Blue Origin wijt de ontploffing van New Glenn aan een klep. Falcon 9 rakettrap crasht op de Maan maar veel lijkt er niet te zien zijn geweest. De redding van StarBoat (oftewel het drijvende Ship 40) lijkt niet geheel naar wens te gaan, een update over vier op komst zijnde maanlanders, het Europese IRIS2 en  … nog veel, veel meer ook deze keer in het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart.

Bij de foto: Een poging om het drijvende S40 te redden, is nog steeds aan de gang. Foto: SpaceX.

Belgisch ruimtevaartnieuws.

Een Belgische link met Griekse satellieten voor opsporen van bosbranden.
De Tijd: Satellieten met Belgische link spotten bosbrand zo klein als parkeerplek.

De lanceringen van de afgelopen week.

04.08.2026 – Chinese Lange Mars 8A lanceert SatNet LEO – Group 23.
China in Space: More GuoWang Satellites Deployed Aboard Improved Launch Vehicle [Long March 8A Y10].
ECNS: Chinese Long March-8A rocket launches new internet satellites.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: China Launches 23rd Group of Low-Earth-Orbit Internet Satellites.
SciNews: Long March-8A launches SatNet LEO Group 23.

04.08.2026 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten – Group 17-53 (VSFB).
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB.
SpaceCom: SpaceX launches Starlink satellites on 90th Falcon 9 flight of the yea.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch 24 Starlink satellites to orbit from California.
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 411 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 4 August 2026.

05.08.2026 – Chinese Jielong 3 lanceert OSE HS-01 en 02.
China in Space: Uzbek, Indonesian Satellites Launched and Made by China [Jielong-3 Y12].
ECNS: China's Smart Dragon-3 rocket launches 2 satellites (foto’s).

Filmpjes:
CGTN (shorts): China launches two hyperspectral satellites into orbit.
CCTV: China Sends 2 New Hyperspectral Satellites into Orbit from Sea.
SciNews: Smart Dragon-3 launches OSE HS-01 and 02.
CGTN (shorts): China's hyperspectral satellites to aid partners with farming, food security.

05.08.2026 – SpaceX lanceert 3 BlueBird-satellieten.
SpaceCom: SpaceX launches 3 giant BlueBird direct-to-cell satellites on Falcon 9 rocket (video).
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launches 3 AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch the AST_SpaceMobile BlueBird 11-13 mission to orbit.
SciNews: Falcon 9 launches BlueBird 11-13 and Falcon 9 first stage landing.

06.08.2026 – RocketLab/Electron lanceert “The Grain Goddess Provides”.
RocketLab: Rocket Lab Successfully Completes 92nd Electron Mission, 8th Launch for iQPS Earth-Imaging Constellation.
Space News: Rocket Lab launches 8th iQPS satellite.
SpaceCom: Rocket Lab launches Japanese Earth-observing satellite after 5-week delay (video, photos).

Filmpjes:
RocketLab: Rocket Lab - 'The Grain Goddess Provides' Launch.
SciNews: Electron launches QPS-SAR-13 “MIKURA-I”.

08.08.2026 – SpaceX lanceert Starlink-satellieten – Group 17-38 (VSFB).
SpaceCom: SpaceX launches 24 Starlink satellites to orbit from California (video).
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX West Coast launch surge continues with Starlink mission.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch 24 Starlink satellites to orbit from California.
SciNews: SpaceX Starlink 412 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 8 August 2026.

Te verwachten lanceringen.

30.08.2026 – De lancering van de Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
NASA: Roman Space Telescope Plaque Install.
L3Harris: Roman Space Telescope Will Survey a Century of Cosmos in Weeks: L3Harris Technology Makes It Possible.

Raketnieuws.

Ontploffing New Glenn veroorzaakt door klep.
Blue Origin: GS1-3 Hotfire Updates.
Space News: New Glenn explosion linked to rocket engine valve.
SpaceCom: Blue Origin traces origin of huge New Glenn rocket explosion to oxygen valve, CEO says.
Ars Technica: Blue Origin narrowing in on root cause of catastrophic rocket accident.
Spaceflight Now: Blue Origin identifies engine issue behind New Glenn explosion.

NSF: Blue Origin working engine resolutions and dual pad future.

ArianeGroup werkt mee aan New Glenn.
Europe in Space: Is ArianeGroup helping build New Glenn?

ArianeGroup – MaiaSpace mag blijven bestaan.
European Spaceflight: MaiaSpace Losses Required ArianeGroup to Decide on Company’s Future.

Geen ICARUS Upper Stage voor Ariane 6?
Space Scout: Ariane 6 Lightweight Upper Stage, Future Upgrades Cancelled.

Het is nog even wachten op eerste RFA-lancering vanuit Schotland.
SpaceCom: Rocket issue delays 1st orbital rocket launch from the UK.
BBC: Test rocket launch from Shetland spaceport put on hold.

Stratolaunch en de tiende Talon-A lancering.
Stratolaunch: Stratolaunch Achieves Major Milestone: 10+ Successful Hypersonic Flights with Reusable, Fully Autonomous Talon-A Aircraft.
SpaceCom: Double digits! Air-launched 'Talon A' hypersonic vehicle notches big flight milestone.

Relativity Space en Terran-R.
NSF: Relativity Space engine integration milestone for Terran-R first stage.

Kinetica-2 mag lanceren naar geostationaire baan.
China in Space: Kinetica-2 to Launch Commercial Geostationary Relay Satellites.

Onderhoudswerken op Vostochny voor Soyuz en Angara.
TASS: Soyuz-2 rocket complex prepared for launch campaign at Vostochny spaceport.

Bemande ruimtevaart / Ruimtestations.

De (onzekere) toekomst van Crew Dragon.
Space News: Future of Crew Dragon weighs on commercial spaceflight industry.

ISS – NASA en Roscosmos blijven ruimtevaarders “uitwisselen”.
Space News: NASA and Roscosmos continue seat barter agreement.

ISS – Crew 13 vertrekt half september.
SpaceCom: 'A very busy mission': SpaceX on track to launch 4 astronauts to the ISS on Sept. 12.
NSF: Crew-13 pilot reflects on career, training, and upcoming science ahead of flight to ISS – Luke Delaney.
Space Policy Online: SpaceX Replacing MRAPs with Cybertrucks Beginning with Crew-13.

Filmpje:
NASA: NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 Training Resource Reel.

ISS – Bemanning Soyuz MS-28 weer op Aarde.
NASA: NASA Astronaut Chris Williams Postflight News Conference (Aug. 4, 2026).

ISS – US EVA 63.
SpaceCom: 'One more step': NASA astronauts conduct 6.5-hour spacewalk to prep ISS for solar array upgrade.

Filmpje:
NASA: U.S. Spacewalk 96.

ISS – De blogentries.
ISS Blog: Spacewalk Preps, Health Research on Station as NASA Introduces SpaceX Crew-13.
ISS Blog: Thursday Spacewalk Preps Continue, Crew Installs Advanced Earth Imaging Gear.
ISS Blog: NASA Astronauts Ready for Thursday Spacewalk.
ISS Blog: Spacewalkers Prepare to Exit Station for Solar Array Mod Work.
ISS Blog: Spacewalk Begins for Solar Array Modifications.
ISS Blog: Astronauts Complete Spacewalk for Solar Array Modifications.
ISS Blog: Space Station Crew Wraps Busy Week, Plans New Date for US Spacewalk 97.

Meer nieuws uit het ISS.
European Spaceflight: ESA Astronaut Completes Third Test of EuroSuit Prototype Aboard ISS.
NASA: Advanced Mini-laboratories Automate Space Station Research.

The Conversation: Spaceflight could change how astronauts swallow, eat and drink in subtle ways.

Filmpjes:
ESA: The journey of Sophie Adenot's bonus food.

En nog een speciaal filmpje:
SEN: 4K ISS Spacecraft Compilation – Dragon Dockings, Soyuz Arrivals & Incredible Spacecraft.

Commerciële ruimtestations.
Space News: Voyager seeks relaxed requirements in NASA commercial space station RFP.

Nieuws uit het Chinese ruimtestation – CSS.
China in Space: Shenzhou-23 Crew Manage Space-Grown Rice, Perform Fire Drill.
ECNS: Shenzhou-21 crew makes first public appearance after record 210-day mission.
China in Space: Shenzhou-21 Trio Reflect on 210-Day Space Mission, Emergency Protocols.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: Shenzhou-23 Crew Advances First Multi-generational Rice Cultivation in Orbit.
CCTV: Shenzhou-21 Astronauts Meet Press After Returning from Space.
CCTV: Shenzhou-21 Crew Share Insights on Historic Mission after Returning Home from Space Mission.

Gaganyaan – Nieuws.
Douglas Messier: ISRO Conducts Gaganyaan Parachute, Crew Module & Engine Tests.

Naar de Maan (en Mars).

Artemis III.
NASA: NASA Joins Artemis III Orion Modules; Rocket Hardware Update.
ESA Blog: Artemis III: crew module, meet service module.
NASA: Artemis III Orion Crew and Service Models Joined.

Filmpjes:
Philip Sloss: Artemis III Orion Crew and Service Modules mated for integrated testing.

Artemis – Lunar Gateway.
Spaceflight Now: NASA, Northrop Grumman repurpose Gateway elements for Moon Base demo missions.
SpaceQ: Canadian Space Agency confirms continuation of Canadarm3 space robotics program.
Space News: Northrop Grumman, Canadian Space Agency repurpose their Gateway projects.

Artemis – Moon Base.
Space News: Three companies building the tech to grow crops on the moon.
NASA: NASA’s Lunar Development and Test Facility Prepares Artemis Hardware for Moon.

Naar de Maan en Mars.
SpaceCom: CNN dives into how Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are backing NASA's race to the moon against China (exclusive clip).
SpaceCom: Mars dust is toxic. How will future astronauts deal with it?
NASA Podcast – small steps, giant leaps: Episode 179: Life Support Systems: From Space Station to Orion.
Douglas Messier: A Nuclear Powered Spacesuit to Keep Astronauts Warm.

SpaceCom: SpaceX serious about building factories on the moon: 'It’s going to happen,' Elon Musk says.

Rusland naar de Maan.
Space Daily: Russia has committed to a joint lunar power station with China by 2036. Its only attempt to land on the Moon since 1976 crashed into the lunar surface in 2023.

Starship – De redding van Ship 40 – In afwachting van Flight 14, de eerste orbitale vlucht (?).
NSF: While SpaceX recovers Ship 40, Ship 41 prepares for testing ahead of Flight 14.

Space News; SpaceX to begin Starship orbital flights.
Space Policy Online: Next Starship Will Deliver Operational V3 Starlinks to Orbit, Maybe Catch Ship.
Teslarati: SpaceX has solved Starship’s biggest challenge, Elon Musk says.

SpaceCom: 'Not looking good right now': Starship likely to be lost at sea 2 weeks after epic 13th test flight, Elon Musk says.

NolaNews: SpaceX is planning a rocket-launching spaceport in coastal Louisiana. Here are the plans.

Filmpje - Mijn kleine bijdrage:
Volksterrenwacht Urania: RB74 - Starship Flight 13.

Meer filmpjes:
NSF: SpaceX Tries to Save Ship 40 as Flight 14 Nears | Starship Update.
Engineering Today: Starship Flight 14 - SpaceX Is Attempting the Impossible.
WAI: SpaceX Posts Huge Starship Reveal! Flight 14 Launch Window!
Marcus House: Starship’s Journey Home Just Got a Lot Harder.
NSF: Launch Pads and Prep at Starbase (and Beyond) - Starship Summary.

Op ontdekking door het zonnestelsel.

NASA geeft update over vier Moon Base maanlanders.
NASA: NASA Provides Updates on Moon Base Cargo Landers, Tech Demonstrations.
Executiv Gov: NASA Details Progress on Four Moon Base Landers.

NASA: NASA Delivers Navigation System for Commercial Lunar Relay – NavCube3 – Altus1.

Aerospace America: After successful 2024 demo, NASA’s laser navigation tool approaches next flight – NDL – Griffin.

Filmpje:
NASA: NASA Moon Base: Lunar Landers (August 2026 Update).

05.08.2026 – Een afgedankte Falcon 9 crasht op de Maan.

Nog wat voorbeschouwingen:
SpaceCom: A SpaceX rocket will crash into the moon this week. Why is it on a collision course?
SpaceCom: A 9,000-pound SpaceX rocket will crash into the moon tonight. Will you be able to see it?
BBC: What will happen when a SpaceX rocket collides with the Moon?
NASA: NASA Will Attempt to Observe Rocket Part’s Lunar Impact.
arxiv: Predicted Ejecta Dynamics and Observability of the 2026 Falcon 9 Upper Stage Lunar Impact
arxiv: Observational planning for the 2026 August 5 Falcon 9 Upper Stage lunar impact.

Het gebeuren zelf:
Inside Outer Space: Rocket Stage Impact on the Moon: Update.
Inside Outer Space: Moon Impact of Rocket Stage Observed.
SpaceCom: A SpaceX rocket just crashed into the moon. Now, the race is on to get a look at the impact site.
Inside Outer Space: Moon Impact Site Imaged by Korea’s Danuri Lunar Orbiter.
De beelden afkomstig van Danuri vind je in dit filmpje.
SpaceWeather: SpaceX Moon Impact Observed.
In dit BlueSky bericht van ESO vind je waarnemingen met de VLT.

VRTNWS: Afgedankte SpaceX-raket van 4 ton slaat in op de maan met 8.700 kilometer per uur.
De Standaard: Maan heeft er wellicht een krater bij: verdwaalde trap van SpaceX-raket neergestort.
VRTNWS: Eerste beelden tonen de impact van de SpaceX-raket die gisteren insloeg op de maan.

En hier vind je alles wat samen:
Projectd Pluto: Upper stage impacting the moon on 2026 August 5.

Wat de toekomst betreft:
Space News: NASA, SpaceX studying how to prevent future upper stage lunar collisions.

Nog dit:
SpaceCom: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 wasn't the first rocket to crash into the moon. Here's a rundown.

Meer nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Ruimteweer:
NASA: NASA’s PUNCH Sharpens Solar Storm Forecasting in First Test.

Venus:
Douglas Messier: JPL Engineer Envisions Venus Rovers Lasting Years.

Aarde:
ESA: HydroGNSS data open for new insights into Earth’s water.
ESA: Smoke plume from Greek wildfires seen by Sentinel-3.
ESA: Europe’s forests losing more biomass since 2018.
ESA (filmpje): FLEX for revealing vegetation fluorescence.
TASS: Russia successfully launches Elektro-L weather satellite into operation.
ESA: Danube’s waters fall to record lows.
Ars Technica: Europe’s free satellite service just made it easier to track wildfires.

Maan:
SPJ: Mission Orbit Design for the First-Ever Lunar Far-Side Sample Return Mission – Chang’e 6.
CCTV (filmpje): China Unveils Refined Lunar Map, Empowering Future Moon Exploration.
Inside Outer Space: China Unveils Updated Moon Map.

Mars:
NASA: NASA’s Perseverance Rover Watches Earth Vanish Behind Martian Moon.
NASA (foto): NASA’s Perseverance Captures Phobos and Earth.
Ars Technica: The first self-driving vehicle on Mars has proven to be a smashing success.
ESA (filmpje): ExoMars stretches out its legs.
Space News: Lessons for the future of NASA Mars exploration from a 1970s mission.
NASA (filmpje): Testing a Flexible, Fabric-Based Radar Antenna for NASA’s SkyFall Mars Helicopters.
Inside Outer Space: SkyFall on Mars: Water-snooping Helicopters Spun Up.
NASA: NASA’s SkyFall Helicopters at Work (Artist’s Concept).
NASA: Antenna Testing for NASA’s SkyFall Mission.
SpaceCom: NASA's SkyFall Mars helicopters will wear tiny capes.
IEEE Spectrum: Old Rover Data Constructs a New Picture of Water on Mars The new analysis suggests water was far more abundant than previously expected.

Pluto:
Universe Today: Charon’s Mountains Reveal Moon Once Spun 10x Faster.

Planetoïden:
TASS: Astronomer assesses risks of destroying asteroid with nuclear bomb.

Planetoïdes Didymos en Dimorphos:
ESA: Your chance to run software in deep space on ESA's asteroid mission.

Aan de rand van het zonnestelsel:
The Register: Voyager 2 cheats the power budget for another year.

Meer ruimtevaartnieuws.

Problemen bij de redding van SWIFT.
SpaceCom: Engineers race to save stricken LINK rescue spacecraft before it's too late.

Blue Origin krijgt aanpassing REAL-contract.
REAL – Rocket Experimentation for Global Agile Logistics.
Space News: U.S. Air Force expands Blue Origin rocket cargo contract.
Payload: AFRL Adds $11.7M to Blue Origin’s Point-to-Point Cargo Contract.

Hughes bankroet – Chapter 11 bescherming – De “schuld” van Starlink.
Space News: Hughes files for bankruptcy after GEO business loses ground to Starlink.
Via Satellite: Hughes Files for Chapter 11 With Plan to Reorganize Around Enterprise, Defense Business.

SpaceX is meer “X” dan “Space” - Starlink de geldkoe – Starlink Mobile.
SpaceX: SpaceX Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results (pdf).
Payload: SpaceX Reports Q2 Earnings.
BBC: SpaceX shares sink after first earnings report reveals huge AI spending plans.
SpaceCom: SpaceX wants to launch next Starship this month (and catch it, too), Elon Musk says in 1st earnings call since historic IPO.
Ars Technica: SpaceX spooks investors with debut earnings report.
BBC: Cashing in on SpaceX: 'Every chance I get, I'll sell a little more'.
Teslarati: SpaceX reports beat in first earnings while minimizing losses.
Teslarati: Elon Musk sends second warning to SpaceX shorts ahead of first earnings.
The Verge: SpaceX is barely Space and mostly X.

Teslarati: SpaceX is coming for wireless giants with Starlink Mobile.
Via Satellite: SpaceX Outlines Starlink Mobile Plans in First Earnings Report.
Ars Technica: SpaceX claims Starlink Mobile will be better than AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.

De Tijd: SpaceX bijna operationeel winstgevend, explosie aan AI-investeringen.
De Standaard: Bij SpaceX liggen inkomsten hoger dan verwacht, maar beleggers hebben zo hun twijfels.

Rocketdyne splits af van L3Harris Technologies.
Space News: Rocketdyne reemerges as standalone space company.

Europa en de (militaire) ruimtevaart.
06.08 – Space News: How should Europe’s militaries respond to space threats.

Rusland en ASAT.
08.08 – Inside Outer Space: Russia’s Anti-Satellite Plan: Work in Progress?
Het FPRI-rapport “Russian Thinking About Anti-Satellite Warfare” vind je hier (PDF).

Space Force / Golden Dome / PWSA.
03.08 – GovConWire: K2 Space Hits $6.8B Valuation, Books Space Force Terminal Contract.
03.08 – Breaking Defense: K2 tapped to host Space Force satellite laser links tests.
04.08 – Space News: Military demand shapes market for satellite propulsion.
05.08 – Space News: Capella, Iceye and Umbra win NRO radar-data contracts.
05.08 – Breaking Defense: NRO issues 3 SAR satellite data providers ‘rigorous’ new contracts.
05.08 – Via Satellite: Space Force Awards Additional SB-AMTI Contracts, Including One To Rocket Lab.
05.08 – Breaking Defense: Space Force awards 3 firms $615M to track airborne targets – SB-AMTI.
06.08 – Payload: Rocket Lab Wins $397M Contract to Build and Launch Threat-Tracking ‘Flatellites’.
07.08 – Space News: U.S. Senate confirms Schiess to lead Space Force.
07.08 – Space News: Senate installs new chiefs for U.S. military space acquisition, spy satellites.

Canada en MILSATCOM – ESCP-P.
04.08 – Breaking Defense: Telesat wins $1.6B for Canadian Arctic MILSATCOM.

Constellaties – Het Europse IRIS2.
ESA: IRIS² reinforced and accelerated as implementation advances.
Het artikel in het Nederlands vind je hier.

EUSPA: Commission accelerates IRIS² deployment with enhanced security and expanded satellites network.

Op de website van SpaceRISE was er (nog) niet veel info te rapen.
De EU Space Policy website over IRIS2 vind je hier.
En nog eentje over IRIS2 vind je hier.
en een IRIS2 Factsheet (pdf) vind je hier.

Hispasat: Commission accelerates IRIS² deployment with enhanced security and expanded satellites network
Hispasat: HispaSat confirms its commitment to IRIS2 and will be the prime contractor for the ground segment, which exceeds 1.6 billion euros.
SES: Commission accelerates IRIS² deployment with enhanced security and expanded satellites network.
Eutelsat: Eutelsat to play central role in delivering Europe's IRIS² connectivity infrastructure.

Ook goed nieuws voor het Belgische Aerospacelab – Zie hun linkedin post.
De Tijd: Europa breidt satellietnetwerk uit met rol voor Belgisch Aerospacelab.

Space News: Europe increases size and cost of IRIS² constellation.
Reuters: Hispasat wins lead role in EU's €15.6 billion IRIS2 satellite network.
Via Satellite: SES, Eutelsat Complete RDV1 Milestone for Europe’s IRIS2 Sovereign Constellation Program.
European Spaceflight: IRIS2 Gets Green Light With More Money and More Satellites.

Nog dit:
31.07 – Space News: Spain commits up to $2.3 billion for national military communications for IRIS².

Constellaties – Xona krijgt spectrum voor zijn navigatiesatellieten.
Space News: Xona secures spectrum approval for satellite navigation network.
Via Satellite: Xona Gets Approval to Deploy Commercial Navigation Constellation.
Payload: Xona Clears Final Regulatory Hurdle for PNT Constellation.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen