Main Engine Cut Off

NASA released an RFI for small scientific payloads bound for the lunar surface, meant to “address strategic knowledge gaps” associated with human missions to the Moon. I talk about how this could indicate a shift of the SLS/Orion roadmap, and how NASA may be focusing on lunar surface missions in order to build more political capital for the program of record. Lunar Commercial Cargo Lite - Main Engine Cut Off NASA signals interest in extending commercial spaceflight to the Moon | Ars Technica Lunar CATALYST | NASA Eric Berger on Twitter T+27: Financial vs. Political Capital and Mission Sustainability - Main Engine Cut Off Moon Village: humans and robots together on the Moon / DG's news and views / About Us / ESA T+20: Mike Johnson, Chief Designer at NanoRacks on NanoRacks’ History, NextSTEP, and Wet Workshops - 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

In light of the recent Schiaparelli lander failure, I discuss the differences between missions supported by financial and political capital, and how those differences will play out in the next era of space exploration. ExoMars completes crucial orbit insertion, hope lost for lander | NASASpaceFlight.com Schiaparelli descent data: decoding underway / ExoMars / Space Science / Our Activities / ESA mobile Arbitrary Spin and Damage Control - Main Engine Cut Off MRO image of Schiaparelli – after / 10 / 2016 / Images / ESA Multimedia / ESA Online Videos Main Engine Cut Off Weekly, Issue #1 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

I took a trip down to Wallops Island, Virginia this week for the launch of OA-5—the return to flight for Antares, sending Cygnus up to the ISS on a resupply mission. I recorded this episode on the long drive home afterwards, and talked about what Antares’ return means for Orbital ATK and what their future may hold—both good and bad. My video of the launch of OA-5, complete with incredible audio My photos of the launch of OA-5 Antares launches Cygnus on return-to-flight mission - SpaceNews.com Talking Space Gene J. Mikulka Aerojet Rocketdyne Makes Case for AR1 - Main Engine Cut Off Aerojet Rocketdyne Announces Expansion at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi - Main Engine Cut Off T+19: SpaceX’s Manifest, Flight-Proven Hardware, Blue Origin Updates, and Antares’ Engines - Main Engine Cut Off T+6: Orbital ATK’s Next-Gen Vehicle, Falcon 9 Proving Its Reusability, and ULA’s Tough Future - Main Engine Cut Off Video from Orbital ATK Featuring Cygnus-Derived Habitats - Main Engine Cut Off NASA Releases RFI for EM-2 Payload - 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

Gwynne Shotwell, President of SpaceX, spoke at two events and dropped some tidbits about the Falcon 9 investigation, future versions of the vehicle, and what kind of discount they would offer for “flight-proven” stages. I break down the new info, and discuss their reusability discount. SpaceX's Shotwell on Falcon 9 inquiry, discounts for reused rockets and Silicon Valley's test-and-fail ethos - SpaceNews.com Shotwell says SpaceX “homing in” on cause of Falcon 9 pad explosion - SpaceNews.com The SpaceX Discount 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

After a few busy weeks of Blue Origin and SpaceX news, I spend some time talking about ULA’s RapidLaunch program and how they are working to get competitive within the commercial market. WeMartians Podcast Episode 13: Making Humans Multiplanetary (feat. Anthony Colangelo) - Live Now! | WeMartians | Follow humanity's journey to Mars OA-5 Schedule and Coverage Plans - Main Engine Cut Off ULA Branding Their Emptying Manifest - Main Engine Cut Off ULA says it could accommodate additional Atlas 5 launch next year - SpaceNews.com BE-4 Test, Decision on Vulcan Could Slip to 2017 - Main Engine Cut Off ULA, Air Force agree on Vulcan rocket certification process - SpaceNews.com Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Subscribe on iTunes, Overcast, or elsewhere Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

Elon Musk took the stage at the IAC this week and unveiled SpaceX’s architecture for their planetary exploration and colonization plans. Jake from WeMartians and I discuss our initial reactions to and takeaways from the event. WeMartians | Follow humanity's journey to Mars Mars | SpaceX Making Humans a Multiplanetary Species - YouTube Full Presentation Slides (PDF) IAC - International Astronautical Congress | September 26th - 30th 2016 Guadalajara, Mexico Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

SpaceX is set to make an announcement next week at the IAC 2016 regarding their Mars colonization architecture. I talk about what we know, what I expect to see, and what I hope is included in their plans. IAC - International Astronautical Congress | September 26th - 30th 2016 Guadalajara, Mexico IAC 2016 ENG on Livestream WeMartians | Follow humanity's journey to Mars Inevitable SpaceX FUD - Main Engine Cut Off I am Elon Musk, CEO/CTO of a rocket company, AMA! Gwynne Shotwell at SmallSat: First Raptor Shipped to McGregor - Main Engine Cut Off t/Space Vision for Space Exploration Presentation (PDF, 6.9MB) Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

Blue Origin surprised us all by previewing their massive next rocket, New Glenn. I discuss the few details we know, how New Glenn could fit into the market, what questions need to be answered, and many other things to consider in the wake of the announcement. I also touch on some plans I’ve got to cover SpaceX’s upcoming Mars announcement in tandem with Jake from WeMartians. Blue Origin Previews New Glenn - Main Engine Cut Off Blue Origin Naming—Past, Present, Future - Main Engine Cut Off Blue Origin introduce the New Glenn orbital LV | NASASpaceFlight.com How Relevant is New Shepard to Orbital Launch? | Selenian Boondocks Details on Blue Origin Launch Site and Recovery - Main Engine Cut Off T+7: Bezos and Musk at Code Conference, and a Hard Look at Vulcan’s Economics - Main Engine Cut Off Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

Mike Johnson, Chief Designer at NanoRacks, joined me this week to talk about his incredibly interesting career in spaceflight, the past and future of NanoRacks, their NextSTEP proposal, and a handful of other topics. Mike Johnson | NanoRacks' Chief Technology Officer To boost commercial activity, NASA may add private airlock to ISS | Ars Technica NanoRacks To Catalyze Concepts for Deep Space Habitats NextSTEP Partners Develop Ground Prototypes to Expand our Knowledge of Deep Space Habitats T+17: NextSTEP Habitat Prototypes, and the Zombie Centaur - Main Engine Cut Off NextSTEP Pushes Forward to Ground Prototypes - Main Engine Cut Off Some More Details on NanoRacks’ Centaur Wet Workshop Concept - Main Engine Cut Off NASA Funds Plan to Turn Used Rocket Fuel Tanks Into Space Habitats - IEEE Spectrum Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

SpaceX has a busy manifest as they close out 2016, including SES-10 which will fly with a “flight-proven” first stage. A few bits of info have come out regarding Blue Origin’s future plans—including flying diverse payloads on New Shepard, and construction of their factory in Florda. Antares’ return-to-flight launch date is still a mystery, and I have a theory about its future engines. It’s Official: SpaceX Will Launch SES-10 With Reused Core - Main Engine Cut Off A Look at SpaceX’s Remaining 2016 Manifest - Main Engine Cut Off SpaceX successfully launches JCSat-16 satellite, faces crowded end-year manifest - SpaceNews.com SpaceX to Move Post-Recovery Operations to Port Canaveral - Main Engine Cut Off SpaceX Dragon 2 Parachute Drop Test - Main Engine Cut Off Blue Origin’s New Shepard as Generic Booster - Main Engine Cut Off Blue Origin's Sweet Spot: An Untapped Suborbital Market for Private Spaceflight Blue Origin Pours Concrete For Rocket Factory At Kennedy Space Center’s Exploration Park | Orbital ATK Conducts Test of Antares First Stage - Orbital ATK News Room Antares Hot Fire Test - May 31, 2016 - YouTube Orbital Sciences Orders RD-181 Engines for Antares Rocket Orbital Sues ULA, Seeks RD-180 Engines, $515 Million in Damages - SpaceNews.com Launch Schedule – Spaceflight Now Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon