SpaceCom: Meet Qingzhou, China's next-gen cargo craft for its Tiangong space station .

ROSS – Nieuws over het toekomstige Russische ruimtestation.
Izvestia: Roscosmos has approved the deployment of ROS to the ISS, followed by separation.
Ars Technica: Russia is about to do the most Russia thing ever with its next space station.
Universe Today: Russia's Plans for a Space Station Includes "Recycling" its ISS Modules.
Daily Galaxy: Russia’s Bold Plan to Recycle ISS Modules for New Space Station, Will It Work?

SpaceCom: Russia patents space station designed to generate artificial gravity.

Naar de Maan (en Mars).

Apollo 8 en Artemis.
NSS: Apollo in December: How Apollo 8 and Apollo 17 Still Shape Us.
SpaceCom: NASA's Apollo 8 moonshot saved 1968. Could Artemis 2 do the same in 2026?

Artemis 2 – Opnieuw naar de Maan.
NASA: Artemis II Flight Crew, Teams Conduct Demonstration Ahead of Launch.
NASA: Artemis II Crew Launch Day Rehearsal.
NASA: Get In, We’re Going Moonbound: Meet NASA’s Artemis Closeout Crew.

Filmpje:
NASA: Artemis Science: Visualizing NASA’s Next Lunar Flyby

Artemis 5 – Lunar Terrain Vehicle – LTV.
CBS News (filmpje): Companies compete to develop next generation lunar rover for NASA.

Artemis Accords.
The Space Review: The Artemis Accords at five.

Artemis – Naar de Maan en Mars.
Space News: NASA safety panel recommends review of Artemis plans.

Universe Today: Engineering the First Reusable Launchpads on the Moon.

Payload: The Policy Questions Facing a Lunar Economy.

SpaceCom: Before trips to Mars, we need better protection from cosmic rays.

ILRS – China naar de Maan.
Inside Outer Space: Russia Eyes Lunar Power Station.

Starship nieuws.
NSF: Flight 12 vehicles readying for 2026 opener.

The New York Times: Trump May Give 775 Acres of a Federal Wildlife Refuge to SpaceX.
The Wall Street Journal: The SpaceX Explosion That Put Flights in Danger.

Filmpjes:
LabPadre: Is SpaceX Ready to Start Testing Orbital Refilling? - Spaceflight Weekly #198.
NSF: Will SpaceX Make Its Starship Timelines?| Starship Updates.
Marcus House: Starship’s Fastest Booster Ever: What Comes Next.

Op ontdekking door het zonnestelsel.

Contact met MAVEN nog steeds niet hersteld.
NASA: NASA loses contact with MAVEN, Perseverance continues roving around Jezero.
NASA: NASA Works MAVEN Spacecraft Issue Ahead of Solar Conjunction.
The Register: NASA tries Curiosity rover's Mastcam to work out where MAVEN might be.

Meer nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Zon:
Space Daily: PUNCH mission delivers sweeping new view of solar activity.

Aarde:
SpaceCom: Satellites reveal heat leaking from largest US cryptocurrency mining center.
NASA: Sentinels in the Sky: 50 Years of GOES Satellite Observations.

Mars:
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Curiosity Blog, Sols 4750-4762: See You on the Other Side of the Sun.
The Times of India: NASA reveals Earth’s accidental space shield and the changing face of near-Earth radiation.

Planetoïden:
ECNS: Asteroid named after Chinese space-tech expert Qi Faren.

Meer ruimtevaartnieuws.

Hebben Russen een wapen tegen Starlink ? Meteen het einde van de ruimtevaart ?
ABC News: Starlink in the crosshairs: How Russia could attack Elon Musk's conquering of space.

De bijna botsing tussen een Starlink-satelliete en eentje van China.
Space News: SpaceX claims close approach to Starlink satellite by payload from Chinese launch.

Defecte Starlink gedraagt zich vreemd.
SpaceCom: A SpaceX Starlink satellite is tumbling and falling out of space after partial breakup in orbit.
SpaceCom: Doomed SpaceX Starlink satellite photographed from orbit.

ESA’s CM25.
Space News: How Spain and Poland pushed Europe’s new priorities with record contributions.
ESA: Post-CM25 industry event online set for 14 January.
Space News: ESA weighing options to address exploration funding shortfall.
Space News: ESA to hire 520 new staff as workforce expansion begins in 2026.

Filmpje:
ESA: 342nd Council: Media information session.

The European Space Act.
The Space Review: The long arm of a European space law.
Space News: Study quantifies costs of EU Space Act to European and U.S. companies.

European Space Shield.
17.12 – Space News Opinion: What Germany got right (and wrong) in its first ever space strategy.
18.12 – Breaking Defense: Germany awards ICEYE, Rheinmetall almost $2B for new SAR satellite network.
18.12 – Space News: Germany awards $1.9 billion SAR satellite deal to Rheinmetall-Iceye venture.
19.12 – European Spaceflight: ICEYE and Rheinmetall Win €1.7 Billion German Armed Forces Contract.

Trump en gewezen astronaut Mark Kelly.
The Space Review: In defense of Mark Kelly.

Trump en de Big Beautifull Bill.
Breaking Defense: House passes defense policy bill.
TASS: US Congress approves defense budget proposal amounting to $901 billion.
US Space Force: Space Systems Command stands up System Delta 80.

Space Force – Nieuws.
16.12 – Air & Space Forces: Space Force Wants Lower-Cost, Commercial Capabilities for Silent Barker Replacement.
18.12 – Space News Opinion: Congress’ SBIR standoff is slowing Space Force innovation — it must act now.
22.12 – Air & Space Forces: White House Order Underlines Space Force’s Counterspace Mission.

NASA en Jared Isaacman.
Space Policy Online: NASA Meets New Administrator Jared Isaacman.
Space News: Isaacman emphasizes accelerating NASA programs as he takes agency’s reins.

HST – Hubble Space Telescope – Nieuws.
14.11 – NASA: Hubble Studies Star Ages in Colorful Galaxy.
21.11 – NASA: Hubble Seeks Clusters in ‘Lost Galaxy’.
21.11 – NASA: Finding star clusters in the Lost Galaxy.
21.11 – NASA: Hubble Captures Puzzling Galaxy.

02.12 – ESA: Webb observes a dance of dwarf galaxies.
03.12 – NASA: Hubble Seeks Clusters in ‘Lost Galaxy’.
05.12 – NASA: Hubble Spots a Storm of New Stars.
12.12 – NASA: Massive Stars Make Their Mark in Hubble Image.
12.12 – Universe Today: Hubble Catches Another Glimpse of 3I/ATLAS.
18.12 – NASA: NASA’s Hubble Sees Asteroids Colliding at Nearby Star for First Time.
19.12 – NASA: Betelgeuse and the Crab Nebula: Stellar Death and Rebirth.
19.12 – NASA: Hubble Glimpses Galactic Gas Making a Getaway.
23.12 – NASA: NASA’s Hubble Reveals Largest Found Chaotic Birthplace of Planets.

Filmpjes:
04.11 – STScI: Flight Through the Orion Nebula in Visible and Infrared Light.
11.11 – STScI: Hubble: Galaxies Across Space and Time.
12.11 – STScI: Crash of the Titans: Milky Way & Andromeda Collision.
25.11 – STScI: Evaporating Peaks: Pillars in the Monkey Head Nebula.
26.11 – STScI: Star Clusters in Collision.

04.12 – STScI: Across the Universe: Hubble Ultra Deep Field.
10.12 – STScI: Rendezvous with Interacting Galaxies Arp 273.
15.12 – STScI: Flight Through the Hubble eXtreme Deep Field.
17.12 – STScI: A Galactic Smash Hit: Galaxy Collision Simulation.
17.12 – HubbleWebbESA: Pan: NGC 1511.
17.12 – HubbleWebbESA: Pan: NGC 1792.
17.12 – HubbleWebbESA: Pan: N159.
17.12 – HubbleWebbESA: Pan: NGC 4535.
17.12 – HubbleWebbESA: Pan: NGC 4102
19.12 – STScI: Take a Tour of NGC 1333.
22.12 – HubbleWebbESA: Pan: Arp 4.
22.12 – HubbleWebbESA: Space Sparks episode 21: Hubble sees asteroids colliding at nearby star for first time.
23.12 – NASA: Hubble Spots Giant Vampire Sandwich?
24.12 – STScI: Hubble ACS 20th Anniversary Video.

JWST – James Webb Space Telescope – Nieuws.
05.11 – Space News: James Webb Space telescope spots 'big red dot' in the ancient universe: A ravenous supermassive black hole named 'BiRD'.
05.11 – Space News: How AI fixed the James Webb Space Telescope's blurry vision.
07.11 – SpaceCom: JWST makes key detection of complex organic molecules around star in galaxy beyond our Milky Way.
14.11 – NASA: Mapping Dark Matter.
14.11 – Universe Today: Demand for JWST's Observational Time Hits A New Peak.
14.11 – Universe Today: An Explanation For The JWST's Puzzling Early Galaxies.
18.11 – Universe Today: The James Webb Space Telescope may have finally found the 1st stars in the universe.
19.11 – NASA: Webb spots greedy supermassive black hole in early Universe.
19.11 – ESA: Webb: CANUCS-LRD-z8.6 in MACS J1149.5+2223.
19.11 – NASA: Webb First to Show 4 Dust Shells ‘Spiraling’ Apep, Limits Long Orbit.
20.11 – Universe Today: James Webb Space Telescope spots rapidly feeding supermassive black hole in the infant universe: 'This discovery is truly remarkable.'
21.11 – Universe Today: James Webb Space Telescope spots a gassy baby galaxy throwing a tantrum in the early universe.
23.11 – NSF: Webb discovers rapidly growing black hole in the very early universe.
28.11 – SpaceCom: James Webb Space Telescope watches our Milky Way galaxy's monster black hole fire out a flare.

03.12 – Universe Today: The JWST Discovered Another Perplexing Early Galaxy.
05.12 – Space Daily: TRAPPIST 1 flares mapped to probe planetary habitability.
05.12 – Space Daily: Methane hint on TRAPPIST 1e seen as likely stellar noise not proof of an atmosphere.
08.12 – Universe Today: It's the JWST's Turn To Look For An Intermediate Mass Black Hole.
09.12 – ESA: Webb identifies earliest supernova to date.
09.12 – ESA: GRB 250314A Pull-out (NIRCam image).
09.12 – SpaceCom: The James Webb Space Telescope just found the oldest supernova ever seen.
10.12 – Universe Today: New Results from the JWST Suggest that TRAPPIST-1e Might Have a Methane Atmosphere, Though Caution is Advised.
11.12 – NASA: NASA’s Webb Detects Thick Atmosphere Around Broiling Lava World.
12.12 – Universe Today: Thank The JWST For Confirming The First Runaway Supermassive Black Hole.
15.12 – SpaceCom: James Webb Space Telescope finds 1st evidence of 'dinosaur-like' stars in the early universe.
16.12 – SpaceCom: James Webb Space Telescope could illuminate dark matter in a way scientists didn't realize.
16.12 – NASA: NASA’s Webb Observes Exoplanet Whose Composition Defies Explanation.
16.12 – SpaceCom: James Webb Space Telescope discovers a lemon-shaped exoplanet unlike anything seen before: 'What the heck is this?'.
19.12 – ESA: Webb: Dwarf stars in a glittering sky
19.12 – SpaceCom: James Webb Space Telescope watches 'Jekyll and Hyde' galaxy shapeshift into a cosmic monster.
25.12 – APOD: Mystery: Little Red Dots in the Early Universe.

Filmpjes:
16.12 – JWST: Exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b Orbiting a Pulsar.
17.12 – HubbleWebESA: Pan video: NGC 4490 and NGC 4485.
19.12 – HubbleWebbESA: Pan Video: Westerlund 2.
19.12 – HubbleWebbESA: Transition Video: Webb and Hubble's views of Westerlund 2.
25.12 – ESA: Journeying through stunning cosmic views with James Webb Space Telescope.

CXRO – Chandra X-Ray Observatory – Nieuws.
01.12 – Chandra: From Space to the Stage: New Symphony Inspired by NASA's Chandra.
08.12 – Chandra: Black Hole Eats Star: NASA Missions Discover Record-Setting Blast.
10.12 – Chandra: NASA's Chandra Finds Small Galaxies May Buck the Black Hole Trend.
11.12 – SpaceCom: NASA's Chandra telescope uses 'X-arithmetic' to reveal how black holes shape galaxy clusters.
16.12 – Chandra: Bright Blue Cosmic Outbursts Likely Caused by Large Black Holes Shredding Massive Companions.

IXPE – Nieuws.
15.12 – Chandra: NASA IXPE's Longest Observation to Date Solves Viral Black Hole Jets Mystery.

XMM Newton & XRISM  – Nieuws.
12.11 – ESA: First confirmed sighting of explosive burst on nearby star.
04.12 – NASA: NASA-JAXA XRISM Finds Elemental Bounty in Supernova Remnant.
09.12 – ESA: Flaring black hole whips up ultra-fast winds (XMM – Newton).

FERMI – Nieuws.
08.12 – NASA: Black Hole Eats Star: NASA Missions Discover Record-Setting Blast.
09.12 – SpaceCom: This 7-hour cosmic explosion is the longest gamma-ray burst ever seen. Could it be from an elusive class of black hole?
18.12 – NASA: NASA’s Fermi Spots Young Star Cluster Blowing Gamma-Ray Bubbles.

IMAP – Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe – Nieuws.
16.12 – NASA: NASA’s IMAP Mission Captures ‘First Light,’ Looks Back at Earth.
20.12 – Universe Today: IMAP's Instruments Are Coming Online.

EUCLID – Nieuws.
05.11 – ESA: Euclid peers through a dark cloud’s dusty veil.
05.11 – Universe Today: Thick Dust Can't Stop Euclid From Doing Its Job.
08.11 – Universe Today: Euclid Has 8 Extra Years of Fuel. A Scientist Has A Brilliant Plan To Use It.
12.11 – Universe Today: Euclid's First Data Release Sheds Light on Galaxy Evolution.
19.11 – SpaceCom: The Euclid space telescope observed 1.2 million galaxies in just 1 year. Here's what we've learned.
22.12 – ESA: Euclid’s galaxy garland.

SPHEREx – Nieuws.
18.12 – NASA: NASA’s SPHEREx Observatory Completes First Cosmic Map Like No Other.
22.12 – SpaceCom: NASA's SPHEREx telescope completes its 1st cosmic map of the entire sky and it's stunning.

TESS – Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite – Nieuws.
20.11 – NASA: NASA’s TESS Spacecraft Triples Size of Pleiades Star Cluster.
01.12 – SpaceCom: NASA exoplanet-hunting spacecraft hears a red giant star 'singing' to its partner black hole.

GAIA – Nieuws.
ESA: Gaia finds hints of planets in baby star systems.

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope – Nieuws.
12.12 – NASA: NASA Announces Plan to Map Milky Way With Roman Space Telescope.
14.12 – NSF: Roman telescope construction complete, moving into final testing ahead of 2027 launch.
15.12 – NASA: NASA’s Roman Telescope Will Observe Thousands of Newfound Cosmic Voids.
16.12 – Ars Technica: The $4.3 billion space telescope Trump tried to cancel is now complete.
16.12 – Universe Today: The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Will Teach Us A Lot More About Cosmic Voids.

Filmpjes:
20.11 – STScI: Red Giant Echoes.
07.12 – STScI: The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (een voordracht uit 2020).
15.12 – STScI: Measuring Cosmic Voids with the Roman Space Telescope.
23.12 – NASA: NASA’s Roman Space Telescope: Widening Our Gaze.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen