Meer dan genoeg lanceringen, maar voor een keer geen Starlink-satellieten (maar genoeg andere voor een Chinese tegenhanger). En ja, ’t is nog een weekje langer wachten op Starship.  Ondertussen maakte SpaceX ook duidelijk dat ze over een 2 à 3 jaar gaan stoppen met Falcon 9 (paniek bij de klanten van rideshare missies). En dus ook met Crew Dragon. Een tweede kans voor Starliner? En wat met de toekomstige commerciële ruimtestation? Hoog tijd voor een Europese bemande capsule? Dat en nog veel meer in het Nieuws Uit De Ruimtevaart van deze week.

Bij de foto: De 30ste Vega-lancering bracht satellieten voor ESA in een baan om de Aarde. Foto: ESA-M. Pédoussaut

De lanceringen van de afgelopen week.

13.09.2026 – SpaceX lanceert O3b mPOWER 11,12 en 13 (CCSFS).
Boeing: Delivery of O3b mPOWER satellites set to complete constellation for high-speed service.
Boeing: Satellite constellation set to level up service.

Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launches 700th Falcon rocket, carries final 3 O3b mPOWER satellites to orbit for SES.
SpaceCom: SpaceX launches 3 telecom satellites to orbit on 700th Falcon mission of all time.

Teslarati: Why SpaceX is finishing another space-internet system that isn’t Starlink.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch the SES_Satellites O3b mPOWER mission to orbit.
SciNews: Falcon 9 launches SES O3b mPOWER 11-13 and Falcon 9 first stage landing.

15.09.2026 – Europese Vega C lanceert Sentinel-3C en FLEX.
20.08 – ESA: ESA’s photosynthesis satellite fuelled.
28.08 – ESA: Fuelling Sentinel-3C.
02.09 – ESA: FLEX and Sentinel-3C sealed within Vega-C fairing.
04.09 – ESA: How Sentinel-3 tracks climate change.
09.09 – ESA Infographic: Vega-C flight VV30 with FLEX and Sentinel-3C.
09.09 – ESA: Watch: FLEX and Sentinel-3C launch on Vega-C.
13.09 – NSF: Vega C set to launch the ESA Sentinel-3C and FLEX missions from Kourou.
14.09 – ESA: FLEX and Sentinel-3C ready for liftoff on Vega-C.
15.09 – ESA: FLEX and Sentinel-3C launched.

Avio: Avio successfully launches Sentinel-3C and FLEX satellites with Vega-C.
De Avio launch kit vind je hier (PDF).

Spaceflight Now: Launch preview: Avio to launch spacecraft to monitor plant health and ocean conditions.
Spaceflight Now: Avio launches pair of climate monitoring European spacecraft to study plants, oceans and atmospheric changes.
SpaceCom: Vega C rocket launches 2 European Earth-observing satellites to orbit from South America.
European Spaceflight: Avio Launches Second Successful Vega C Flight of 2026.

De Standaard: Groen bedriegt, dus gaat satelliet fotosynthese rechtstreeks meten.

Filmpjes:
ESA: Meet FLEX.
ESA: How FLEX measures Earth’s secret glow from space.
ESA: ESA’s FLEX mission reveals the secret glow of plants.
ESA: Media briefing ahead of FLEX and Sentinel-3C launch (04.09.2026).
ESA: FLEX and Sentinel-3C launch (Official broadcast).
ESA: Launch of FLEX and Sentinel-3C on Vega-C.
ESA: Sentinel-3C and FLEX separate from Vega-C (animatie).
SciNews: Vega-C launches Sentinel-3C and FLEX.

15.09.2026 – Chinese ZhuQue 2E lanceert 10 satellieten – SpaceSail Polar Group 15.
China in Space: Qianfan Reaches Space via LandSpace Launch For First Time [Zhuque-2E Y7].
ECNS: China's Zhuque-2E rocket launches 10 satellites in one go.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: China's Zhuque-2e Rocket Launches 10 Satellites into Space.
SciNews: ZhuQue-2E launches SpaceSail Polar Orbit 19.
CCTV: China Completes First Large-Scale Networking Satellite Launch with Commercial Rocket.

15.09.2026 – Chinese Orienspace lanceert Gravity 1 met  9 satellieten – SpaceSail Polar Group 16.
China in Space: Sea Launch Deploys Operational, Testing Qianfan Satellites [Gravity-1 Y3].
Zie ook het China in Space: China’s Mega-Constellations Mega-Article.
PanDaily: LandSpace and Orienspace Dual Flights Batch-Network Qianfan Satellites.

Filmpjes:
CCTV: China's Gravity-1 Commercial Rocket Successfully Carries Nine Satellites into Orbit.
SciNews: Gravity-1 launches EUHT and 8 SpaceSail satellites.

16.09.2026 – Russische Progress 2.1b lanceert Progress MS-35 naar het ISS.
Oorspronkelijk was deze lancering voorzien voor 9 september maar een probleem met de derde trap zorgde voor een week uitstel.
TASS: New cargo spacecraft to be launched to ISS this week — Roscosmos CEO.
TASS: Soyuz-2.1b rocket carrying Progress MS-35 cargo spacecraft lifts off from Baikonur.
TASS: Progress MS-35 cargo spacecraft with equipment for Teledroid placed into orbit

NSF:Progress MS-35 poised to launch cargo to ISS from Kazakhstan.
SpaceCom: Russia launches Progress 96 with 3 tons of cargo to the space station

Filmpjes:
Roscosmos: Lancering Progress MS-35.
NASA: Progress 96 Cargo Ship Launch.
SciNews: Progress MS-35 launch.

17.09.2026 – Chinese Lange Mars 12 lanceert SatNet LEO Group 25.
China in Space: GuoWang Surpasses 200 Satellites Following Long March 12 Mission [Long March 12 Y9].
ECNS: China successfully launches the 25th internet satellite group.

Filmpjes:
SciNews: Long March-12 launches SatNet LEO Group 25.

17.09.2026 – SpaceX lanceert USSF-259 (VSFB).
Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launches national security payload for U.S. Space Force from Vandenberg.
SpaceCom: SpaceX launches 2nd classified mission for US Space Force in less than a week.

Filmpjes:
SpaceX via X: Watch Falcon 9 launch the USSF-259 mission from pad 4E in California.
SciNews: USSF-259 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing.

17.09.2026 – Chinese Kuaizhou 11 lanceert SpaceTY-51 & 52.
ECNS: China launches Tianyi-51, Tianyi-52 satellites aboard Kuaizhou-11.
Space News: China conducts four launches inside 48 hours as launch options diversify.

Filmpjes:
SciNews: Kuaizhou-11 launches Tianyi-51 and Tianyi-52.

17.09.2026 – Russische Soyuz 2.1b lanceert Glonass-.K.
Russian Space Web: Soyuz launches navigation satellite from Plesetsk.
Russian strategic nuclear forces: Launch of a Glonass satellite.
TASS: Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket successfully launched from Plesetsk spaceport — Defense Ministry.

Een filmpje van de lancering vind je hier.

Ondertussen zijn er nog 4 lanceringen gebeurd 19 en 20 september) maar die kwamen wat laat om nog opgenomen te worden in deze NUDR.

Te verwachten lanceringen.

28.09.2026 – Starship Flight 14.
Ondertussen liet SpaceX weten via dit twitter-bericht dat de lancering niet langer op 22.09 zou doorgaan maar op 28.09.
NSF: Ship 42 wraps chopsticks tests, Flight 14 moves to NET Sept. 22.
SpaceCom: SpaceX's next Starship launch will lift off on Sept. 22 and aim to reach orbit for 1st time.
Ars Technica: SpaceX declares Starship ready for orbit, sets launch date next week.
Space Policy Online: Starship to Attempt First Orbital Flight Next Week.
NSF: Starship’s upcoming missions: Waiting on Orbit, Building toward the Cape.

Filmpjes:
Marcus House: Starship’s Biggest Flight Yet Is Just Days Away!
NSF: Is Starship Flight 14 Only A Week Away? | Starship Update.
NSF: Will Starship Finally Go Orbital? - Starship Flight 14 - Countdown to Launch.
NSF: Test Flight or Operational Mission? - Starship Flight 14 - Countdown to Launch.
NSF: "So you caught a Starship... now what?" - Starbase Summary.

En de derde SpaceX-documentaire over Starship is net als de twee vorige een must-see.
SpaceX (filmpje): Starship - The Holy Grail of Rocketry.

Nog enkele vorige lanceringen.

03.04.2026 – De mislukte Tianlong 3 lancering.
China in Space: Debut Tianlong-3 Flight Failed Due to Propellant Leak, Low Altitude.

27.08.2026 – Ariane 6 lanceert MTG-I2.
ESA: MTG-I2 timelapse: from arrival at Europe’s Spaceport to launch.

Raketnieuws.

Meer interesse voor Europese Vega C omwille van naderend einde van Falcon 9 lanceringen.
European Spaceflight: Avio CEO Reports Influx of Customers Turned Away by SpaceX.

ISAR Aerospace en Spectrum klaar voor commerciële vluchten.
Space News: Isar Aerospace ready to begin commercial Spectrum launches.
Ars Technica: Some satellite companies still have an appetite for boutique launch services.

Payload: SEOPS Books Five Launches on Isar’s Spectrum Rocket.
Via Satellite: SEOPS Buys Five Launches from Isar Aerospace.

Het Franse Sirius Space test STAR-1 raketmotor.
European Spaceflight: Sirius Space Fires Complete STAR-1 Rocket Engine for the First Time.

Relativity Space en een Terran R Update.
Relativity Space (filmpje): Terran R August 2026 Program Update.

Blue Origin en New Glenn.
Spaceflight Now (filmpje): How Blue Origin recovers from launch pad disaster.

NASA’s StarBurst wordt met Falcon 9 gelanceerd – VADR.
NASA: NASA Awards Launch Services for StarBurst Gamma-Ray Detector.

Astra – Eerste lancering Rocket 4.0 in 2027.
Space News: Astra projecting early 2027 for the introduction of Rocket 4.0.

Cape Canaveral’s bescherming tegen drones.
Breaking Defense: Cape Canaveral is building up its counter-drone defenses, Space Force says.

Over Chinese raketten.
Scott Manley (filmpje): China Has More Rocket Designs Than Anyone Else.....

Bemande ruimtevaart / Ruimtestations.

Exit Crew Dragon. Welkom Starliner?
Ars Technica: After being sidelined, Boeing’s Starliner to get starring role in NASA’s spaceflight plans.
Reuters: NASA in talks for Boeing's Starliner to handle new missions, WSJ reports.

Ondertussen bestelt NASA drie extra Crew Dragon vluchten bij SpaceX.
NASA: NASA Awards SpaceX Three Crew Flights to Space Station.
Teslarati: NASA taps SpaceX for more astronaut missions as Boeing Starliner remains grounded.
Space News: NASA adds three ISS missions to SpaceX Crew Dragon contract.

Wanneer ontwikkelt Europea zijn eigen bemande capsule?
Douglas Messier Blog: Macron: No More Hitching Rides to Space.
Space News: Aschbacher upbeat about winning support for a European human spaceflight program.

ESA’s Sophie Adenot over EuroSuit.
SpaceCom: Europe's new spacesuit still needs work, French ISS astronaut says: 'We are at the very beginning of its journey'.

ISS – De blogentries.
ISS Blog: Research for Space Manufacturing, Crew Health Begins Week Aboard Station.
ISS Blog: Bioprinting, Space Manufacturing Top Research Schedule Aboard Station.
ISS Blog: Progress 96 Cargo Spacecraft Counts Down to Launch from Kazakhstan.
ISS Blog: Progress 96 Cargo Spacecraft Lifts off to Resupply Station on Saturday.
ISS Blog: Cargo Mission and Crew-13 Updates; Station Research, Maintenance Continue.
ISS Blog: Crew Works Soldering, Cardiac Research, Virtual Reality and Prepares for Cargo Mission.
ISS Blog: NASA, SpaceX Continue Crew‑13 Prep as Crew Enters Quarantine.
ISS Blog: Week Ends With Soldering, Lunar Simulations, and Cargo Mission Preps.
ISS Blog: Progress 96 Cargo Spacecraft Approaching Station for Docking.
ISS Blog: Progress 96 Cargo Spacecraft Docks to Station to Resupply Crew.

Meer nieuws uit het ISS.
SpaceCom: NASA astronaut Jessica Meir shares zero-G curly hair tips from the ISS.

NASA: NASA’s Integrated Medical Model (IMM).

Payload: Icarus Robotics Completes Parabolic Flight Test Ahead of ISS Mission – JOY.

Filmpjes:
NASA: NASA Astronauts Discuss Life in Space with NewsNation Now Live – Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

Nieuws uit het Chinese ruimtestation – CSS.

Filmpjes:
Hi China: Chinese astronaut demonstrates towel-wringing in Tiangong space class.
CCTV: China's Second Payload Specialist Eyes Further Space Experiments Months After Return - Zhang Hongzhang.
CCTV: China's Spacewalk Record Holder Reflects on Career, Missions as Astronaut.
CCTV: Engineer to Astronaut: Wu Fei on Little-Known Story Behind Shenzhou-20's Safe Return - Zhang Lu.

Naar de Maan (en Mars).

Artemis Accords.
NASA: NASA Welcomes Djibouti as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory.
Space News: Djibouti signs the Artemis Accords as the State Department unveils new space partnership program – SCP.

Artemis – Moon Base.
Astrum (filmpje): The Surprising Danger of Building a Human Colony on the Moon.

PhysOrg: No cities on the moon—there isn't enough water, scientists say.
SpaceCom: No cities on the moon — there isn't enough water, scientists say (op-ed).
Universe Today: Don't Get Your Hopes Up for a City on the Moon.

Naar de Maan en Mars.
MeriTalk: NASA Chief Outlines Accelerated Moon-to-Mars Strategy Amid New Space Race.
Space News: Isaacman says U.S. return to the moon carries national security stakes.
Air & Space Forces: NASA Boss: Race to Moon Has National Security Stakes.

NASA: New Crops, Health Research Proposals to Help NASA Advance Exploration.

Op ontdekking door het zonnestelsel.

De heisa rond het Mars Telecommunications Network.
Ars Technica: Rocket Lab is seeing red about NASA’s decision on a Mars spacecraft.
Zie ook vorige NUDR.

CLPS – De Griffin maanlander – Lancering in november.
Aerospace America: NASA expects one lunar launch this year, Moon Base manager says.
Space Explored: Griffin: The lunar lander helping shape NASA’s future on the Moon.

Hoe een treinvertraging 178 jaar geleden ons iets leerde over het ruimteweer.
PhysOrg: A 16-minute train delay shows how a solar storm disrupted Victorian technology.
SpaceCom: Space weather caused a 16-minute train delay in 1848: 'Our research has a hint of a detective story'.

Op 18 november bevindt Voyager 1 zich 1 lichtdag van de Aarde.
The Planetary Scoiety (shorts): Voyager 1 will reach a light day November 2026!

Meer nieuws uit de (inter)planetaire ruimte.

Ruimteweer:
Universe Today: CubeSat Instrument Extends Solar Storm Warnings 10x.

Zon:
Universe Today: To Understand The Solar Cycle, Notice How The Sun Sleeps.

Mercurius:
Universe Today: BepiColombo Makes Up-Close Measurement of Mercury's Solar Bombardment.
Universe Today: Mercury is Shrinking, But Faster Than Previously Thought.

Venus:
Universe Today: If Venus Had An Ancient Moon, It Was Doomed.

Aarde:
TerraWatch: Can a Global Earth Observation Accord Work, Even If It Is Not Global?
Payload: Kuva Space Spots Illegal Poppy Farms from Orbit.
ESA: Faster-flowing glaciers fuel decades of polar ice loss.
NASA: Summer Goes Out With a Heat Dome.

Maan:
ECNS: China donates Chang'e-6 lunar samples from Moon's far side to UN.
CCTV (filmpje): China Donates Sample from Far Side of Moon to UN in Vienna.
NASA: NASA’s Moon Orbiter Spots New, ‘Once-in-Century’ Moon Crater.
Sky & Telescope: Once-in-a-Century Impact Made a “Cold Spot” on the Moon.

Mars:
NASA Curiosity Status Report: Curiosity Blog, Sols 5002-5009: Tough Planning To Learn More About Wind-Blown Sediments.
NASA: Curiosity Postcard Celebrates Rover’s 5,000th Day on Mars.
ESA: Purple swirls on the Red Planet – Mars Express.
Inside Outer Space: Viking Search for Life on Mars – A Reanalysis.

Planetoïde Didymos/Dimorphos.
ESA (filmpje): Meet our Hera Space Companion.

3I/Atlas:
SpaceCom: Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS likely formed where its star's light couldn't touch it.

Meer ruimtevaartnieuws.

Brandstofoverschot zorgt voor verdubbeling levensduur Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope – First light voor WFI.
NASA Blog: Fuel Savings Double Potential Lifetime for NASA’s Roman Mission.
NASA Blog: NASA Activates Roman’s Primary Instrument, Checks Out Coronagraph.

Universe Today: From 10 to 22 years: The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's Mission Has Just Been Extended.
Ars Technica: The Roman telescope has enough gas for 22 years, double NASA’s expectations.
SpaceCom: 22 years of science! NASA's Roman Space Telescope doubles its lifetime with super-precise engine burn.
SpaceCom: Roman Space Telescope starts waking up as NASA powers on instruments for the 1st time.

ESA’s Spacce Environment Report 2026.
ESA: ESA Space Environment Report 2026.
Het 2026 rapport kan je hier downloaden (PDF).

Enkele grafieken:
ESA: Health Index – 2026 Space environment report.
ESA: Changing orbital landscape – 2026 Space environment report.
ESA: Payloads and objects - 2026 Space environment report.
ESA: Number of space debris objects.
ESA: Number of objects will skyrocket.
ESA: Collisions lead to collisions – 2026 Space environment report.
ESA: Reentry rate remains high.
ESA: Casualty risk on the ground – 2026 Space environment report.
ESA: The history of space debris creation.

Europa en opvolger van IRIS2 – Ook contract voor België.
European Spaceflight: ESA Awards €20M in Contracts to Study Future IRIS2 Services.
Zie ook deze Linkedin-post van EDGX over hun contract in kader van de IRIS² Low-LEO Pre-operational and De-risking Activities.

België doet mee met WGS – Wideband Global SATCOM.
14.09 – Space News: U.S. allies commit $302 million to complete funding for Space Force communications satellite.

Europa en de (militaire) ruimtevaart.
16.09 – Space News: Space threats prompt Europe to bolster domestic capabilities and strengthen alliances.
16.09 – Via Satellite: Space Security: How Can Europe Connect the Dots Better?
18.09 – Breaking Defense: France’s 2035 national security plan warns of increased conflict in sea, outer space.
18.09 – Breaking Defense: Europe’s space tracking program sees growing support, interest.
19.09 – Via Satellite: Iceye-led ARISE Consortium to Conduct Space Intelligence Architecture Study for ESA.

De oorlog in Oekraïne.
27.08 – Inside GNSS: GNSS Jamming Intensifies Along Poland’s Baltic Coast, Institute Reports.
09.09 – Militarnyi: Part of Russian Angara Rocket Engine Plant Burned Near Perm.
14.09 – The Space Review: An analysis of Ukraine’s missile strike on the Progress rocket factory.

Amerikaanse militairen hebben wapens in de ruimte.
Air & Space Forces: Meink Reveals Space Force Has ‘On-Orbit Space Control Weapons’.
Defense One: US military has ‘on-orbit’ space weapons, Air Force Secretary reveals.
Breaking Defense: Space Force has ‘space control weapons’ on orbit, Air Force secretary reveals.
Breaking Defense: Why the US is talking about space weapons now.

Space Policy Online: Meink: U.S. Has Orbiting Space Control Weapons.
Ars Technica: For the first time, the US military confirms it has deployed weapons in orbit.
SpaceCom: US Space Force says it operates weapons in orbit: 'Our aim is deterrence'.

TASS: Arms race in space can still be prevented, opportunity not yet missed — MFA.
TASS: US weapons in space to trigger political, technical reaction — Russian expert.

BBC: What weapon could the US have put into space?

De Standaard: VS hebben eigen “ruimtewapens” in gebruik genomen, China waarschuwt voor wapenwedloop in ruimte.
VRTNWS: Amerikaans leger bevestigt dat het wapens heeft in de ruimte.

Oorlog in cislunar space.
16.09 – Defense One: The Pentagon must prepare for battles around the moon: Joint Chiefs chair.
16.09 – SpaceCom: The battlefield now extends all the way to the moon, U.S. military's highest-ranking officer says.

Space Force / Golden Dome / PWSA.
12.09 – SpaceCom: Trump is proposing a US Space Academy — if created, it could blur the lines between NASA and the military (op-ed).
14.09 – Breaking Defense: Whither TraCSS? DoD, industry face hard choices in showdown over Commerce spacewatch effort.
15.09 – Space News: More satellites watch the battlefield, putting a premium on making sense of the data.
15.09 – USSF: Space Force growth prioritizes combat forces, space superiority.
16.09 – Breaking Defense: SPACECOM needs more capabilities to target space adversaries: Whiting.
16.09 – Air and Space Forces: Space Development Agency Aims for Two More Launches This Year – PWSA:
16.09 – Breaking Defense: Space Force’s GMTI program gets a name, with Northrop as prime – RRS-G.
16.09 – Air & Space Forces: How the Space Force Is Preparing for Its New Moving Target Missions – AMTI / GMTI.
18.09 – Air & Space Forces: Pentagon Picks 2 Companies for Reconnaissance Satellite Demo.
18.09 – Breaking Defense: Space Force to prototype new software to fuse commercial, military space tracking data.
18.09 – Space News: Space Force eyes mesh network of spy satellites in GEO – SG-XX.
18.09 – Space News: Northrop Grumman, True Anomaly to build military geostationary surveillance satellites – GHOST-R – RG-XX.
19.09 – Defense Industry Europe: Northrop Grumman to deliver GHOST-R satellite in 24 months to expand U.S. tracking of threats in geosynchronous orbit

Enkele documenten over recente systemen:
DOW: Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS).– PDF.
DOW: Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (Next-Gen OPIR GEO ) – PDF.
DOW: Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Polar Orbit (NextGen OPIR Polar) – PDF.

Opnieuw meer interesse in geostationaire satellieten.
Space News: Orders rebound amid signs of a GEO renaissance.

Veel lees- en kijkplezier,

Koen