Main Engine Cut Off

This month, I take on questions about small launch, future space ventures, and the Boeing/SLS saga/drama. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 34 executive producers—Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Jamison, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Jasper, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, David, Grant, Mike, David, Mints, Joonas, and eight anonymous—and 191 other supporters on Patreon. ISS schedule slips Dragon launch to May 19 - future manifest outlook - NASASpaceFlight.com Rocket Lab | Space is now open for business | Rocket Lab Virgin Orbit Firefly Aerospace Relativity Space Vega C - Arianespace Vector – A Revolution Is Upon Us, Opening Up The High Frontier To Innovators. And Vector Is Leading The Way. ABL Space Systems Rocket Lab selects Wallops Flight Facility for US launch site | Rocket Lab Episode T+87: Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 - Main Engine Cut Off ConsenSys Acquires Planetary Resources | Planetary Resources Deep Space Industries | Deep Space Industries Moon Express Signs Memorandum Of Understanding With The Canadian Space Agency - Moon Express NASA’s plasma rocket making progress toward a 100-hour firing | Ars Technica A shadowy op-ed campaign is now smearing SpaceX in space cities | Ars Technica NASA inspector general sharply criticizes SLS core stage development - SpaceNews.com Main Engine Cut Off is creating a podcast and blog about spaceflight and exploration. | Patreon Email your thoughts and comments to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Listen to MECO Headlines Join the Off-Nominal Discord Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhere Subscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off Newsletter Buy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off Shop Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

NASA released a request for information this week about cargo services to the Gateway—big news for the future of NASA and the Gateway. I break down the technical and non-technical bits of that announcement, as well as some updates on Space Force and the Soyuz situation. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 34 executive producers—Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Jamison, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Jasper, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, David, Grant, Mike, David, Mints, Joonas, and eight anonymous—and 189 other supporters on Patreon. DOD “Moving Out” on Space Force As Space Council Approves Six Recommendations to President - SpacePolicyOnline.com Bridenstine confident in Soyuz return to flight despite quality concerns - SpaceNews.com NASA Seeks Information for Gateway Cargo Delivery Services Gateway Logistics Services - Federal Business Opportunities: Opportunities Gateway Logistics Services - Main Engine Cut Off Eric Berger on Twitter: “Congress hasn’t made up its mind yet about the Deep Space Gateway—an interesting contrast to NASA, which speaks of it as a fait accompli. Blurb from Politico’s space newsletter this morning…” Starposts Email your thoughts and comments to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Listen to MECO Headlines Join the Off-Nominal Discord Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhere Subscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off Newsletter Buy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off Shop Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

I share some thoughts on the two rocket drama stories from last week: a brutal OIG report on Boeing’s work on SLS stages, and the Air Force selected three new launch vehicles to receive development funding. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 35 executive producers—Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Jamison, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Jasper, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Tyler, Joel, Jan, David, Grant, Mike, David, Mints, Joonas, and eight anonymous—and 186 other supporters on Patreon. NASA’s Management of the Space Launch System Stages Contract - NASA Office of Inspector General There’s a new report on SLS rocket management, and it’s pretty brutal | Ars Technica Air Force awards three Launch Service Agreements > U.S. Air Force U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Contract View Air Force funding three new rockets to compete with SpaceX but only intends to buy launch services from two providers - SpaceNews.com NGIS highlights advantages of their Air Force contract win with OmegA - NASASpaceFlight.com Email your thoughts and comments to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Listen to MECO Headlines Join the Off-Nominal Discord Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhere Subscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off Newsletter Buy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off Shop Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

Blue Origin and Harris announced an interesting partnership last week that’s worth discussing: Harris will be producing 5-meter fixed mesh reflector antennas that can only fit (for now) inside of New Glenn’s big fairing. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 35 executive producers—Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Jamison, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Jasper, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Tyler, Joel, Jan, David, Grant, Mike, David, Mints, Joonas, and eight anonymous—and 186 other supporters on Patreon. Blue Origin & Harris whitepaper on 5-meter antennas Email your thoughts and comments to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Listen to MECO Headlines Join the Off-Nominal Discord Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhere Subscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off Newsletter Buy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off Shop Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

This month, I take on questions about BE-4 and Vulcan, small launch, BFR, and human spaceflight. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 36 executive producers—Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Jamison, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Jasper, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Tyler, Joel, Jan, David, Grant, Barbara, Mike, David, Mints, Joonas, and eight anonymous—and 187 other supporters on Patreon. United Launch Alliance Building Rocket of the Future with Industry-Leading Strategic Partnerships EELV LSA Selection “Sometime in August” - Main Engine Cut Off U.K. selects Scottish spaceport site - SpaceNews.com Government Has Environmental Concerns About Nova Scotia Launch Site - Parabolic Arc Ursa Major Technologies OneWeb, treading water awaiting debt financing, now a source of industry concern - Space Intel Report BFR passing the Moon | Official SpaceX Photos | Flickr Gamma Radiation Protection and Radiation Shield | StemRad Commander Leads Japanese, Russian Spaceship Preps and BEAM Checks - Space Station Email your thoughts and comments to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Listen to MECO Headlines Join the Off-Nominal Discord Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhere Subscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off Newsletter Buy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off Shop Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

Some thoughts on the #dearMoon project, SpaceX’s announcement, and the essence of SpaceX’s strategy—bringing us along for the ride. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 36 executive producers—Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Jamison, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Jasper, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Tyler, Joel, Jan, David, Grant, Barbara, Mike, David, Mints, Joonas, and eight anonymous—and 186 other supporters on Patreon. #dearMoon First Private Passenger on Lunar BFR Mission - YouTube Email your thoughts and comments to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Listen to MECO Headlines Join the Off-Nominal Discord Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhere Subscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off Newsletter Buy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off Shop Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

Pat O. and I took a trip down to NASA Goddard to explore all that’s going on there. We talk a bit about our visit, what we saw and learned, and we talk with Brent Robertson, project manager of Restore-L, NASA’s satellite servicing mission. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 36 executive producers—Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Jamison, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Jasper, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Tyler, Joel, Jan, David, Grant, Barbara, Mike, David, Mints, Joonas, and eight anonymous—and 185 other supporters on Patreon. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center | NASA Global Precipitation Mission Near-Realtime Rainfall (Incredible rolling 7-day video of rainfall) Satellite Servicing Projects Division - Team Satellite Servicing Projects Division - Restore-L pat o. 🚀 (@spacepat_o) | Twitter Falcon Heavy Kerbal Camera Crew Reaction Vid - YouTube Email your thoughts and comments to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Listen to MECO Headlines Join the Off-Nominal Discord Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhere Subscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off Newsletter Buy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off Shop Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

Marcia Smith of Space Policy Online joins me to talk about the recent meetings of the NASA Advisory Council, the status of Commercial Crew, Space Force, and more space policy goodness. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 36 executive producers—Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Jamison, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Jasper, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Tyler, Joel, Jan, David, Grant, Barbara, Mike, David, Mints, Joonas, and eight anonymous—and 184 other supporters on Patreon. SpacePolicyOnline.com - Your first stop for news, information and analysis about civil, military and commercial space programs Marcia Smith (@SpcPlcyOnline) | Twitter SpacePolicyOnline.com | Facebook Gateway Gets Good Reviews from NAC Committees - SpacePolicyOnline.com NASA Announces Nine Commercial Crew Flight Assignments, More to Come from International Partners - SpacePolicyOnline.com Trump Continues to Talk Up Space Force As He Signs FY2019 NDAA - SpacePolicyOnline.com Email your thoughts and comments to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Listen to MECO Headlines Join the Off-Nominal Discord Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhere Subscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off Newsletter Buy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off Shop Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

The first official MECO Q&A! I answer questions from listeners about any and all things space—mostly. (PS: Start sending me your questions for September’s Q&A episode!) This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 36 executive producers—Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Jamison, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Jasper, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Tyler, Joel, Jan, David, Grant, Barbara, Mike, David, Mints, Joonas, and eight anonymous—and 183 other supporters on Patreon. The Adventures of SpaceShipTwo: Inverted Flight, Wonky Gyros & an Impatient Billionaire - Parabolic Arc Virgin Galactic’s Rocket Man | The New Yorker Exos Aerospace SARGE Whip - YouTube BETA 87A Vocal Microphone | Shure Americas Roland - Rubix24 | USB Audio Interface X2u XLR-to-USB Signal Adapter | Shure Americas MV88 iOS Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone | Shure Americas Rogue Amoeba | Audio Hijack: Record Any Audio on MacOS Ferrite Recording Studio: Ferrite Recording Studio — Wooji Juice Simplecast | Podcast Hosting & Metrics Made Easy Rescue Operations Take Shape for Commercial Crew Program Astronauts | NASA Email your thoughts and comments to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Listen to MECO Headlines Join the Off-Nominal Discord Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhere Subscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off Newsletter Buy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off Shop Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

Andrew Jones joins me to talk all things Chinese spaceflight—exploration, policy, industry, and more. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 37 executive producers—Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Jamison, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Jasper, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Tyler, Joel, Jan, David, Grant, Barbara, Stan, Mike, David, Mints, Joonas, and eight anonymous—and 182 other supporters on Patreon. Andrew Jones (@AJ_FI) | Twitter Andrew Jones | The Planetary Society Andrew Jones, Author at SpaceNews.com GBTIMES: Andrew Jones Landspace of China to launch first rocket in Q4 2018 - SpaceNews.com Chinese rocket maker OneSpace secures $44m in funding; Expace prepares for commercial launch - SpaceNews.com China's mission to the far side of the Moon will launch in December | The Planetary Society Email your thoughts and comments to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Listen to MECO Headlines Join the Off-Nominal Discord Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhere Subscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off Newsletter Buy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off Shop Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon