Main Engine Cut Off

Andrew Jones returns to the show for the third time to talk about China’s current missions and future plans, including Chang’e-5, Tianwen-1, the Chinese Space Station, and the international politics surrounding it. And then we dig into the Chinese commercial market a bit—launch companies and remote sensing companies are raising a ton of money, but it’s not yet clear what effect that will have on the global market.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 36 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Simon, Lauren, Melissa, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Matt, and seven anonymous—and 460 other supporters.TopicsAndrew Jones (@AJ_FI) / TwitterAndrew Jones, SpaceNewsAndrew Jones, Space.comAndrew Jones, The Planetary SocietyChang’e-5 spacecraft prepare for historic lunar orbit rendezvous, sample relay - SpaceNewsChina recovers Chang’e-5 moon samples after complex 23-day mission - SpaceNewsChang’e-5 orbiter embarks on extended mission to Sun-Earth Lagrange point - SpaceNewsTianwen-1 launches for Mars, marking dawn of Chinese interplanetary exploration - SpaceNewsChina’s CASC targets more than 40 space launches in 2021 - SpaceNewsChina gears up for space station, cargo and crewed mission launches - SpaceNewsChinese reusable experimental spacecraft releases object before returning to Earth - SpaceNewsChina pushes ahead with super-heavy-lift Long March 9 - SpaceNewsChina’s Landspace raises $175 million for Zhuque-2 launch vehicles - SpaceNewsRemote sensing satellite firm completes huge funding round as Chinese space sector activity accelerates - SpaceNewsSpacety shares first images from small C-band SAR satellite - SpaceNewsThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOListen to MECO HeadlinesJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterBuy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off ShopMusic by Max Justus

NASA awarded Venture Class Launch Services contracts to Astra, Firefly, and Relativity. Astra almost made orbit with its most recent test flight of Rocket 3.2. And something is up at Firefly, but I don’t know what yet.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 35 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Simon, Lauren, Melissa, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Donald, Lee, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, and six anonymous—and 447 other supporters.TopicsNASA Awards Venture Class Launch Services Demonstration 2 Contract | NASANASA Awards Venture Class Launch Services Contracts | NASAAstra, Relativity, and Firefly Win NASA Venture Class Launch Services Contracts - Main Engine Cut OffVirgin Orbit on Twitter: “Our vehicles, hardware, and software are all ready to go. With two rehearsals already complete, one final wet dress rehearsal is all that remains for us to do. However, the Covid-19 pandemic is impacting our ability to safely operate, and thus our schedule.”Astra narrowly misses reaching orbit on second launch - SpaceNewsAstra’s smallsat launcher reaches space on second test flight – Spaceflight NowAstra on Twitter: “A quick video recap of our 8.5-minute flight to space today!”A Small-Rocket Maker Is Running a Different Kind of Space RaceAt Astra, failure is an option | Ars TechnicaMain Engine Cut Off on Twitter: “Something is up at @Firefly_Space, though. Max Polyakov and Mark Watt have been removed from Firefly’s about page within the last month or two. Here it is on the Wayback Machine from October…”About - Firefly AerospaceAbout - Firefly Aerospace (as of October, 2020)Savage Memes and Lunar Dreams: Deceptive Dating Sites' Intimate Ties to Firefly AerospaceThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOListen to MECO HeadlinesJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterBuy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off ShopMusic by Max Justus

Starship SN8 took flight last week on a mostly-successful mission to test its final descent phase. I share some thoughts on the test, the state of Starship development, and what that all means for the near future of Starship.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 36 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Simon, Lauren, Melissa, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, and seven anonymous—and 438 other supporters.TopicsOn the Spectacular Flight of Starship SN8 and the Future of Starship Development - Main Engine Cut OffStarship | SN8 | High-Altitude Flight Test - YouTubeSpaceX on Twitter: “Starship landing flip maneuver”September 2019 Starship Update - YouTubeU.S. Transportation Command to study use of SpaceX rockets to move cargo around the world - SpaceNewsEpisode T+149: Let’s Talk About Starship with Tim Dodd, the Everyday Astronaut - Main Engine Cut OffStarship SN5 Flew, So Let’s Check In on Some Predictions - Main Engine Cut OffSenate bill offers NASA only a fraction of requested lunar lander funding - SpaceNewsThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOListen to MECO HeadlinesJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterBuy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off ShopMusic by Max Justus

A lot of big, long-running projects have faced delays recently, and it seems like as good a time as any to check in and share some related thoughts. I cover a lot in this one: the Orion PDU issue, Ariane 6, Japan’s H3, Dream Chaser, Vulcan, and New Glenn.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 36 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Simon, Lauren, Melissa, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, and seven anonymous—and 434 other supporters.TopicsComponent failure in NASA’s deep-space crew capsule could take months to fix - The VergeUpdate on Orion Final Assembly and Transfer – ArtemisNew Artemis 1 schedule uncertainty as NASA EGS ready to continue SLS Booster stacking - NASASpaceFlight.comNASA ‘Go’ for Green Run Wet Dress Rehearsal – ArtemisAriane 6 Slips to 2022, Needs Another €230 Million - Main Engine Cut OffESA requests €230 million more for Ariane 6 as maiden flight slips to 2022 - SpaceNewsJapan’s new H3 launcher delayed by rocket engine component issues - SpaceNewsFirst Dream Chaser mission slips to 2022 - SpaceNewsULA: Dream Chaser schedule slip not a setback to Vulcan certification - SpaceNewsULA on Twitter: “Off to the pneumatic test facility! This time lapse really shows the size of the #VulcanCentaur booster stage as it was transported to pressure testing. The booster is 5.4 m (17.7 ft) in diameter compared to #AtlasV’s common core booster that is 3.8 m (12.5 ft).”World's largest launch pad takes shape at Cape CanaveralStephen Marr on Twitter: “You literally never know what you’ll see in port! This morning, I spotted something that looks an awful lot like a launch mount, with a hole in the middle that looks big enough for a New Glenn!”The ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOListen to MECO HeadlinesJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterBuy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off ShopMusic by Max Justus

SpaceX Crew-1 successfully launched and docked last week, kicking off a new era of the ISS. It’s a good time to zoom out and look at the ISS program overall, and what it means for the future of space development.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 36 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Simon, Lauren, Melissa, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, and seven anonymous—and 430 other supporters.TopicsCREW-1 MISSION - SpaceX - UpdatesNASA's SpaceX Crew-1 Mission | NASACrew-1 Mission | Launch - YouTubeCrew-1 Mission | Rendezvous and Docking - YouTubeNASA safety panel raises doubts about Starliner test flight schedule - SpaceNewsAxiom Space finalizing first commercial ISS mission - SpaceNewsNext-Generation Airlock Prepped for SpaceX CRS-21 Launch – Kennedy Space CenterFirst Dream Chaser mission slips to 2022 - SpaceNewsThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOListen to MECO HeadlinesJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterBuy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off ShopMusic by Max Justus

With a massive amount of news happening in the week following the election here in the US, it’s a good opportunity to give everyone a listen in on MECO Headlines. I run through all the stories of the week each and every weekend just like this for the supporters of MECO, so if you like what you hear, join the Headlines tier or higher!This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 37 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Simon, Lauren, Melissa, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Nadim, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, and seven anonymous—and 421 other supporters.TopicsU.S. Department of Defense > Contract (SpaceX NSSL fleet surveillance)Airbus, Raytheon protest Space Development Agency satellite contract awards - SpaceNewsBlue Canyon Technologies - Small Satellite Leader Blue Canyon Technologies To Be Acquired By Raytheon TechnologiesNew Propulsive Sherpa OTVs Coming in 2021 - SpaceflightArecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico is at risk of collapsingArecibo Radio Telescope: Warning of Structure Collapse (Updated)2020 NASA Announcement of Collaboration Opportunity (ACO) Selections | NASANorthrop Grumman Awarded Additional Cargo Resupply Missions to the International Space Station | Northrop GrummanILOA-IM Announce Agreement for 2021 Lunar Landing and Milky Way Galaxy Center ImagingSenate Appropriators Approve Far Less for HLS Than Needed to Meet 2024 Goal - SpacePolicyOnline.comBiden-Harris Transition Team Names Landing Party Members - SpacePolicyOnline.comVirgin Galactic executive to lead Australian Space Agency - SpaceNewsUkraine signs NASA Artemis Agreement to study Moon, Mars, comets, and asteroids - Ukraine signs agreement with NASA to study Moon, Mars, comets, and asteroids - 112.internationalChinese rocket firm Galactic Energy succeeds with first orbital launch, secures funding - SpaceNewsCeres-1 maiden launch - YouTubeIndian PSLV deploys 10 satellites in first launch since start of pandemic - Spaceflight NowLong March 3B lofts second Tiantong-1 spacecraft - NASASpaceFlight.comULA Atlas 5 launches National Reconnaissance Office satellite - SpaceNewsSatTrackCam Leiden (b)log: NROL-101: probably a HEO missionThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOListen to MECO HeadlinesJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterBuy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off ShopMusic by Max Justus

Last week, IAC 2020 brought a flurry of announcements and statements to digest. It’s a good time to check in on current and future lunar politics, with some statements by the ever-antagonistic Rogozin, seven countries signing onto the Artemis Accords, a handful of lunar development contracts announced, and the US election within sight.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 38 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Simon, Lauren, Melissa, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Nadim, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Adam, and seven anonymous—and 414 other supporters.TopicsRogozin Wants ISS Extension, Gateway Too U.S.-Centric - SpacePolicyOnline.comShared Standards are a Vital Part of Future Space Exploration - Administrator Jim BridenstineNASA Artemis AccordsEpisode T+158: Doug Loverro Resigns, and a Bit About the Artemis Accords - Main Engine Cut OffNASA, International Partners Advance Cooperation with Artemis Accords | NASAEight Countries Sign Artemis Accords - SpacePolicyOnline.comESA awards contracts for moon and Mars exploration - SpaceNewsChina’s Statement on Artemis Accords, via Andrew Jones on Twitter (@AJ_FI)NASA Announces Industry Partnerships to Advance Moon, Mars Technology | NASANASA Announces Partners to Advance 2020 ‘Tipping Point’ Technologies | NASANASA Selects Partner to Land Water-Measuring Payload on the Moon | NASADemocratic platform calls for continuity in NASA programs - SpaceNewsCurrent and former NASA leadership share credit for commercial crew - SpaceNewsThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOListen to MECO HeadlinesJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterBuy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off ShopMusic by Max Justus

The Space Development Agency has selected L3Harris and SpaceX to produce satellites for a missile warning constellation. I break down the details of the SDA project, the technical aspects, and what it means to see SpaceX enter the world of satellite manufacturing and sales.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 38 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Simon, Lauren, Melissa, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Nadim, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Adam, and seven anonymous—and 402 other supporters.TopicsL3Harris, SpaceX win Space Development Agency contracts to build missile-warning satellites - SpaceNewsSDA Awards Contracts for the First Generation of the Tracking Layer – Space Development AgencySDA RFP Seeks Industry Proposals for Launch Services – Space Development AgencySDA Tranche 0 Launch Services - beta.SAM.govLockheed Martin, York Space to produce 20 satellites for Space Development Agency - SpaceNewsGriffin’s departure stirs questions about the future of the Space Development Agency - SpaceNewsxkcd: StandardsThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOListen to MECO HeadlinesJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterBuy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off ShopMusic by Max Justus

I’m back after a few wonderful weeks offline with my newly-arrived son, Will! I figured I’d jump back in with a rundown of the important and notable bits of news that happened while I was gone.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 38 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Simon, Lauren, Melissa, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Nadim, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Adam, and seven anonymous—and 402 other supporters.TopicsMy son has arrived! Signing off for a few weeks. - Main Engine Cut OffMain Engine Cut Off on Twitter: “It’s Space Shirt Friday over in the @offnom Discord and I’m guessing @JimBridenstine will appreciate Will’s first participation in it.”Discovery of noxious gas on Venus could be a sign of life - The VergeWhat the future of Venus exploration could look like following major discovery - The VergeVenus is One Stop in Our Search for Life - Administrator Jim BridenstineRocket Lab Launches First In-house Designed & Built Photon Satellite | Rocket LabNASA signs agreement with Italy to cooperate on Artemis - SpaceNewsNASA Publishes Artemis Plan to Land First Woman, Next Man on Moon | NASABridenstine Optimistic About Full HLS Funding - SpacePolicyOnline.comSenate Hearing Offers No Hints on Prospect for Artemis Funding - SpacePolicyOnline.comAnother Senate Hearing, But Still No Clue on Likely Fate of Artemis Funding - SpacePolicyOnline.comSpace Resources are the Key to Safe and Sustainable Lunar Exploration - Administrator Jim BridenstinePurchase of Lunar Regolith and/or Rock Materials from Contractor - beta.SAM.govNASA Moon Rocket Stage Passes Simulated Countdown Test | NASAJim Bridenstine on Twitter: “More progress on @NASA_SLS Green Run Hot Fire! @NASA_Stennis teams completed the sixth test of the Green Run test series – the simulated countdown – on Sunday, validating the stage for the sequence of events leading up to an Artemis launch.”OneWeb secures additional financing as bankruptcy restructuring continues - SpaceNewsBankruptcy court approves OneWeb sale - SpaceNewsSpaceX wins launch contract for NASA space science mission - SpaceNewsAfter second hop, SpaceX preps for next phase of Starship testing - Spaceflight NowStarship SN8 prepares for test series - First sighting of Super Heavy - NASASpaceFlight.comSuper Heavy waiting in the wings amid Starship testing - NASASpaceFlight.comSpaceX on Twitter: “Completed a full duration test fire of the Raptor Vacuum engine at SpaceX’s rocket development facility in McGregor, Texas”SpaceX launches the first south-bound rocket from Florida in decades - The VergeEpisode T+167: Phillip Hargrove, NASA Launch Services Program - Main Engine Cut OffSpaceX to Fly to Polar Orbit from Florida - Main Engine Cut OffSoftware fix could position Astra for another launch attempt by end of year - Spaceflight NowVideo of Astra Flight 3 from Jennifer CultonRichard Branson’s Virgin Orbit is Seeking Investors - Parabolic ArcExoTerra to develop upper stage for Virgin Orbit LauncherOne - SpaceNewsThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOListen to MECO HeadlinesJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterBuy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off ShopMusic by Max Justus

There have been a ton of recent updates from commercial small launch companies, like increased payload mass and volume from Rocket Lab, contracts and funding from ABL, solved vibration issues from Virgin Orbit, and a few others. With a handful of vehicles on the verge of their first launch, it’s a good time to take a higher-level look at these competitors.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 39 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Simon, Lauren, Melissa, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Nadim, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Adam, and seven anonymous—and 399 other supporters.TopicsRocket Lab Increases Electron Payload Capacity, Enabling Interplanetary Missions and Reusability | Rocket LabABL Space Systems begins RS1 stage testing and reaches $90mm in fundingSmall launch startup ABL secures over $90 million in new funding and Air Force contracts - SpaceNewsWrapping Up Our First Launch Demo, and Looking Ahead to Launch Demo 2 | Virgin OrbitFirefly suffers anomaly during launch vehicle test - SpaceNewsFirefly Aerospace on Twitter: “Yesterday evening we attempted to hotfire test the Alpha first stage for the first time. Unfortunately, after the four Reaver engines ignited, an engine bay fire developed (flame jet to the left in video). The system immediately shut itself down and the fire was quickly…”Relativity wins Iridium contract, selects West Coast launch site - SpaceNewsThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOListen to MECO HeadlinesJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterBuy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off ShopMusic by Max Justus