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Dr. Robert Zubrin, President of The Mars Society, creator of Mars Direct, and author of The Case for Mars is on the show this week to discuss Mars exploration and colonization internationally, within NASA, and at SpaceX. The Mars Society The Case for Mars, by Robert Zubrin Mars Direct - 1st Public Presentation 5/28/1990 - YouTube Mars Society President Tours Russia | News & Announcements | The Mars Society To Mars! - Dr. Robert Zubrin - TEDx Moscow - YouTube Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

NASA selected six companies, as part of the NextSTEP program, to develop ground prototypes of deep space habitats, and the Centaur could live on as a wet workshop. Orbital ATK pushed OA-5 to late September. SpaceX landed yet another stage on the ASDS, and have up to 9 more launches planned for 2016. NextSTEP Pushes Forward to Ground Prototypes - Main Engine Cut Off NextSTEP Partners Develop Ground Prototypes to Expand our Knowledge of Deep Space Habitats OA-5 Slips to Late September - Main Engine Cut Off OA-5 Mission Page Gwynne Shotwell at SmallSat: First Raptor Shipped to McGregor - 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 Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

Moon Express gained government approval for their upcoming mission to win the Google Lunar X Prize. And I go on a rant about artificial gravity and how NASA shrugs it off as unnecessary. Moon Express wins U.S. government approval for lunar lander mission - SpaceNews.com NASA exploration focuses on Deep Space Hab systems and crew health | NASASpaceFlight.com Gerstenmaier Shrugs Off Artificial Gravity - Main Engine Cut Off Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

The roadmap for SLS got a little murkier this week thanks to some additional details in the GAO report regarding its cost and schedule. SpaceX test fired a landed core three times in three days last week, paving the way for reuse of the CRS-8 core. GAO Report Indicates EM-2 Plans to Fly Crew - Main Engine Cut Off U.S. GAO - NASA Human Space Exploration: Opportunity Nears to Reassess Launch Vehicle and Ground Systems Cost and Schedule NASA updates status and timetable of ambitious Asteroid Redirect Mission | NASASpaceFlight.com MSFC propose Aerojet Rocketdyne supply EUS engines | NASASpaceFlight.com Landed Falcon 9 First Stage Test Firing - YouTube SpaceX Conducts Full-Duration Static Fire of JCSAT-14 Core - Main Engine Cut Off SpaceX test fires returned Falcon 9 booster at McGregor | NASASpaceFlight.com Next Space Station Cargo Launch From Virginia Targeted for August | NASA Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

Before Mars and exploration-centric talk, I talk about Orbital ATK’s agreement for exclusive use of LMP-103S. Then I take a hard look at the post-EM-1 roadmap for SLS, and theorize some potential uses for SpaceX’s giant Mars-bound rocket—lovingly referred to as the Big F…alcon… Rocket (BFR). Orbital ATK and ECAPS Sign Agreement for Exclusive Use of LMP-103S - Main Engine Cut Off Orbital ATK News Room EM-1 Still on for Late 2018, SLS’ Second Flight Still A Mystery - Main Engine Cut Off First SLS mission on schedule for fall 2018 launch - SpaceNews.com Battle of the Heavyweight Rockets – SLS could face Exploration Class rival | NASASpaceFlight.com Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

SpaceX had a great night launching the CRS-9 mission, and it’s all good signs for their future. The Senate hearing, as I predicted, was focused on maintaining the status quo. US and Russian engineers and scientists have some ideas on the future of international space policy. Good Signs from SpaceX’s CRS-9 Success - Main Engine Cut Off Post-Launch Status of SpaceX Resupply Mission to the ISS - YouTube Elon Musk’s Post-Landing Tweet Senate committee seeks stability for NASA programs in next administration - SpaceNews.com Senate Committee Seeks Stability for NASA Programs in Next Administration - Main Engine Cut Off U.S. and Russian Scientists Are Making Plans to Go Back to the Moon Together US and Russia: Back to the Moon Together? - Main Engine Cut Off Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

Ted Cruz called a hearing on NASA’s space exploration policy in the next president’s administration. The president of France’s CNES discussed some policy statements, and I went on a rant about his thoughts on Ariane 6 and its competition. Cruz Calls Hearing on Future of Space Under New Administration - Main Engine Cut Off Cruz Calls Hearing on Future of Space Under New Administration - Press Releases - U.S. Senate Committee On Commerce, Science, & Transportation U.S. Senate Committee On Commerce, Science, & Transportation France’s CNES Backs Space Station, Hedges Bets on Reusable Rockets - Main Engine Cut Off France’s CNES backs space station, hedges bets on reusable rockets - SpaceNews.com Meet Adeline, Airbus’ Answer To SpaceX Reusability - SpaceNews.com Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

SpaceX printed a public notice in Florida Today on July 3rd outlining plans for LZ-1 expansion. Sierra Nevada Corporation and the United Nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding future use of Dream Chaser by UN member countries. China solidified partnerships with The Netherlands and Poland, continuing the growth of the China-ESA relationship. Public Notice of SpaceX’s LZ-1 Expansion Plans - Main Engine Cut Off Sierra Nevada Corporation Enters Talks with the Un... | Sierra Nevada Corporation | SNC SNC works with U.N. on global space program Dutch radio antenna to depart for the moon on Chinese mission Poland signs space partnership deal with China, eyes increased industry cooperation - SpaceNews.com Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

This week I talked to Logan Kamperschroer, a Graduate Research Assistant at the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. Logan’s research focuses on hypergolic rocket fuels—specifically the push to move away from the toxic storable propellants (hydrazine and its derivatives) to “greener” alternatives. We talked about the current state of storable propellants, and where things are going in the near future. Logan Kamperschroer Hypergolic Propellants Laboratory | Home SpaceX Pad Abort Test - YouTube LMP-103S: New Process for Production of High Purity ADN (PDF) AF-M315E: GPIM AF-M315E Propulsion System Sigma-Aldrich Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon

The ExoMars 2020 rover received a funding boost and a reassessed schedule, the 2016 orbiter/lander set its sights on Mars, NASA and ESA coordinated a practice communication session, and China opens up to the international space community. European Space Agency still backing Mars rover project - BBC News Mars Express chats with Curiosity: Practice makes perfect | Mars Express ESA - Robotic Exploration of Mars: ExoMars sets sights on the Red Planet China prepares assembly of its space station, invites collaboration through U.N. - SpaceNews.com Email feedback to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com Follow @WeHaveMECO Support Main Engine Cut Off on Patreon