De prijs voor het meest verrassende nieuws van de week gaat ongetwijfeld naar Blue Origin dat (nog) een nieuwe satellietconstellatie aankondigde. En met de Artemis II bemanning die in quarantaine is gegaan, komen we nog een stap dichter bij de terugkeer naar de Maan. En zoals altijd – ook al was de griep een spelbreker de voorbije dagen – nog veel meer in het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart van deze week.

Bij de foto: Een beeldje uit een vrijgegeven timelapse met spectaculaire opnames, afkomstig van Proba-3. Foto: ESA/Proba-3/ASPIICS, NASA/SDO/AIA

Belgisch ruimtevaartnieuws. 

AetherSpace mag zijn satellietje in 2027 (suborbitaal) lanceren.
Dit nieuws haalde eerder al het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart. Zie NUDR 2025/51-782.

VRTNWS: Groep studenten KU Leuven lanceert kleine satelliet die kan terugkeren naar de aarde.
RexusBexus: Re-Entry systems.

Meer info op de website van Aether Space.

PROBA 3 brengt een aantal spectaculaire zonnevlammen in beeld.
ESA: Proba-3: onze ogen op de binnenste corona van de zon.
ESA: Proba-3: our eyes on the Sun’s inner corona.
Universe Today: Probing the Mysteries of the Solar Corona with ESA’s Proba-3.

Broeikasgassen en het Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Ruimte-Aëronomie.
Aeronomie.be: Vanop aarde tot in de ruimte: betrouwbare metingen van broeikasgassen.

De lanceringen van de afgelopen week.

18.01.2026 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten – Group 6-100 (CCSFS).
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launches Sunday sunset Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral.
SpaceCom: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 29 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch 29 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida.
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 346 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 18 January 2026.

19.01.2026 – Chinese Lange Mars 12 lanceert SatNet LEO Grioup 19.
China in Space: Second Commercially Made GuoWang Group Reaches Orbit [Long March 12 Y5].

Filmpjes:
CCTV+: China Launches New Internet Satellite Group in Hainan.
SciNews: Long March-12 launches SatNet LEO Group 19.

21.01.2026 – UITGESTELD – Duitse Isar Aerospace en Spectrum.
ESA: Spectrum’s qualifying second launch.
SpaceCom: Watch private German rocket attempt history-making launch from Norway today (met update over het uitstel).

22.01.2026 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten – Group 17-30 (VSFB).
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launches first West Coast Starlink mission of 2026.
SpaceCom: SpaceX launches 25 Starlink satellites into orbit from California.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch 25 Starlink  satellites to orbit from California.
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 347 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 22 January 2026.

22.01.2026 – RocketLab/Electron lanceert “The Cosmos Will See You Now”.
SpaceCom: Rocket Lab launches its 1st mission of 2026, sending 2 satellites to orbit.
Space News: Rocket Lab launches first satellites for Open Cosmos constellation.
Space News: Open Cosmos advances broadband plans with spectrum once held by Rivada.
Payload: Open Cosmos Launches First Telecom Sats.

Via Satellite:Open Cosmos Awarded Liechtenstein Spectrum Filings for LEO Broadband Constellation.

Filmpjes: 
RocketLab: Rocket Lab - 'The Cosmos Will See You Now' Launch.
SciNews: Electron launches two Open Cosmos satellites.

22.01.2026 – New Shepard lanceert 6 ruimtetoeristen – NS-38.
Blue Origin: Blue Origin Completes 38th New Shepard Flight to Space.
SpaceCom: Blue Origin launches 6 space tourists to the final frontier after last-minute crew swap.
Space News: Blue Origin flies first New Shepard mission of 2026.

Filmpjes:
Blue Origin: Replay: New Shepard Mission NS-38 Webcast.
Blue Origin: New Shepard Mission NS-38: Apogee.
Blue Origin: The Journey of NS-38.
SciNews: Blue Origin NS-38 New Shepard launch and landing.

Nog enkele vorige lanceringen.

22.12.2025 – Japanse HIII - Mislukte lancering van Michibiki 5.
Scott Manley (filmpje): OOPS! Japanese Rocket Drops Satellite Before Reaching Orbit.… .

12.01.2026 – De mislukte PSVL-C62 lancering.
The Space Review: The PSLV-C62 failure marks a setback for India’s space ambitions.

Raketnieuws.

22.01.2026 – Test voor SLS RS-25.
NASA: NASA Conducts Hot Fire of RS-25 Engine.
SciNews (filmpje): SLS RS-25 Engine Test, 22 January 2026.

Pech voor RocketLab en Neutron.
RocketLab: Rocket Lab Neutron Test Update.

The Register: Rocket Lab's Neutron schedule under pressure after unexpected tank rupture.
Space News: Rocket Lab suffers Neutron testing setback.
SpaceCom: Rocket Lab's new Neutron rocket suffers fuel tank rupture during test.

Eind februari – Derde New Glenn lancering met de booster van de tweede.
Blue Origin: New Glenn-3 to Launch AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird Satellite.
Ars Technica: Blue Origin makes impressive strides with reuse—next launch will refly booster.
Space News: Blue Origin to reuse New Glenn booster on next launch.

Vega-C – Nieuws.
European Spaceflight: Avio to Launch Four Earth Observation Satellites for Taiwan.

Franse Latitude mikt nog dit jaar op eerste lancering.
NSF: French startup Latitude targets 2026 for first launch while following market-driven approach.

ESA’s Flight Ticket Initiative – RFA One.
ESA: Flight ticket initiative: more tickets booked, flying with RFA One.
European Spaceflight: RFA Awarded ESA Flight Ticket Initiative Launch Contracts.

Wordt Britse Orbex – met de raket Prime - verkocht aan The Exploration Company.
European Spaceflight: The Exploration Company in Talks to Buy UK Rocket Builder Orbex.
Space News: The Exploration Company in talks to acquire Orbex.

Terran R – Nieuws.
Relativity Space (filmpje): Terran R December 2025 Program Update.

RocketLab over HASTE.
RocketLab (filmpje): HASTE | Fast, Frequent, and Cost Effective Test Launc.

Het Chinese iSpace bouwt aan zijn fabriek voor herbruikbare raketten – Hyperbola 3.
PanDaily: iSpace Reusable Rocket Manufacturing Base in Chengdu to Complete by End of 2026.

Toerisme – Chinese InsterllOr test Transcender-1.
China in Space: Test Tourism Space Capsule Conducts First Drop Evaluations.

Australische Gilmour Space haalt extra geld op.
Gilmour Space: Gilmour Space secures major Australian investment to scale sovereign space capability.
Australian Space Agency: Gilmour secures $217 million in private investment.
NRFC: NRFC to invest $75 million in Gilmour Space Technologies to help advance Australia’s sovereign space capability.
Space News: Gilmour Space raises $146 million.

Bemande ruimtevaart / Ruimtestations.

Suni Williams verlaat NASA.
NASA: NASA Astronaut Suni Williams Retires. 

SpaceCom: Record-setting astronaut Suni Williams retires from NASA after 27 years.

The Times of India: NASA astronaut Sunita Williams retires after 27 years; inside her journey from education to record-breaking spacewalks.
The Times of India: Sunita Williams in Delhi: NASA astronaut call being in India ‘homecoming’; shares life lessons from ISS.
The Times of India: Quote of the day by Sunita Williams: “I hope the foundation we set has made these bold steps a little easier. I am super exited for …”.
The Times of India: NASA astronaut Suni Williams retires after 27 years: What she earned, her pension, and post-retirement benefits. explained.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/nasa-astronaut-suni-williams-retires-after-27-...

Crew 11 – Na de vlucht.
NASA: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11: Science in Orbit.

SpaceCom: 'We can handle any kind of difficult situation': Crew-11 astronauts say 1st medical evacuation from ISS had a silver lining.
Space Policy Online: Crew-11 Enthusiastic Despite Early Return.
PhysOrg: Space station crew credits ultrasound machine for handling in-orbit health crisis.

SpaceCom: What the first medical evacuation from the International Space Station tells us about healthcare in space.

Filmpjes:
NASA: NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 Post-Flight News Conference (Jan. 21, 2026).
NASA: NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Return to Ellington Field.

ISS – De blogentries.
ISS Blog: Expedition 74 Spends Tuesday on Microbiology, Lab Maintenance.
ISS Blog: Sound and Hearing Studies, Earth Observations Fill Science Schedule.
ISS Blog: Biomedical Science and Hardware Top Thursday’s Schedule.
ISS Blog: Crew Studies Cardiac Research, Artificial Intelligence as Dragon Boosts Station’s Orbit.

ISS – Meer nieuws uit het ruimtestation.
TASS: ISS crew did not evacuate after powerful solar flare — Roscosmos.
TASS: Russian cosmonauts send Student Day greetings from ISS, tout 'great science'.

ESA: Revolutionising astronaut fitness for deep space missions.

Filmpje:
NASA: NASA Astronaut Discusses Life In Space With Columbia Space Initiative – Friday, January 23, 2026.

Commerciële ruimtestations – Haven 1 eerst in 2027.
Payload: Vast Delays Haven-1 Launch to 2027.
Ars Technica: The first commercial space station, Haven-1, is now undergoing assembly for launch.
Space News: Former astronaut joins Vast as Haven-1 moves into integration.

Shenzhou 20 capsule komt (onbemand) veilig en wel terug naar de Aarde.
ECNS: Shenzhou-20 spacecraft returns safely to Earth.
ECNS (foto’s): Return capsule of Shenzhou-20 spaceship safely lands on Earth.
China in Space: Uncrewed Shenzhou-20 Spacecraft Returns to Earth Following Debris Damage.
Inside Outer Space: China’s Damaged Shenzhou-20 Capsule Recovered.
Space Policy Online: Repaired Shenzhou-20 Returns to Earth Empty (d.w.z. zonder mensen aan boord).
SpaceCom: Chinese capsule damaged by space-junk strike returns to Earth.
Space News: Damaged Shenzhou-20 spacecraft survives reentry, Shenzhou-23 arrives at spaceport.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: China's Shenzhou-20 Return Capsule Touches down on Earth.
CCTV: Shenzhou-20's Return Marks Milestone Moment in China's Space Emergency Response Capabilities.
CGTN: Retired extravehicular spacesuit returns to Earth aboard Shenzhou-20.
CGTN: Shenzhou-20 spaceship provides valuable data for future missions: expert.
SciNews: Shenzhou-20 capsule has landed.

Shenzhou 20 – De ervaring van de astronauten die noodgedwongen met een andere capsule moesten terugkeren.
China in Space: Shenzhou-20 Crew Respond to Questions on Space Debris Strike, 204-Day Mission Onboard Tiangong.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: Shenzhou-20 Astronauts Recount Calm Response to Spacecraft Window Crack.

Nieuws uit het Chinese ruimtestation – CSS.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: Shenzhou-21 Crew Continues with Science Experiments, Life in Orbit.

Naar de Maan (en Mars).

Artemis 2 – 17.01.2026 – SLS rollout – Van VAB naar LC39B.
NASA: NASA’s Artemis II Rocket and Spacecraft Make Their Way to Launch Pad.

Ars Technica: The fastest human spaceflight mission in history crawls closer to liftoff.
SpaceCom: NASA's Artemis 2 moon rocket is on the launch pad. What's next?.

Filmpjes:
SciNews: Artemis II SLS rollout.
Lockheed Martin: Artemis II Arrives at the Launchpad.
Philip Sloss: Getting Ready for Artemis II: On the pad, preparing for crucial tanking test.

En mijn eigen bijdrage (alsook onze excuses dat er in het begin iets fout liep met het geluid).
Volkssterrenwacht Urania: Artemis II Journaal – Van VAB naar LC39B.

Artemis 2 – 23.01.2026 – Astronauten in quarantaine.
NASA: Artemis II Crew Enters Quarantine Ahead of Journey Around Moon.

Filmpje:
CSA: Why astronauts quarantine before launch.

Artemis 2 – Meer nieuws.
NASA: Launch Pad Preparations Progress Ahead of Artemis II Wet Dress Rehearsal.

NASA: NASA’s Artemis II Mission to Fly Legacy Keepsakes with Astronaut Crew.
Collect Space: From earth (soil) to the moon (flag): NASA to fly artifacts on Artemis II.
Ars Technica: All sorts of interesting flags and artifacts will fly to the Moon on Artemis II.
Collect Space: Artemis II crew wears 'Freedom 250' patch for US semiquincentennial.

NASA: NASA Selects Participants to Track Artemis II Mission.
Mashable: Artemis 2 crew could be the first to ever lay eyes on these lunar areas.

SpaceCom: ISS astronaut spots Artemis 2 moon rocket on the launch pad from space.

NASA: NASA’s SLS Rocket: Secondary Payloads.

Space Scout: 20 Years of Planning, Effort Ready to Culminate in Return to the Moon.

Filmpjes:
Philip Sloss: Artemis II at the Pad: Closeout crew lead talks about getting the astronauts onboard before launch.

Naar de Maan en Mars.
Phys.Org: NASA head Isaacman tempers Artemis praise with ideas on the program's future.
Universe Today: Electric Shocks Could Enforce a Lunar Speed Limit.

Filmpje:
Axiom Space: The AxEMU: A New Generation of Mobility.

ILRS – China naar de Maan.
Point or View (filmpje): BREAKING: China tests water deluge system for a lunar crewed landing mission pad at Wenchang.

Starship nieuws.
NSF: Florida Starship progress with launch sites at KSC and Cape.

Filmpjes:
Avid Space: How is SpaceX Preparing For Starship's 12th Flight?
NSF: "Build your own crane" | SpaceX Starbase.
NSF: Starship Flight 12 Nears | Pad 2, Pad 1 Rebuild, Florida Pads & Raptor Testing | Starship Update.
Avid Space: Ship 39.1 Test Tank Cryo #6.
Avid Space: B18.3 Tested To Failure.
WAI: SpaceX Starship Test Fails! What happened? Will This Delay Flight 12?
Marcus House: SpaceX's New Starship Hardware Test Already Dead!?

Op ontdekking door het zonnestelsel.

CLPS – Nieuwe wetenschappelijk onderzoek geselecteerd.
NASA: New NASA Artemis Payloads To Study Moon’s Terrain, Radiation, History.
PhysOrg: New NASA Artemis payloads to study moon's terrain, radiation, history.

Blue Moon – De Mk1 maanlander op weg naar Texas voor testen.
Spaceflight Now (filmpje): Blue Origin's Blue Moon Mk.1 Moon lander sets sail for Texas for prelaunch testing.

Meer ruimtevaartnieuws.

TeraWave – Nog een megasatellietconstellatie voor Jeff Bezos – Te lanceren vanaf eind 2027.
SpaceCom: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin plans to build 5,400-satellite megaconstellation.
Space News: Blue Origin plans bespoke high-speed Starlink rival.
Payload: Blue Origin To Build an Enterprise Satcom Network.
Ars Technica: Another Jeff Bezos company has announced plans to develop a megaconstellation.

Filmpje:
NSF Breaking Space: Has Blue Origin Created a Starlink Killer?

PWSA – Nieuws.
SpaceCom: US Space Force awards 1st-of-its-kind $52 million contract to deorbit its satellites.
Space News: Starfish Space wins SDA contract to deorbit satellites.
Payload: Starfish Wins SDA Deorbit-As-A-Service Contract.
Breaking Defense: SDA taps Starfish for first-of-its-kind satellite disposal service.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen