Main Engine Cut Off

Marcia Smith of SpacePolicyOnline.com saw a draft of the 2017 NASA Transition Authorization Act, and it contains some very interesting changes from the 2016 version that bounced around Congress last year. I discuss what some of these changes may mean in the light of Commercial Crew delays, NASA RFIs regarding SLS and Orion, and continued Russian reliability issues. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 4 executive producers—Pat O, Matt Giraitis, Jorge Perez, and one anonymous—and 28 other supporters on Patreon. The Intricate Dance of Orion, SLS, Commercial Crew, and Soyuz - Main Engine Cut Off What's Happening in Space Policy January 30 - February 3, 2017 Senate Floor Action on New NASA Authorization Act Could be Imminent As Russian Space Industry Tumbles, the Kremlin Steps In — Again — Parabolic Arc Doug Messier on the State of the Russian Space Industry - Main Engine Cut Off As Trump takes over, NASA considers alternatives to its Orion spacecraft | Ars Technica Issue #4 - Main Engine Cut Off Email your thoughts and comments to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, or elsewhere Subcribe to Main Engine Cut Off Weekly Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

Four members of the House of Representatives sent letters to DARPA and the Pentagon this week to file a complaint about a program in conflict with the 2010 National Space Policy. It’s a situation reminiscent of the debate over commercial use of retired ICBMs as low-cost launch vehicles, except this time, Orbital ATK is on the other side. I discuss the current issues and how their resolution may affect future policy decisions. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 4 executive producers—Pat O, Matt Giraitis, Jorge Perez, and one anonymous—and 28 other supporters on Patreon. Elon Musk on Twitter: “@gdoehne Expendable. Future flights will go on Falcon Heavy or the upgraded Falcon 9.” Issue #11 - Main Engine Cut Off Orbital ATK For and Against Government Subsidies - Main Engine Cut Off DARPA satellite-servicing project comes under congressional fire - SpaceNews.com Current debate on ICBM use a throwback to the 1990s - SpaceNews.com Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, or elsewhere Subcribe to Main Engine Cut Off Weekly Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

SpaceX is off to a strong start in 2017 with a very successful launch of Iridium-1 and a promising next few weeks. I also discuss the very interesting story developing between NASA, Boeing, and Russia regarding Soyuz flights to the ISS. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 3 executive producers—Pat O, Matt Giraitis, and one anonymous—and 26 other supporters on Patreon. Iridium-1 Hosted Webcast - YouTube John Insprucker on propellant loading - Iridium-1 Hosted Webcast - YouTube SpaceX’s Early 2017 Cadence - Main Engine Cut Off The NASA-Boeing-Soyuz Transaction - Main Engine Cut Off NASA considering Boeing offer for additional Soyuz seats - SpaceNews.com Boeing and Energia negotiating Sea Launch settlement - SpaceNews.com Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, or elsewhere Subcribe to Main Engine Cut Off Weekly Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

While we don’t yet have hard details on which direction NASA programs are headed during the Trump administration, we have started to get some hints. The leadership of the Congressional subcommittees that NASA depends on will be largely unchanged, and Boeing and SpaceX were each promised 4 more Commercial Crew flights. I also talk a little bit about how the Air Force One and F-35 situations apply to NASA programs. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 3 executive producers—@spacepat_o, Matt Giraitis, and one anonymous—and 26 other supporters on Patreon. Texas Remains Powerful Space Influence as House Appropriations, Senate Commerce Announce Subcommittee Chairs Culberson Promises NASA Resources It Needs Despite Tough Budget Year Mission Awards Secure Commercial Crew Transportation for Coming Years | NASA Results of Progress MS-04 Investigation - Main Engine Cut Off Progress MS-04 fails to reach orbit Aerojet Rocketdyne Announces Expansion at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi - Main Engine Cut Off Aerojet Rocketdyne Makes Case for AR1 - Main Engine Cut Off Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, or elsewhere Subcribe to Main Engine Cut Off Weekly Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

SpaceX wrapped up their investigation into the Amos-6 explosion, and the news is mixed. I discuss their findings, their path back to flight, and some other 2016-2017 odds and ends. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 3 executive producers—@spacepat_o, Matt Giraitis, and one anonymous—and 25 other supporters on Patreon. Anomaly Updates | SpaceX OneWeb gets $1.2 billion in SoftBank-led investment - SpaceNews.com Virgin Galactic ends 2016 with second SpaceShipTwo glide flight - SpaceNews.com Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, or elsewhere Subcribe to Main Engine Cut Off Weekly Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

Inmarsat, under regulatory pressure to get flying, decided to take a mid-2017 launch slot on Ariane 5, moving away from Falcon Heavy. Everyone thinks it’s a big deal, but for the wrong reason. And SpaceX’s Commercial Crew flights have been delayed, but we did find out that NASA’s Safety Technical Review Board approved their plan to load crew before fueling. That is a big deal. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 3 executive producers—@spacepat_o, Matt Giraitis, and one anonymous—and 25 other supporters on Patreon. Inmarsat Switches to Ariane 5 from Falcon Heavy - Main Engine Cut Off SpaceX Commercial Crew Delay and Propellant Loading - Main Engine Cut Off Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, or elsewhere Subcribe to Main Engine Cut Off Weekly Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

A Progress launch failed on its way to the ISS, so I discuss how this may affect the politics of the ISS and NASA going forward. And then I get into some thoughts on satellite servicing in general, and specifically surrounding Restore-L and Orbital ATK’s Mission Extension Vehicle. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 3 executive producers—@spacepat_o, Matt Giraitis, and one anonymous—and 25 other supporters on Patreon. Progress launch to space station fails - SpaceNews.com Progress MS-04 fails to reach orbit Stage III of the Soyuz rocket Issue #7 - Main Engine Cut Off SSL, Orbital ATK, and Satellite Servicing - Main Engine Cut Off NASA’s Restore-L contract nudges SSL closer to in-orbit servicing - SpaceNews.com NASA Awards Contract for Refueling Mission Spacecraft | NASA The Space Show, Mon, 10/31/2016 - 14:00 | General James B. Armor Mission Extension Services - Orbital ATK Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, or elsewhere Subcribe to Main Engine Cut Off Weekly Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

Tory Bruno took to the stage to announce RocketBuilder, their new way to market and sell Atlas V launch services. I discuss my initial thoughts about it and what the announcement means for ULA going forward in the commercial market. Initial Thoughts on RocketBuilder - Main Engine Cut Off Introducing RocketBuilder - YouTube Press Conference: ULA Unveils Website to Transform How Launch Services are Selected - YouTube T+24: ULA’s RapidLaunch and Commercial Market Competitiveness - Main Engine Cut Off ULA Branding Their Emptying Manifest - Main Engine Cut Off Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, or elsewhere Subcribe to Main Engine Cut Off Weekly Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

All signs point to SpaceX nearing a return-to-flight mission for Falcon 9. I discuss what to watch for in the months ahead, and read some email. SpaceX prime Falcon 9 rockets for December return | NASASpaceFlight.com With rockets on the move, SpaceX still aiming for 2016 return to flight | Ars Technica Matt Desch on Twitter: “A beautiful sight. Stage 1 arriving in California for our launch. Soon, very soon... Rainbow was a nice (and fitting) touch! #IridiumNEXT” Chris B - NSF on Twitter: “SpaceX ramping up to RTF. Falcon 9 S1 spotted en route to Vandy (Iridium NEXT). Next S1 and S2 (Echostar-23?) on the McGregor test stands.” Main Engine Cut Off Weekly, Issue #5 The Space Review: Enabling a Mars settlement strategy with the Hercules reusable Mars lander Space Shuttle Decision, 1965-1972, by T. A. Heppenheimer Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, or elsewhere Subcribe to Main Engine Cut Off Weekly Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

Following up on last show’s topic, there are signs that NASA may be moving away from Orion in the future. I discuss how I see NASA modernizing their exploration roadmap, politically, in the next administration. As Trump takes over, NASA considers alternatives to its Orion spacecraft | Ars Technica Alternative NASA Exploration Crew Vehicles - Main Engine Cut Off Issue #4 - Main Engine Cut Off Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, or elsewhere Subcribe to Main Engine Cut Off Weekly Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon