Een week met maar 2 lanceringen, het kan. Ook in 2026. Dat heeft deels te maken met het feit dat SpaceX minder Falcon 9’s gaat lanceren vanuit Florida. Maar stilaan begint de spanning in Starbase (Texas) toe te nemen. Dit weekend werden Booster en Ship op elkaar geplaatst, de eerste stack van een versie 3 van Starship. Met ten vroegste een lancering eind deze week, tijdens de nacht van vrijdag 15 op zaterdag 16 mei. Dat en nog veel meer in het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart.

Bij de foto: Booster 19 en Ship 39 werden op elkaar geplaatst, de eerste v3-stack voor Starship. Een (eerste) Wet Dress Rehearsal werd echter afgebroken. Foto:SpaceX.

Belgisch ruimtevaartnieuws.

Ruimtevaartpodcasts.
In Vlaanderen is de enige echte ruimtevaartpodcast de nog vrij jonge “RuimteRijk Podcast”. Zonet verscheen de “Actua April 2026” aflevering. Je vindt ze op hier op Spotify.
En er is de tweewekelijkese “Space Cowboys”. Je vindt ze eveneens op Spotify.
Er is de maandelijkse “Recente ontwikkelingen in het zonnestelsel” van de Nederlandse “Werkgroep maan en planeten”. De afleveringen vind je hier.
“SterrenStof” is ook een Nederlandse podcast, al gaat die ook vooral over sterrenkunde. De afleveringen vind je hier. Ze hadden net hun 60ste aflevering.

En zelf doe ik natuurlijk “ruimtevaartbabbels” en livestreams, op dit moment nog op een vrij onregelmatige basis via het youtube-kanaal van volksterrenwacht Urania.

De lanceringen van de afgelopen week.

03.05.2026 – SpaceX lanceert Zuidkoreaanse satelliet en 44 andere.
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launches South Korean Earth observation satellite, plus 44 more payloads on midnight Falcon 9 rideshare mission.
SpaceCom: SpaceX sends 45 satellites to orbit in nighttime launch from California.
Space News: Falcon 9 launches South Korean satellite and 45 rideshare payloads.
The Chosun Daily: Korea's Cha Middle 2 Satellite Launches on SpaceX Falcon 9.
NSF: SpaceX launches CAS500-2 and 45 other payloads to Sun-synchronous orbit.

SatNews: Foxconn Launches Second-Generation PEARL Satellites via SpaceX Falcon 9.
SatNews: GalaxEye Successfully Launches “Mission Drishti” OptoSAR Satellite.
Via Satellite: Lynk, EarthDaily, True Anomaly Launch Satellites on Weekend SpaceX Rideshare Mission.
Space News: Polish space company Eycore launches first SAR Earth observation satellite.

Ook een reeks Europese satellieten gingen mee, voor HEO/IRIDE, voor het Griekse bosbranden detectiesysteem en nog twee extra cubesats.
ESA: Launch boosts European Earth monitoring and connectivity.
SatNews: ESA spells out satellite benefits – and risks.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch the CAS500-2 mission to orbit.
SciNews: CAS500-2 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing.

06.05.2026 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten – Group 17-29 (VSFB).
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch 24 Starlink satellites to orbit from California.
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 385 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 6 May 2026.

Raketnieuws.

Minder Falcon 9 lanceringen.
Ars Technica: SpaceX is starting to move on from the world’s most successful rocket.
SatNews: SpaceX Accelerates Transition from Falcon 9 to Next-Generation Starship Fleet.

Veroorzaakt Starship schade aan huizen – rechtzaak gestart.
Space News: Lawsuit claims Starship launches damage homes.

AST SpaceMobile – Van New Glenn naar Falcon 9.
SatNews: AST SpaceMobile Pivots to SpaceX for Mid-June Launch of Three BlueBird Satellites

Firefly Aerospace wil lanceren vanaf zee m.b.v. Seagate.
Spaceflight Now: Lockheed Martin joins collaboration with Firefly Aerospace and Seagate for off-shore launches.

Firefly Aerospace wil Alpha Block 2 deze zomer voor het eerst lanceren.
Space News: Firefly plans late summer launch of first Alpha Block 2 rocket.
Space Daily: Firefly Targets Late Summer Launch for Alpha Block 2 as Lunar Lander Demand Surges.

Nieuws van RocketLab – Neutron-contract - Overname van Motiv Space.
Spaceflight Now: Rocket Lab announces five-launch Neutron deal as it continues aiming for late 2026 debut.
Space News: Rocket Lab announces large launch contract and plans to acquire space robotics company.

GovConWire: Rocket Lab to Acquire Motiv Space Systems to Expand Space Robotics, Satellite Component Capabilities.
Payload: Rocket Lab To Acquire Motiv Space Systems.

Nieuwe baas voor lanceerbasis KSC en Wallops.
NASA: NASA Kennedy Center Director Announces Plans to Retire
Florida Today: NASA's Kennedy Space Center director retires on heels of Artemis II success.

Space Policy Online: Brian Hughes Returns to NASA in Charge of Kennedy and Wallops Launch Operations.

Virgin Galactic vliegt nog dit jaar opnieuw.
Space News: Virgin Galactic expects commercial suborbital flights to resume late this year.
Ars Technica: Virgin Galactic reveals new ship, but it’s running out of time and cash.
Aviation Week: Virgin Galactic Set For Delta-Class SpaceShip Ground Testing.

Filmpjes:
20.03 - Virgin Galactic: Galactic 10: Latest Virgin Galactic Milestones.
Virgin Galactic (episode 11): We Build SpaceShips: The Wing.
Virgin Galactic (episode 12): We Build SpaceShips: Feather Pt. 2.
Virgin Galactic (episode 13): We Build SpaceShips: Fuselage Pt. 2.
Virgin Galactic (episode 14): We Build SpaceShips: Taking Shape.

Starfighters en hun air-launched raket.
Space News: Starfighters hires Blue Origin veterans to accelerate air-launch platform.

Europa en zijn raketten.
EuroSpace: Eurospace Position Paper “From pad to orbit: the need to sustain independent European access to space”.
Het rapport kan je hier downloaden (PDF).

Harmony van VegaC naar Ariane 6.
European Spaceflight: ESA Considers Shifting Harmony from Vega C to Ariane 6.

Over het einde van het Britse Orbex.
The Northern Times: Orbex collapse confirmed in Companies House filing as Sutherland Spaceport site remains key asset.

China wil niet-Chinese satellieten lanceren.
China in Space:China Opens Dozens of Rocket Launches to International Satellites.

Even de tel kwijt – Nog een Chinese raket – Xuanniao.
Space News: China’s Nayuta Space raises fresh funding for aerodynamic-recovery rocket.
China In Space: Nayuta Space Is Actually Building Bellyflopping Rocket Boosters.

In afwachting van een eerste lancering verzamelt het Indische Skyroot extra geld.
Space News: Skyroot raises $60 million ahead of first orbital launch attempt.

Bemande ruimtevaart / Ruimtestations.

ISS – De blogentries.
ISS Blog: Crew Works Advanced Radio Frequency, Quantum Physics, and Health Tech.
ISS Blog: Crew Works Health, Spacesuits, and Cargo Mission Preps on Tuesday.
ISS Blog: Lab Hardware, Life Support Gear, and Human Research Fill Crew’s Day.
ISS Blog: DNA-Inspired Treatments, Space Agriculture Top Crew’s Research Schedule.
ISS Blog: DNA-Inspired Cancer Research; Vision, Heart, and Psychology Tests Wrap Up Week.

ISS – Meer nieuws uit het ruimtestation.
SpaceCom: 'It was quite a light show!' NASA astronaut spies dramatic fireball from the International Space Station.
PhysOrg: Spaceflight leaves astronauts' joints unchanged after 18 days on ISS, early data suggest.

Filmpjes:
NASA: NASA Astronauts Discuss Life In Space With Scripps Oceanography At UC San Diego – May 6, 2026.
NASA: NASA Astronauts Discuss Life In Space With Connecticut Public Radio – Thursday, May 7, 2026.

Commerciële ruimtestations - Starlab.
Space News: Voyager ‘very optimistic’ about Starlab amid potential NASA changes.

CSS – Tianzhou 9 verlaat Tiangong, het Chinese ruimtestation.
ECNS: China's Tianzhou-9 cargo craft re-enters atmosphere.

Filmpje:
SciNews: Tianzhou-9 undocking.
CCTV (short): Tianzhou-9 Cargo Craft Re-Enters Atmosphere.

Nieuws uit het Chinese ruimtestation – CSS.
China in Space: Shenzhou-21 Crew Support Further Experiments With Mission Extension.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: Shenzhou-21 Crew Begins One-Month Extended Mission in Space.
CGTN: China's Tianzhou-9 cargo craft undocks from space station.
SciNews: Tianzhou-9 undocking.

Naar de Maan (en Mars).

Artemis Accords.
NASA: NASA Welcomes Malta as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory.
NASA: NASA Welcomes Ireland as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory.
NASA: NASA Welcomes Paraguay as 67th Artemis Accords Signatory.

Space News: Ireland and Malta sign the Artemis Accords.
Space News: Paraguay signs the Artemis Accords.

Artemis II.
SpaceCom: NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts saw flashes on the far side of the moon that cameras struggle to capture. Here's why scientists are excited.
SpaceCom: NASA's Artemis 2 commander and astrophotographer team up to capture breathtaking, never-before-seen shots of the moon's far side.

Collect Space: M&M's candies can now add the moon to its storied space history.

SpaceCom: NASA just released 12,000 photos from Artemis 2. Here are our top picks.
NASA Watch: Where Are Those 12,000 Artemis II Images?

SpaceCom: Artemis 2 moon launch brought nearly 350,000 people to Florida's Space Coast.

Filmpje:
CSA: As if you were there: Return to Earth with the Artemis II crew.
NASA: Houston we have a podcast: Artemis II: Backup Crew.

Artemis III.
SpaceCom: NASA wants to land astronauts on the moon in 2028. Will SpaceX's Starship or Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander be ready in time?
Space Up Close: Touring NASAs Pegasus Barge after Artemis III Core Stage Arrives at Kennedy Space Center: Photos.

Filmpje:
Philip Sloss: New Artemis III delayed to late 2027...can Artemis IV and V still fly in 2028?

Artemis – Maanpakken.
Aerospace America: Axiom readies for yearlong spacesuit qualification testing.

Artemis – Maanauto’s.
Payload: Payload Field Guide: Lunar Rovers.

Lunar Outpost – bouwer van LTV Eagle – verzamelt extra geld.
Space News: Lunar Outpost raises $30 million.
Payload: Lunar Outpost Closes $30M Series B, Unveils New Rover.

Artemis – Lunar Gateway.
Space News: MDA Space continues work on Gateway robotic arm.

Artemis – Een eerste maanbasis.
The Space Review: The Moonbase moment.

Space News: Redwire pursues opportunities in landers and power systems for NASA’s moon base plans.
NASA: New NASA Technology Mimics Extreme Cold of the Lunar Night.
NASA: NASA Fuel Cell Tests Pave Way for Energy Storage on Moon.

NASA: Industry Moon Lander Training Cabin Lands at NASA for Artemis.

Europa en de Maan (en Mars).
European Spaceflight: CNES Publishes Call for a Space Kitchen.

NASA en ISRU.
NASA: NASA Fosters Development of Lunar Resource-Seeking Technologies.
Space News: Interlune wins NASA contract for helium-3 extraction payload.
Space Daily: NASA Backs Interlune’s 2028 Bid to Mine Helium-3 From the Moon.
Satellite Pro ME:Interlune secures $6.9m NASA contract to advance lunar resource extraction.

Naar de Maan en Mars.
SpaceCom: Artemis astronauts may find remnants of a 'decapitated' asteroid's impact on the moon.
NASA: NASA’s Simulated Mars Mission Marks 200 Days Inside Habitat.
Universe Today: To Build a City on Mars, We Might Need to Plunder the Asteroid Belt.

Starship nieuws – Vlucht 12 ten vroegste tijdens de nacht van 12 op 13 mei.
NSF: Pad 1 conversion ongoing, with Flight 12 nearing.
SpaceCom: SpaceX just fired up its 33-engine Starship 'V3' Super Heavy rocket booster. When could it fly?
NSF: Booster 19 completes Static Fire as Ship 39 prepares for rollout.

Filmpjes:
NSF:  Ship 40 rolls out while Flight 12 prep continues | SpaceX Starbase.
NSF: Starship Flight 12 NET Date Revealed + New Trajectory Explained! | Starship Update.
NSF: SpaceX Pre-Launch Booster 19 Testing + Ship 39 Rollout.
SpaceX via X: Full duration and full thrust 33-engine static fire with Super Heavy V3.
NSF (shorts): SpaceX Fires New Booster for Longer Than Ever!
NSF: SpaceX Rolls Ship 39 to Pad 2 for full stack Flight 12 preps.
NSF (shorts): SpaceX Stacks TALLEST Rocket Ever Made.
NSF: SpaceX Scrubs Wet Dress Rehearsal of First V3 Starship.

Op ontdekking door het zonnestelsel.

Curiosity bevrijdt zich van een steen.
NASA: NASA’s Curiosity Rover Frees Its Drill From a Rock.
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Curiosity Blog, Sols 4879-4885: Struggle at Atacama.

Inside Outer Space: Curiosity Mars Rover: Struggle at Atacama.
SpaceCom: A 29-pound Mars rock held NASA's Curiosity rover hostage for 6 days.

Filmpje:
Video From Space: Mars rock gets stuck on Curiosity rover's drill - Takes 5 days to shake off.

Psyche krijgt Mars gravity assist op weg naar gelijknamige planetoïde.
NASA: NASA’s Psyche Mission Captures Mars During Gravity Assist Approach.

Filmpje:
NASA: Psyche Spacecraft Prepares for Mars Flyby.

Blue Origin en de Blue Moon Mk1.
NASA: Blue Origin Moon Lander Completes Testing at NASA Vacuum Chamber.
SpaceCom: Blue Origin tests 1st moon lander ahead of lunar launch later this year.

Een nieuwe generatie helicopters op Mars.
NASA: NASA Pushes Next-Gen Mars Helicopter Rotor Blades Past Mach 1.
NASA: NASA’s Next-Gen Mars Helicopter Rotors Are Moving Fast.

Ars Technica: Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab make a breakthrough in rotor technology.

Filmpje:
NASA: Testing the Next Generation of Mars Helicopter Rotor Blades.

Meer nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Aarde:
NASA: LAGEOS: An Earth Science Mission Built for Enduring Precision.
SpaceCom: Mexico City is sinking up to 14 inches per year, satellite images show.
SkyTruth: Satellite Imagery Reveals Scope of Last Week’s Oil Spill in Kuwait.

Maan:
Universe Today: Moon’s Formation In Many Ways Still Remains A Mystery.
China in Space: Chang'e 7's Long Route From Wenchang to the Moon's South Pole.

Mars:
SpaceCom: Here's what 6 years of driving on Mars did to the wheels on NASA's Curiosity rover.
NASA: NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover Surveys ‘Crocodile Bridge’.
European Spaceflight: ESA Completes Sterilisation of ExoMars Parachute.
ESA (filmpje): Baking a parachute for Mars.ù

Jupiter:
NASA: NASA’S Juno Misson Captures Jupiter Moon Thebe.
Science.org: Core of Solar System’s largest moon may still be forming.

Planetoïde Apophis:
ESA: ESA and JAXA team up on planetary defence, Ramses mission to asteroid Apophis.
PhysOrg: Asteroid Apophis will skim past Earth in 2029, and a new joint mission plans to watch every change.

Meer ruimtevaartnieuws.

Het redden van Swift.
Space News: Swift reboost mission completes environmental tests.
Spaceflight Now: Rescue mission for NASA’s $500 million space telescope passes key testing milestone.

Een artikeltje uit maart:
Ars Technica: A unique NASA satellite is falling out of orbit—this team is trying to rescue it.

Een ESA-studie over de voordelen van satellieten.
ESA: What would happen without satellite communications?

De studie zelf:
LondonEconomics: The Economic impact of a loss of satellite communications

Voormalige NASA Administrator Bridenstine verhuist naar Quantum Space. 
Space News: Quantum Space hires Bridenstine as CEO.
Payload: Bridenstine Takes Over as Quantum Space CEO.
SpaceCom: Former NASA chief Jim Bridenstine takes over as CEO of Quantum Space.
Ars Technica: Former NASA chief takes helm of national security space firm.

Cybersecurity in cislunar space.
Via Satellite: Cybersecurity in Space is Hard; In Cislunar Space, it’s Really Hard.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen