Main Engine Cut Off

NASA selects teams for Artemis rovers, Japan joins with a pressurized rover, Mitsubishi invests in Starlab. Starship's 3rd flight milestones, rapid turnaround planned. Elon Musk's Mars vision discussed. International partnerships in space, lunar surface infrastructure, rover development, and Starship advancements explored.

Andrew Jones returns to the show to catch up on the Chinese space industry—Tiangong, reusable launchers, constellations, and the Moon.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 35 executive producers—Tyler, Jan, Will and Lars from Agile Space, Benjamin, Warren, Pat, Russell, Craig from SpaceHappyHour.com, Theo and Violet, SmallSpark Space Systems, Steve, Fred, Stealth Julian, Better Every Day Studios, Kris, The Astrogators at SEE, David, Joonas, Pat from KC, Brandon, Donald, Josh from Impulse Space, Joel, Ryan, Matt, Harrison, Bob, Tim Dodd, the Everyday Astronaut, Lee Hopkins, Frank, and four anonymous—and 823 other supporters.TopicsAndrew Jones (@AJ_FI) / XOrienspace breaks Chinese commercial launch records with Gravity-1 solid rocket - SpaceNewsShanghai firm behind G60 megaconstellation raises $943 million - SpaceNewsChina to debut large reusable rockets in 2025 and 2026 - SpaceNewsIndia targets uncrewed Gaganyaan orbital test mission in July, crewed flight in 2025 - SpaceNewsChina rolls out rocket for Queqiao-2 lunar satellite launch - SpaceNewsChina's 2024 space plans include 100 launches and moon sample return mission - SpaceNewsThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOFollow @meco@spacey.space on MastodonListen to MECO HeadlinesListen to Off-NominalJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterArtwork photo by Intuitive MachinesWork with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

Neel Kunjur from K2 Space talks about their vision for large satellites, $50 million funding, in-house development, vertical integration, space technology impacts, manufacturing facility expansion, and deep-tech investments with a tech company.

Tim Crain, Co-Founder and CTO of Intuitive Machines, discusses their recent IM-1 lunar mission, covering challenges, successes, and the complexities of lunar mission operations. They explore optimizing orbit strategies, cost optimization in lunar payload missions, and communication challenges of a publicly traded space company. The episode ends with gratitude, collaborations, and acknowledgments for listeners.

Eric Berger talks about Intuitive Machine's successful lunar landing, CLPS future, and NASA's budget challenges. Also, the discussion covers the hurdles faced in lunar missions, potential return of key figures to space scene, and exploring commercial space stations.

I catch up with a round up of stories from January: ULA’s first Vulcan launch, Blue Origin’s success with its BE-4 engines and what it means for their year, Astrobotic’s Peregrine mission, JAXA’s SLIM mission, and NASA’s announcement of Artemis delays.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 36 executive producers—Tyler, Lee Hopkins, Better Every Day Studios, Joel, Jan, Will and Lars from Agile Space, Matt, Russell, Craig from SpaceHappyHour.com, Ryan, Donald, Brandon, Joonas, Fred, Tim Dodd, the Everyday Astronaut, Pat, SmallSpark Space Systems, Frank, Kris, Stealth Julian, The Astrogators at SEE, Warren, Benjamin, Steve, Chris, Theo and Violet, David, Pat from KC, Dawn Aerospace, Bob, Harrison, and four anonymous—and 828 other supporters.TopicsVulcan Centaur launches Peregrine lunar lander on inaugural mission - SpaceNewsBlue Origin gets U.S. Space Force funding for New Glenn ‘integration studies’ - SpaceNewsNASA urged Astrobotic not to send its hamstrung spacecraft toward the Moon | Ars TechnicaUpdate #17 for Peregrine Mission One | AstroboticUpdate #20 for Peregrine Mission One | AstroboticJapan’s SLIM achieved pinpoint moon landing with just one working engine - SpaceNewsDawoon Jung on X: “One of #SLIM main engines fell off during landing”NASA Shares Progress Toward Early Artemis Moon Missions with Crew - NASANASA delays Artemis 2 and 3 missions - SpaceNewsThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOFollow @meco@spacey.space on MastodonListen to MECO HeadlinesListen to Off-NominalJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterArtwork photo by NASAWork with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

Alex Fielding, CEO and Chairman of Privateer, joins me to talk about what they’re working on and what drives them as an organization.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 36 executive producers—Joel, The Astrogators at SEE, Chris, Joonas, Tyler, Bob, Craig from SpaceHappyHour.com, Theo and Violet, SmallSpark Space Systems, Matt, Harrison, Benjamin, Kris, Stealth Julian, Donald, David, Fred, Lee Hopkins, Pat from KC, Pat, Frank, Will and Lars from Agile Space, Dawn Aerospace, Jan, Russell, Better Every Day Studios, Steve, Tim Dodd, the Everyday Astronaut, Warren, Ryan, Brandon, and four anonymous—and 828 other supporters.TopicsPrivateerPono in Space! Reflections on the road to orbit - Privateer SpaceThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOFollow @meco@spacey.space on MastodonListen to MECO HeadlinesListen to Off-NominalJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterArtwork photo by NASAWork with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

A special (free!) airing of this week’s episode of MECO Headlines. Starship IFT-2, Dragonfly, Ariane 6, ISS happenings, launches, and more.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 35 executive producers—Donald, Pat from KC, David, Theo and Violet, Dawn Aerospace, Steve, SmallSpark Space Systems, Jan, Chris, Bob, Tyler, Stealth Julian, Kris, Russell, Pat, Fred, Craig from SpaceHappyHour.com, Tim Dodd, the Everyday Astronaut, Will and Lars from Agile Space, Lee, Warren, Harrison, Brandon, Joonas, The Astrogators at SEE, Matt, Ryan, Joel, Frank, Benjamin, and four anonymous—and 835 other supporters.TopicsAfter upgrades, Starship achieves numerous successes during second test flight - NASASpaceFlight.comStarship/Super Heavy lifts off on second flight - SpaceNewsAriane 6 completes long-duration static-fire test - SpaceNewsESA sets mid-2024 date for first Ariane 6 launch - SpaceNewsNASA’s Dragonfly to Proceed with Final Mission Design Work - NASA ScienceNASA postpones Dragonfly review, launch date - SpaceNewsSpace Station – Off The Earth, For The EarthDragon Kicks Off Robotics and Science Activities on Station – Space StationRobotics Activities Continue; Crew Completes an Array of Research – Space StationAging, Human Research Studies Ahead of Next Cargo Mission – Space StationChina launches new-gen Haiyang ocean monitoring satellite - SpaceNewsLaunch Roundup: Starship, Falcon 9, and Chang Zheng-2C this week - NASASpaceFlight.comSatTrackCam Leiden (b)log: North Korea successfully launches the Malligyong-1 reconnaissance satelliteChina conducts launch to test satellite internet capabilities - SpaceNewsLaunch Roundup: SpaceX on pace to hit 100 launches in 2023, Soyuz to launch Bars-M - NASASpaceFlight.comThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOFollow @meco@spacey.space on MastodonListen to MECO HeadlinesListen to Off-NominalJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterArtwork photo by NASAWork with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

ESA is looking to start a commercial cargo program while looking further ahead to commercial space stations by signing an agreement with Airbus and Voyager. Virgin Galactic is laying off 20% of its staff and ending VSS Unity flights in just a few months.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 35 executive producers—Russell, Joonas, Kris, SmallSpark Space Systems, Tim Dodd, the Everyday Astronaut, Jan, Chris, David, Warren, Stealth Julian, Craig from SpaceHappyHour.com, Pat from KC, Frank, Donald, Pat, Fred, Dawn Aerospace, Ryan, Steve, Tyler, Brandon, Harrison, Theo and Violet, Will and Lars from Agile Space, Joel, The Astrogators at SEE, Lee, Benjamin, Bob, Matt, and four anonymous—and 821 other supporters.TopicsVoyager Space and Airbus create commercial space station joint venture - SpaceNewsESA to start commercial cargo program - SpaceNewsAirbus and Voyager sign agreement with ESA on Starlab commercial space station - SpaceNewsVirgin Galactic lays off staff as it focuses on next-generation suborbital vehicle - SpaceNewsVirgin Galactic to halt Unity suborbital flights by mid-2024 - SpaceNewsVirgin Galactic’s president explains how VSS Unity is now flying frequently | Ars TechnicaThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOFollow @meco@spacey.space on MastodonListen to MECO HeadlinesListen to Off-NominalJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterArtwork photo by NASAWork with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

Marcia Smith of SpacePolicyOnline.com joins me for a roundup of space policy topics—the House Speaker mayhem, the outlook for budgets over the next year, what to do about the ISS and its related expenses, and a lot more.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 35 executive producers—Frank, Kris, Tyler, Fred, Lee, Pat from KC, Dawn Aerospace, Stealth Julian, Craig from SpaceHappyHour.com, Theo and Violet, Steve, Benjamin, Warren, Pat, Donald, Joel, David, Ryan, Will and Lars from Agile Space, Bob, The Astrogators at SEE, Tim Dodd, the Everyday Astronaut, Jan, SmallSpark Space Systems, Joonas, Brandon, Harrison, Matt, Chris, Russell, and four anonymous—and 838 other supporters.TopicsSpacePolicyOnline.com – Your first stop for news, information and analysis about civil, military and commercial space programsShutdown Averted, Government Funded Until November 17 – SpacePolicyOnline.comSpeaker Mike Johnson: “The People’s House is Back in Business” – SpacePolicyOnline.comNASA Safety Panel Issues Clarion Call for ISS Deorbit Tug – SpacePolicyOnline.comNASA Upbeat About Future of Mars Sample Return Despite IRB-2 Report – SpacePolicyOnline.comSpaceX Warns Government Regulations Slowing Starship, Could Let China Get Ahead – SpacePolicyOnline.comNASA IG Skeptical of Major SLS Cost Savings From Services Contract – SpacePolicyOnline.comThe ShowLike the show? Support the show!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOFollow @meco@spacey.space on MastodonListen to MECO HeadlinesListen to Off-NominalJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterArtwork photo by Stoke SpaceWork with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works