Main Engine Cut Off

Dec 21 2024 291 ep. 33 mins 5.2k

Main Engine Cut Off Podcast artwork

MECO is opinion and analysis of spaceflight, exploration, policy, and strategy, by Anthony Colangelo.

Science Technology

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T+291: Axiom Updates Station Plans, Firefly Wins Another CLPS Mission

Dec 21 2024 20 mins

Axiom Space announced changes to their station build out plan, bringing free-flying capability forward in their timeline and switching to a berthing port at the ISS to avoid the US Deorbit Vehicle. Firefly won another CLPS task order, this time for a lander with a rover, and for quite a bit more money than the last few.

T+290: Jared Isaacman Nominated NASA Administrator

Dec 06 2024 21 mins

Jared Isaacman, the man with a private space program, has been nominated NASA Administrator, to run the nation’s space program.

T+289: Starship Flight 6, ABL’s Pivot, NS-26 (Headlines Preview)

Nov 22 2024 30 mins

A special preview of MECO Headlines, covering Starship Flight 6, ABL’s pivot to missile defense, and much more. Subscribe today to get Headlines regularly!

T+288: The Return of President Trump

Nov 13 2024 27 mins

Donald Trump has been reelected President of the United States, and the main character of spaceflight, Elon Musk, is one of his top advisors. Some thoughts on where things may go from here, and a bit of my wishlist.

T+287: Polaris Dawn (with Jared Isaacman)

Nov 01 2024 42 mins

Jared Isaacman of the Polaris Program joins me to talk about the Polaris Dawn mission, his EVA experience, the Hubble Space Telescope situation, how the Polaris Program and SpaceX approach tech development and flight planning, and the Philadelphia Eagles.

T+286: Starship Flight 5

Oct 17 2024 20 mins

SpaceX is entering a new era for Starship after the epic Flight 5, with its pinpoint ship reentry and staggeringly beautiful booster catch.

T+285: The Public Dispute Between SpaceX and the FAA

Sep 30 2024 18 mins

SpaceX and the FAA have been going a few rounds back and forth in public over fines and delays. It’s weird and inscrutable but maybe helpful in the long run in a few ways.

T+284: Stoke Space (with Andy Lapsa, CEO)

Aug 22 2024 61 mins

Andy Lapsa, Co-Founder and CEO of Stoke Space, joins me to talk about the company, their vision for the future, their approach to launch, the larger trends that are shaping the market, and how that all might come together in the next few years.

T+283: Starliner, Fram2, VIPER, Blue Moon (with Jeff Foust)

Aug 15 2024 50 mins

Jeff Foust of Space News joins me to talk about Starliner, Fram2, VIPER, Blue Moon, and everything else going on in space. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 31 executive producers—Jan, Warren, Pat from KC, David, Frank, Lee, Joonas, Josh from Impulse, Steve, Harrison, Russell, Joel, Bob, The Astrogators at SEE, Stealth Julian, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astron

T+282: Space Policy and Presidential Transitions (with Mark Albrecht)

Aug 01 2024 57 mins

Mark Albrecht joins me to talk about the state and future of space policy in a very dynamic Presidential election year. He shares some stories from the past, talks about his experience in presidential transitions and on the National Space Council, and ruminates on what we may see in November and beyond.