Main Engine Cut Off

NASA laid out its plans for Artemis III and IV, including dramatically different paths to the Moon for Blue Moon and Starship. I dig into the complexity and sustainability of both architectures, the ever-changing role of SLS, and then into the big feelings around SpaceX’s future—with or without the industry.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 32 executive producers—Joakim, Miles O’Brien, Josh from Impulse, Joonas, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Kris, Jan, Theo and Violet, Heiko, Fred, Matt, Donald, Will and Lars from Agile, Stealth Julian, David, Joel, The Astrogators at SEE, Frank, Steve, Warren, Russell, Pat, Natasha Tsakos, Ryan, Matt from Built, Lee, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.TopicsNASA’s Artemis III Mission to Test Future Moon Lander Operations - NASANASA, Partners Accelerate Lander Development for 2028 Moon Missions - NASASpaceX no longer needs NASA, and that's a problem for America's space agency - Ars TechnicaThe ShowLike the show? Support the show on Patreon or Substack!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected] @WeHaveMECOFollow @[email protected] 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 SpaceXWork with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

Caleb Henry, Director of Research at Quilty Space, joins me (in studio!) to talk about the growing launch shortage, which new rockets are best positioned to fill the gap, and how SpaceX is separating itself from the launch market as the rest of the industry finds a path forward without them.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 32 executive producers—Joel, Fred, Josh from Impulse, Jan, Kris, Ryan, Matt from Built, Natasha Tsakos, Warren, Will and Lars from Agile, Stealth Julian, Matt, Heiko, Miles O’Brien, Pat, Steve, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Russell, The Astrogators at SEE, David, Donald, Joonas, Lee, Joakim, Frank, Theo and Violet, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.TopicsCaleb Henry (@ChenrySpace) / XThe OneWeb Book | Caleb Henry | SubstackQuilty SpaceSpace Force scrambles as Musk’s SpaceX retires its major rocket - POLITICONeutron's first launch slips again amid trouble with carbon composites - Ars TechnicaSpaceX no longer needs NASA, and that's a problem for America's space agency - Ars TechnicaSpaceX to attempt Starship catch on next flight, with eye on rapid cadence increase - Ars TechnicaDoes anyone actually want to win the medium-lift race in the United States? - Ars TechnicaBlue Origin is going all in on the New Glenn rocket - Ars TechnicaAmazon builds 1,000th satellite, will launch space internet service by end of year - Ars TechnicaThe ShowLike the show? Support the show on Patreon or Substack!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected] @WeHaveMECOFollow @[email protected] 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 SpaceXWork with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

NASA and Boeing laid out Starliner’s return-to-flight plan as SpaceX prepares to leave Dragon behind. I talk through the weak demand signal for crewed flight in LEO, how NASA’s commitment to the ISS and commercial stations boxed themselves into this decision, and what to do between here and the Moon.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 33 executive producers—Theo and Violet, Miles O’Brien, Joakim, Steve, Warren, Joel, Frank, Joonas, Natasha Tsakos, Will and Lars from Agile, David, Matt, Jan, Matt from Built, Lee, Josh from Impulse, Russell, Heiko, Kris, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Ryan, The Astrogators at SEE, Donald, Fred, Pat, Stealth Julian, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.TopicsBoeing "incredibly excited" to serve as nation's only astronaut transportation - Ars TechnicaAfter being sidelined, Boeing's Starliner to get starring role in NASA's spaceflight plans - Ars TechnicaCongress extends ISS and tells NASA to get moving on private space stations - Ars TechnicaNASA chief concerned China may deny access to parts of Moon's south pole - Ars TechnicaSpaceX's Starship goes orbital, deploying first next-gen Starlinks - Ars TechnicaVast Establishes Lunar Programs Division, Applying Haven Flight Heritage to Power, Communications, and Habitats on the Moon — an update by VASTThe ShowLike the show? Support the show on Patreon or Substack!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected] @WeHaveMECOFollow @[email protected] 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 Zhou QuanWork with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

SpaceX officially announced Starbase Louisiana, and I break down why the site fits Starship’s launch, landing, and orbital architecture so perfectly. I also look at the transition from Falcon to Starship, and the new launch vehicles on the verge of debut. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 32 executive producers—Warren, Matt from Built, Theo and Violet, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Natasha Tsakos, Lee, Donald, David, Matt, Joonas, Russell, Steve, Frank, Will and Lars from Agile, The Astrogators at SEE, Josh from Impulse, Fred, Joel, Kris, Pat, Joakim, Miles O’Brien, Stealth Julian, Jan, Ryan, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters. Topics SpaceX Launches New Era of Commercial Spaceflight with $100 Billion Louisiana Campus - Louisiana Economic Development SpaceX intends to invest up to $100 billion in massive Louisiana spaceport - Ars Technica Episode 245 - Polar Bears and Penguins (with Jonathan Goff and Mike Loucks) - Off-Nominal AAS Paper Review: RAAN Agnostic 3-Burn Departure Methodology for Deep Space Missions from LEO Depots (Part 1 of 2) | Selenian Boondocks AAS Paper Review: Practical Methodologies For Low Delta-V Penalty, On-Time Departures To Arbitrary Interplanetary Destinations From A Medium-Inclination Low-Earth Orbit Depot | Selenian Boondocks An Updated Propellant Depot Taxonomy Part V: Human Spaceflight Fixed Depots (Low-Orbit) | Selenian Boondocks SpaceX on X: Ship 40 Reaches Christmas Island Ship 40 arrives at Christmas Island, Plans Return to Starbase - NASASpaceflight SpaceX on X: Ship 41 Single-Engine Static Fire Ship 41 Completes Engine Testing Ahead of Flight 14 - NASASpaceflight Satellite operators are in panic mode due to a worsening launch crisis - Ars Technica Nova payload module, second stage, and Andromeda engine fit check - Stoke Space First three flight-one Zenith engines ready for acceptance testing - Stoke Space Rocket Lab Announces Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results: Posts Record Revenue and Record Backlog, Guides To Another Record Revenue Quarter in Q3 2026 - Rocket Lab Rocket Lab Unveils GHOST Deployable Launch System to Enable Responsive Space Missions Worldwide - Rocket Lab Firefly Aerospace Announces Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results With Record Revenue Of $117.7 Million, Up 659% Year-Over-Year - Firefly Aerospace Tank problem delays first RFA launch - SpaceNews Relativity Space engine integration milestone for Terran R first stage - NASASpaceflight The Show Like the show? Support the show on Patreon or Substack! Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected] Follow @WeHaveMECO Follow @[email protected] on Mastodon Listen to MECO Headlines Listen to Off-Nominal Join the Off-Nominal Discord Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhere Subscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off Newsletter Artwork photo by Zhou Quan Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

Andrew Jones returns to the show to catch up on the Chinese space industry—the landings of Zhuque-3 and Long March 10B first stages, Chang’e-7 and its delay, and more. This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 32 executive producers—Steve, Joakim, Ryan, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Joonas, Josh from Impulse, Fred, Will and Lars from Agile, Miles O’Brien, Natasha Tsakos, Lee, Warren, Russell, Stealth Julian, Kris, The Astrogators at SEE, Frank, Matt from Built, Theo and Violet, Joel, Donald, Pat, David, Jan, Matt, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters. Topics China’s Landspace recovers booster with second orbital launch of Zhuque-3 rocket - SpaceNews Landspace aims to refly recovered Zhuque-3 booster within six months - SpaceNews LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 topples following milestone landing - NASASpaceFlight.com China becomes second country to recover orbital booster with Long March 10B - SpaceNews China lines up methalox Long March 10C as commercial workhorse after first booster recovery - SpaceNews Chinese Long March 7A rocket explodes shortly after liftoff - SpaceNews Long March 12 launches despite recent 7A failure, Long March 2C launches satellite for UAE - SpaceNews China delays Chang’e-7 lunar south pole landing mission launch - SpaceNews Long March 6C launches 7 satellites, Chang’e-7 rocket rolled back to assembly building - SpaceNews The Show Like the show? Support the show on Patreon or Substack! Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected] Follow @WeHaveMECO Follow @[email protected] on Mastodon Listen to MECO Headlines Listen to Off-Nominal Join the Off-Nominal Discord Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhere Subscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off Newsletter Artwork photo by Zhou Quan Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works