De jaarwisseling is niet onopgemerkt voorbij gegaan in het ruimtevaartwereldje. Er waren de voorbije twee weken dan wel weinig lanceringen maar het nieuwe jaar begon met twee belangrijke gebeurtenissen. Vooreerst was er het plotse uitstel van twee Amerikaanse ruimtewandelingen omwille van een “medical emergency” aan boord van het ruimtestations. Veel meer weten we eigenlijk niet, alleen dat NASA ondertussen beslist heeft om de Crew-11-bemanning vervroegd naar huis te sturen. En ten tweede, de kansen op de lancering van Artemis II begin februari lijken te stijgen nu NASA heeft laten weten de SLS-raket met de Orion-capsule naar het lanceerplatform te rijden - wellicht op 17 januari. Dat en – ook dit jaar – nog veel meer in het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart van deze week..

En – uiteraard – de beste wensen voor het nieuwe jaar. Dat het een fijn nieuw jaar mag worden.

En – ook dit jaar – is er een Jaaroverzicht der Jaaroverzichten. Met een terugblik op 2025 en een vooruitblik op 2026. Je vindt het hier.

Bij de foto: Astronaut Mike Fincke (Crew 11/ Expedition 74) poseert hier samen met een ruimtepak in de Quest-module. De helm zelf is beschermd om krasjes en stof te vermijden. Fincke zou normaal gezien samen met Zena Cardman op 8 januari de 94ste Amerikaanse ISS-ruimtewandeling beginnen. Maar een dag eerder werd deze en de volgende ruimtewandeling uitgesteld omwille van een “medical emergency”. De bemanning van Crew 11 verlaat daarom iets eerder dan voorzien het ruimtestation. Deze foto dateert al van 18 december 2025 – Foto: NASA.

Belgisch ruimtevaartnieuws. 

Redwire Belgium werkt met succes de payload-integratie af voor ESA’s  Σyndeo-3.
Redwire: Redwire Successfully Completes Payload Integration for Upcoming European Technology Demonstration Mission.

Geluidsband film “Radioman” van Frank Van Passel werd de ruimte in gestuurd.
VRTNWS: Soundtrack van Brusselse film 'Radioman' wordt de ruimte ingestuurd.
GVA.be: ‘Radioman’ stuurt volledige filmsoundtrack de ruimte in: “Wat in de film een poëtisch gebaar is, wordt nu werkelijkheid”.

Belgische ruimtevaartkennis in de kijker op de luchthaven.
Kanselarij België: De Kanselarij zet de Belgische ruimtevaartknowhow in de kijker.
Zie ook dit BELSPO-Linkedin-bericht.
BELSPO: België investeert recordbedrag in Europese ruimtevaart: focus op veiligheid, autonomie en wetenschap.
Nieuwsblad: Europese ruimtevaart wil meer op eigen benen staan, al blijft samenwerking met Amerikanen nodig: “Goed dat nieuwe NASA-baas zelf in de ruimte is geweest”.

De lanceringen van de afgelopen twee weken.

28.12.2025 – Russische Soyuz lanceert AIST-2T e.a. 
TASS: Roscosmos plans to launch 52 satellites from Vostochny spaceport.
TASS: Two Aist-2T satellites scheduled for launch on December 28 — Roscosmos.
TASS: Russian Soyuz-2.1b rocket with two Aist-2T satellites blasted off from Vostochny spaceport.
TASS: Fregat upper stage with 52 satellites separates from Soyuz-2.1b upper stage.
TASS: Aist-2T satellites launched from Vostochny spaceport put into orbit.
TASS: Russia launches satellites for its allies from Vostochny spaceport.
TASS: Russia launches satellite into orbit for UAE — Sputnix Group.

SatNews: ISA – Iran Space Agency – Schedules Triple Satellite Launch from Vostochny for December 28.
Caspian News: Iran Launches Three Domestically Built Satellites Into Orbit From Russian Spaceport.
Space Daily: Iran says launches three satellites into space from Russia.
SpaceCom: Iran says it launched 3 satellites to space on Russian rocket: report.

Satellite Pro ME: Orbital Space launches QMR-KWT 2 student satellite mission.

Filmpjes:
ShanghaiEye: Russia's Soyuz-2.1b rocket with 52 satellites delivered to Vostochny launch complex.
Roscosmos TV: De live beelden van de lancering.
SciNews: Soyuz-2.1b launches Aist-2T No.1 & 2 and 50 small spacecraft.

30.12.2025 – Chinese Lange Mars 4B lanceert Tianhui 7.
China in Space: New Cartography Satellite Launched via Final Jiuquan Mission of 2025 [Long March 4B Y69].
Space News: China caps record year for orbital launches with Tianhui-7 and Shijian-29 technology test missions.

Filmpje:
CCTV: China Launches New Satellite.
SciNews: Long March-4B launches TianHui-7.

30.12.2025 – Chinese Lange Mars 7A lanceert Shijian 29 A & B.
China in Space: China Concludes Global Launches in 2025 With New Shijian Duo [Long March 7A Y7].
ECNS (foto’s): China launches two new satellites for space target detection test.
Space News: China caps record year for orbital launches with Tianhui-7 and Shijian-29 technology test missions.
Inside Outer Space: China Rocket Launch Stirs Up Advisory from Philippine Space Agency.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: China Launches Twin Satellites for Space Object Detection Technology Tests.
SciNews: Long March-7A launches Shijian-29A & B.
CGTN: Rare 'space jellyfish' cloud appears after China rocket launch.

03.01.2026 – SpaceX lanceert CSG 3 voor Italië.
Spaceflight Now: Launch pad issue delays again Falcon 9 launch of Italian Earth observation satellite.
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX opens 2026 with launch of Cosmo-SkyMed Earth observation satellite for Italy.
SpaceCom: SpaceX launches Italian Earth-observing satellite to orbit on the 1st mission of 2026.
Space News: SpaceX launches next second-generation Italian COSMO-SkyMed satellite.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch the Italian COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation mission to orbit.
SciNews: CSG-3 launch and deployment.

04.01.2026 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten – Group 6-88 (CCSFS).
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launches first Starlink deployment mission since problem strikes satellite.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch 29 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida.
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 342 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 4 January 2026.

09.01.2026 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten – Group 6-96 (CCSFS).
Spaceflight Now: FCC gives SpaceX “green light” to expand Starlink constellation to 15,000 satellites (+ verslag v/d lancering van 9 januari).
SpaceCom: SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites on its 3rd mission of 2026.

Filmpje:
SpaceX: Watch Falcon 9 launch 29 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida.
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 343 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 9 January 2026.

Nog enkele vorige lanceringen.

22.12.2025 – Neuskegel de oorzaak van falende H III?
The Asahi Shimbun: JAXA: Faulty nose cone is suspected in H3 mission failure.
Een verslag (in het Japans) over de mislukte lancering vind je hier (PDF).

22.12.2025 – Nog eens de mislukte Hanbit-Nano raket van Innospace.
Reuters: Rocket crashes in Brazil's first commercial launch; Innospace shares tumble.

Raketnieuws.

L3Harris verkoopt 60% “Rocketdyne” aan AE Industrial.
De productie van RS-25 blijft wel bij L3Harris.
L3Harris: L3Harris to Sell Majority Stake in Space Propulsion & Power Business to AE Industrial Partners.
L3 Harris: L3Harris Announces Reorganization of Its Businesses.

Space News: L3Harris to sell majority stake in space propulsion unit to AE Industrial.
Breaking Defense: L3Harris hones DoD focus with sale of civil space propulsion unit.
Spaceflight Now: L3Harris announces $845 million majority sale of Space Propulsion and Power Systems business.

SatNews: L3Harris Consolidates into Three Segments; Creates Dedicated Space & Mission Systems Unit.

Celestis boekt lancering bij Stoke Space – NOVA.
SpaceCom: Celestis books Stoke Space rocket for 2nd-ever deep space memorial flight for human remains.

Een artikel uit november:
SpaceCom: This company wants to be the 1st to launch human remains to Mars. Will it ever get there?

Over RocketLab.
PBS NewsHour (filmpje): Inside Rocket Lab's effort to outpace larger space rivals.

Ariane 6 met MaiaSpace boosters ? Themis eerst in de lente.
European Spaceflight: ArianeGroup Proposes Ariane 6 Evolution Using MaiaSpace Boosters.
Ars Technica: ESA considers righting the wrongs of Ariane 6 by turning it into a Franken-rocket.
European Spaceflight: MaiaSpace to Launch “Minimum Viable Product” in 2026.

European Spaceflight: ESA “Waiting for Spring” to Launch Themis Reusable Rocket Demonstrator.

Zuidkoreaanse Innospace gaat zijn Hanbit-raket lanceren vanuit Portugal.
Innospace: INNOSPACE Signs Launch Site Agreement with Atlantic Spaceport Consortium in Europe.
European Spaceflight: South Korea’s Innospace to Launch Hanbit Rockets from Portugal.

Turkije begint bouw lanceercomplex in Somalië.
Satellite Pro ME: Türkiye begins construction of space port in Somalia.

Weldra een eerste commerciële lanceerbasis in Canada.
NSF: Canada’s First Commercial Spaceport clears major hurdle with Environmental Approval.

Cape Canaveral SFS & Vandenberg SFB – Ruimte voor een nieuw lanceerpad voor zware raketten – Starship?
Vandenberg SFB: Space Launch Delta 30 Issues RFI for Space Launch Development at SLC-14.
Space News: Space Force offers new Vandenberg launch site.
Air & Space Forces: Vandenberg Explores More Launch Pads, Including One for Super Heavy Rockets.
Spaceflight Now: Dept. of the Air Force opens bidding for Space Launch Complex 14 at Vandenberg SFB.

NSF: Space Force requests launch provider interest in Cape and Vandenberg pads.

NASA zoekt bescherming tegen drones voor het Kennedy Space Center.
Gizmodo: NASA Needs a Drone Detector At Kennedy Space Center.

China en de Lange Mars 10.
Space News: China to debut reusable Long March 10-derived rocket in first half of 2026.
Robotdyn: China’s Ambitious Leap: Reusable Rocket Revolution in 2026.

Het Chinese Landspace wil $1 miljard ophalen.
Space News: Landspace targets $1 billion for reusable rockets as IPO application accepted.
Space News: Landspace secures launch contracts for China’s megaconstellation projects – Guowang – Qianfan.
China in Space: LandSpace IPO Moves Forward With 7.5 Billion Yuan Planned to Be Raised.

Falcon 9 en Falcon Heavy – Wat na Starship?
Eager Space (filmpje): The Future of Falcons 9 and Heavy.

Oude teststands voor Saturnus-raketten en Space Shuttle worden afgebroken.
Fox News: NASA begins infrastructure overhaul under Isaacman as Trump pushes ambitious space exploration goals.
NASA: NASA Marshall Prepares for Demolition of Historic Test, Simulation Facilities.
Collect Space: NASA to topple towers used to test Saturn rockets, space shuttle.
NASA: NASA Marshall Removes 2 Historic Test Stands.

En nog dit: Chinese leraar lanceert waterraket.
Point or View (filmpje): Chinese teacher stunned the world by launching a 2-stage plastic rocket fuelled by water.

Bemande ruimtevaart / Ruimtestations.

ISS – (1) – Twee Amerikaanse ruimtewandelingen uitgesteld door medische urgentie.
Eerst enkele voorbeschouwingen op de ruimtewandelingen.
NASA: NASA to Preview US Spacewalks at Space Station in January.

NASA: NASA to Cover US Spacewalks 94, 95 at International Space Station.

Dan liet NASA weten dat de ruimtewandelingen uitgesteld werden door een medische urgentie.
Over welke astronaut het gaat is niet geweten. Net als wat er nu eigenlijk de medische urgentie is.
ISS Blog: NASA Postpones Jan. 8 Spacewalk.
ISS Blog: International Space Station Update.

Space News: Medical issue could force early end of Crew-11 ISS mission.
SpaceCom: NASA postpones Jan. 8 spacewalk due to 'medical concern' with an astronaut.
SpaceCom: NASA considering bringing astronauts home early from International Space Station due to medical issue.
Ars Technica: NASA considers evacuating ailing crew member from International Space Station.
Spaceflight Now: NASA weighs an earlier end to the Crew-11 mission after a ‘medical situation’ with an ISS crew member postpones first spacewalk of 2026.
VRTNWS: NASA wil astronauten vroeger uit ruimte terughalen wegens medische problemen.

Filmpjes i.v.m. de ondertussen uitgestelde ruimtewandelingen.
NASA: U.S. Spacewalk 94 Animation – Gepland voor 08.01.2026.
NASA: U.S. Spacewalk 95 Animation – Gepland voor 15.01.2026.
NASA (filmpje): U.S. Spacewalk Preview News Conference (Jan. 6, 2026).

ISS – (2) – Bemanning Crew 11 komt vroeger naar huis.
Dan kwam de persconferentie en de bevestiging dat Crew 11 vroeger naar huis ging komen.
ISS Blog: NASA Shares Latest Update on International Space Station Operations.

Space News: Medical issue prompts early return of Crew-11 from ISS.
SpaceCom: NASA will return 4 astronauts home early in 1st-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station.
SpaceCom: ISS astronaut evacuation shouldn't interfere with upcoming Artemis 2 moon mission, NASA chief says.
Space Policy Online: NASA DECIDES TO BRING CREW-11 HOME EARLY, BUT NOT AN EMERGENCY.
Ars Technica: NASA orders “controlled medical evacuation” from the International Space Station.
NSF: Crew-11 to return early due to a medical concern with astronaut.
Space News: Crew-11 to make early return Jan. 15.

SpaceCom: How does NASA handle astronaut medical issues in space?

Filmpjes :
NASA: International Space Station Update: Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 (persconferentie).
NSF Breaking Space: Space Medical Emergency: NASA Astronauts Returning Early | What We Know.
Scott Manley: NASA Astronaut Medical Emergency - What We Know.

ISS – (3) – Crew 11 komt terug op 14/15 januari.
ISS Blog: NASA, SpaceX Set Target Date for Crew-11’s Return to Earth.
JAXA: Target Dates and Times for ISS Departure and Return of Crew Dragon Spacecraft (Crew-11) including JAXA Astronaut YUI Kimiya.
SpaceCom: Space skeleton crew: Just 3 astronauts will run the ISS after Crew-11's medical evacuation.
SpaceCom: NASA will evacuate SpaceX Crew-11 astronauts from International Space Station on Jan. 14.

ISS – Crew 12 – Sophie Adenot – NASA stelt bemanning voor.
ISS Blog: NASA Shares SpaceX Crew-12 Assignments for Space Station Mission.
ESA: From roots to rocket.
ESA: Tree planting for εpsilon.

Filmpjes: 
ESA: Press conference with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot.

ISS – De blogentries.
ISS Blog: NASA, SpaceX CRS-33 Dragon Boost Space Station.
ISS Blog: Expedition 74 Gears Up for First Spacewalk of 2026.
ISS Blog: Life Science Fills Day as Expedition 74 Nears Thursday Spacewalk.
ISS Blog: Expedition 74 Ready for Thursday Spacewalk and Continuing Research.
ISS Blog: NASA Postpones Jan. 8 Spacewalk.
ISS Blog: International Space Station Update.
ISS Blog: NASA Shares Latest Update on International Space Station Operations.
ISS Blog:  Expedition 74 Preps for Crew Departure, Keeps Up Advanced Research.
ISS Blog: NASA, SpaceX Set Target Date for Crew-11’s Return to Earth.
ISS Blog: Change of Command of International Space Station to Occur.

ISS – Geen lekken meer in het Russische segment.
NewsBreak: After 5 years, Russia’s space station segment finally stops leaking.
Ars Technica: After half a decade, the Russian space station segment stopped leaking.

ESA krijgt nieuwe deal rond zijn ISS-verplichtingen.
European Spaceflight: ESA Cancels Call to Procure Commercial Cargo Services to the ISS.
European Spaceflight: ESA Strikes New Deal with NASA for Its CSOC Commitments for the ISS.

ISS – Meer nieuws uit het ruimtestation.
NASA: Studying Physics in Microgravity.
Satellite Pro ME: Saudi astronauts achieve cartilage nanomaterial breakthrough on ISS.
NASA: Space Station Research Informs New FDA-Approved Cancer Therapy.

NASA: 25 Years in Orbit: Science, Innovation, and the Future of Exploration.

The Science Times: How Space Affects the Human Body: Key Health Challenges Impacting the Astronauts.
The Times of India: Why astronauts remove their wisdom teeth before space travel, even when nothing hurts.
The Times of India: What really happens when astronauts cry in space.

Chinese astronauten krijgen survival training in grotten.
ECNS: Chinese astronauts complete 1st cave survival training.
Space News: China’s astronauts complete cave training amid preparations for moon missions.
China in Space: Taikonauts Prepare for Lunar Missions via Six-Day Cave Training Exercise.

Filmpje:
CCTV+: China's First Astronaut CAVES Training Concludes in Mountainous Area.

Nieuws uit het Chinese ruimtestation – CSS.
China in Space: Taikonauts Support Plant and Materials Experiments, Space-Flown Mice Reproduce.
Inside Outer Space: China Space Station Crew: Experiments Underway.
Space Daily: Space-traveled mouse gives birth as China names pioneering "flying mice" crew.

ECNS: Lithium-ion battery experiment conducted aboard Chinese space station.

Filmpjes:
New China TV: Mouse births pups after space mission, paving way for future research.
SciNews: Mice aboard the China Space Station.
CCTV: Shenzhou-21 Crew Smoothly Push for Experiments in Multiple Fields.
CCTV+: China's Shenzhou-21 Astronauts Extend New Year Wishes from Space Station.
CCTV: Chinese Astronauts, Expedition Team, Sailors Send New Year Wishes Through CMG Gala.
CCTV: Xi's New Year Message Inspires China's Shenzhou-21 Astronauts.
CCTV: China's Space Station Captures Mesmerizing Views of Earth.
CCTV: China's Space Station Makes Steady Progress in Scientific Research, Applications in 2025.

India en Gaganyaan.
The Indian EXPRESS: After missing multiple deadlines, Gaganyaan’s first uncrewed mission likely to lift-off by March.

Naar de Maan (en Mars).

Artemis 2 – SLS rollout wellicht op 17 januari.
NASA: Best of 2025: Artemis II Countdown Demonstration Test.
SpaceCom: Artemis 2 moon astronauts rehearse for launch day (photos).
Space News: NASA continues to work toward February launch of Artemis 2
The Human Spaceflight Blog: The Latest Update on the Biggest Space Mission of 2026..
NASA Watch: Artemis II Launch Date Is In Limbo.

NASA: Final Steps Underway for NASA’s First Crewed Artemis Moon Mission.
SpaceCom: NASA to roll out rocket for Artemis 2 moon mission on Jan. 17.
NSF: NASA sets milestones on the path to Artemis II crew launch.
Ars Technica: Is Orion’s heat shield really safe? New NASA chief conducts final review on eve of flight.

Space Explored: What is the purpose of NASA’s Artemis 2 mission?

L3Harris: For L3Harris, the Action Starts Six Seconds Before Artemis II Lifts Off.

SpaceCom: Is the race for moon missions lunacy?

Filmpjes:
30.11.2025 – Philip Sloss: Is the Artemis II CDDT in the critical path? When will the Artemis III SLS be ready?
28.12.2025 – Philip Sloss: Quarter in Review: A cloudy "what's next" forecast for NASA after Artemis II.
31.12.2025 – Spaceflight Now: How NASA assembled its massive Moon rocket for Artemis 2.
02.01.2026 – New Scientist: The Biggest Space Missions Coming This Year.
04.01.2026 – Philip Sloss: NASA Artemis Question and Answer Livestream, New Year's 2026.
09.01.2026 – CSA: 10 facts about the Artemis II mission.

Artemis 4 – Gateway / ML2 – SLS Block 1B.
NASA: NASA Starts Up Gateway’s Power System for First Time.

Naar de Maan en Mars.
Universe Today: Before We Build on the Moon, We Have to Master the Commute.

Ars Technica: NASA astronauts will have their own droid when they go back to the Moon.

SpaceQ: Volta Space is testing tech for a lunar power beaming application.
Universe Today: The Sticky Problem of Lunar Dust Gets a Mathematical Solution.

Inside GNSS: ESA’s Lunar PNT on the Horizon – NAVISP – LUPIN – Lunar Pathfinder.

SpaceCom: Scientists are getting our robotic explorers ready to help send humans to Mars.
Live Sciences: Should humans colonize other planets?

Space News (Opinion): Is the race for moon missions lunacy?

ESA: ESA and Playmobil launch Mars mission collection.

Space Mining.
SpaceCom: The race to mine the moon is on – and it urgently needs some clear international rules.
Universe Today: A Pioneering Study Assesses the Likelihood of Asteroid Mining.

ILRS – China naar de Maan.
China in Space: Yang Liwei Provides Progress Update on China's Crewed Lunar Landing Hardware.

Starship nieuws.
NSF: SpaceX laying the Starship foundations for 2026 and beyond.
SpaceCom: SpaceX stacks Super Heavy booster ahead of Starship megarocket's 12th test flight.
NSF: TPS evaluations taking place at Starbase on next two Ships to fly.
NSF: The future of Starship’s Pad 1 tower and launch mount.

NSF: Starship Barge identified ahead of Starbase to KSC transports.

The Washington Post: Caught between Trump and Musk’s rockets, a Mexican village despairs.

Morningstar: Why Elon Musk now says it would be a 'distraction' for SpaceX to go to Mars this year.

Filmpjes:
Lab Padre Space: LabPadre Spaceflight Weekly #199.
NSF: "Aggressive venting: SpaceX's own fog machine"| SpaceX Starbase.

Op ontdekking door het zonnestelsel.

Over satellieten, sterilizatie, cleanrooms en beestjes.
SatNews: NASA Identifies 26 Resilient Bacterial Species Capable of Evading Cleanroom Sterilization.

ESA kiest Deense Máni als maansonde.
European Spaceflight: Denmark’s First Mission to the Moon Gets ESA Greenlight.

Blue Origin – Blue Moon Mk1.
WAI (filmpje): How Does Blue Origin's Mk1 Blue Moon Lander work?
SatNews: Blue Moon MK1: The ‘Innovative, Affordable, and Expedited’ Pivot for Artemis.

China en Chang’e 7.
Space Explored: What China’s Chang’e-7 lander will do when it lands on the Moon.
SpaceCom: China's next moonshot: Chang'e 7 could search the lunar south pole for water this year.

Meer sondes dit jaar naar de Maan.
SpaceCom: Moon rush: These private spacecraft will attempt lunar landings in 2026.
GovConWire: NASA Issues CLPS 2.0 Sources Sought Notice to Shape Next Phase of Lunar Delivery.

Het einde van Mars Sample Return.
Space News: Perseverance continues science mission amid uncertainty about Mars Sample Return – MSR.
Inside Outer Space: Mars Sample Return: Given the Political Axe? – MSR.
SpaceCom: Winning the Red Planet race: Returning Mars samples before China should be a top US priority, experts say – MSR.
Science.Org: NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission is dead.
Universe Today: NASA's Mars Sample Return Is Dead, Paving The Way For China.

Meer nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Ruimteweer:
The Science Times: How Space Weather Disrupts Satellites, GPS, and Power Grids Across the Modern World.

Zon:
Space News: Heliophysics missions move toward operations.

Aarde:
NASA: The Final Earth Observer Editor’s Corner: October–December 2025.
NASA: The Earth Observer: Offering Perspectives from Space through Time.
NASA: The State of CERES: Updates and Highlights – Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System.
NASA: Terra: The End of An Era.
PhysOrg: Satellite data and weather models improve short-term solar irradiance forecasts in China.
ESA: Sentinel-1's decade of essential data over shifting ice sheets.
ESA: Tiny patches of deforestation drive tropical carbon loss.

Mars:
SpaceCom: NASA's Curiosity rover sends stunning new panorama from high on Mars' Mount Sharp.
Mars Guy (filmpje): Watch Curiosity’s latest drive on Mars.
SpaceCom: Lower-cost space missions like NASA's ESCAPADE are starting to deliver exciting science – but at a price in risk and trade‑offs.
Space Daily: Second ESCAPADE spacecraft completes key trajectory fix on path to Mars.
UAHiRISE (filmpje): HiRISE Mars 4K (NASA): Of Wind, Time & Gullies.
ESA: Sandblasting on Mars – Mars Express.
ESA: Mars Express sees sandblasted wind sculptures near Eumenides Dorsum.

Jupiter:
Universe Today: Europa May Be Lifeless and Unihabitable After All.

Saturnus:
NASA: Flight Engineers Give NASA’s Dragonfly Lift.

Planetoïdes:
ESA (filmpje): We have found the 40 000th near-Earth asteroid!

3I/Atlas:
Universe Today: Europa Clipper Reveals a New Perspective on Comet 3I/ATLAS.
Inside Outer Space: Breakthrough Listen Observations of 3I/ATLAS: Looking for a Telltale Technosignature.
Universe Today: The Interstellar Comet That’s Spilling Its Secrets.

Om af te ronden:
Werkgroep Maan en Planeten: Podcast – Recente ontwikkelingen in het zonnestelsel - december 2025.

Meer ruimtevaartnieuws.

Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System – Een grote private ruimtetelescoop.
Payload: Former Google Chief Building Private Space Telescopes.
Space News: Private group unveils plans for large space telescope.
SpaceCom: Former CEO of Google spearheads 4 next-gen telescopes — 3 on Earth and 1 in space.

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope klaar om in september gelanceerd te worden.
Space News: Roman Space Telescope on track for September launch.

NASA kiest technologie voor de Habitable Worlds Observatory telescoop.
NASA: NASA Selects Tech Proposals to Advance Search-for-Life Mission.
Space News: NASA seeks to accelerate development of Habitable Worlds Observatory.
Payload: NASA Picks Habitable World-Finders.

Recent gelanceerde SpainSat NG 2 geraakt door “space particle”.
European Spaceflight: Spain’s New Communications Satellite Suffers “Space Particle” Strike.
Space News: New Spanish communications satellite suffers ‘space particle’ impact.
SpaceCom: ‘Space particle’ slams into Spain’s new communications satellite high above Earth.

NASA’s budget ziet er plots beter uit.
Space Policy Online: Great News for NASA in the House-Senate FY2026 Appropriations Report.
Ars Technica: NASA’s science budget won’t be a train wreck after all.
SpaceCom: Congress rejects President Trump's deep NASA budget cuts, proposes $24.4 billion for the agency.
Payload: NASA Starts 2026 With Budget Plan, Administrator.
Space News: Minibus provides $24.4 billion for NASA for fiscal year 2026.
Politico: House passes three-bill spending package with weeks left to avoid a shutdown.
Space Policy Online: House Passes Final FY2026 Funding Bill For NASA, Senate is Next.

Gaat Space Shuttle Discovery nu wel of niet naar Houston?
Space News; Isaacman opens door to alternatives to moving shuttle Discovery to Houston.
SpaceCom: NASA chief Jared Isaacman says Texas may get a moonship, not space shuttle Discovery.
The Space Review: Houston deserves a Space Shuttle, but not like this.

Trump, Isaacman e.a. – Meer nieuws.
The Space Review: The Isaacman era begins at NASA.
NPR: Goddard Space Flight Center staff says library's closure degrades NASA's mission.

ESA gehackt.
European Spaceflight: ESA Says Data Breach Was Limited to Servers with Unclassified Documents.

Na bijna-botsingen – SpaceX stuurt Starlink-satellieten naar een lagere baan.
SpaceCom: SpaceX lowering orbits of 4,400 Starlink satellites for safety's sake.
Ars Technica: SpaceX begins “significant reconfiguration” of Starlink satellite constellation.
Space News: SpaceX to lower orbits of some Starlink satellites.
IEN: SpaceX Satellite Narrowly Avoids Collision as Space Crashes 'Getting Likelier by the Day'.

Teslarati: Starlink passes 9 million active customers just weeks after hitting 8 million.

Starlink en een klacht van China.
China in Space: China Lodges Informal Complaint Against Starlink, U.S. Commercial Satellite Constellations.

Starlink en Venezuela.
Gizmodo: Starlink Is About to Enter a New Conflict Zone.

NASA gaat Starshield gebruiken als ondersteuning DSN.
Space News: NASA to test SpaceX’s Starshield in pilot program.
De militairen willen dan weer Starlink & Starshield met elkaar integreren.
Executiv Gov: USSOCOM Seeks Starlink & Starshield Integration for AC-130J Gunship.

Aanvragen voor meer dan 200.000 extra satellieten in allerlei constellaties – SpaceX – China.
Ars Technica: SpaceX gets FCC permission to launch another 7,500 Starlink satellites.
PC Mag: SpaceX Faces More Pushback Over Plans to Launch 15K Cellular Starlink Satellites.
Space News: FCC approves 7,500 additional Starlink satellites.

China in Space: Chinese Constellation Operators Submit Plans for Almost 200,000 New Satellites.

De nieuwe trend – Satellieten in VLEO – Very Low Earth Orbit.
SpaceCom: The next frontier in space is closer than you think – welcome to the world of very low Earth orbit satellites.
Via Satellite: A Closer Look at VLEO: The New Frontier in Orbit.

“Dogfighting”.
The Washington Post: Why U.S. and Chinese satellites are ‘dogfighting’ in orbit.
Scott Manley (filmpje): How Real Satellites Dogfight - Proximity Operations In Space Explained.

PWSA – Nieuws.
Space Daily: SDA expands Tracking Layer satellite awards and related missile defense contracts.
Space News: Terran Orbital Selected by Lockheed Martin to Provide Satellite Buses for SDA’s Tranche 3 Tracking Layer.
Sierra Space: Sierra Space completes first nine satellite structures for the Space Development Agency’s  Tranch 2 Tracking Layer three months ahead of schedule.
Via Satellite: SDA Surveying Industry On Ability to Provide Ground Entry Points for Tranche 3.
Breaking Defense: SpaceX to launch next SDA missile tracking satellites.
Space News: Space Force awards $739 million in launch orders to SpaceX.

Space Force – Nieuws.
04.01 – Space News: Space Force begins base network overhaul as cybersecurity demands grow.
06.01 – Space News: Space cyber compliance: managing requirements for today and tomorrow.
06.01 – Executiv Gov: Space Force Eyes Commercial Options for Space, Ground-Based Environmental Sensing.
07.01 – Space News: Space Force moves to standardize satellites with ‘Handle 2.0’ contract.
07.01 – Breaking Defense: ‘Overwatch’ from space, cyber ops foundational to Maduro mission.
09.01 – Space News: The Space Force will acquire and integrate systems faster in 2026.

Cybersecurity.
Ars Technica: GPS is vulnerable to jamming—here’s how we might fix it.

Golden Dome – Missile Defense Shield.
GovConWire: Golden Dome: The Trump Administration’s Plan to Counter Long-Range Missile Threats.
Breaking Defense: Golden Dome’s first goal? Protecting the 2026 World Cup.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen