Main Engine Cut Off

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.
Topics
Boeing "incredibly excited" to serve as nation's only astronaut transportation - Ars Technica
After being sidelined, Boeing's Starliner to get starring role in NASA's spaceflight plans - Ars Technica
Congress extends ISS and tells NASA to get moving on private space stations - Ars Technica
NASA chief concerned China may deny access to parts of Moon's south pole - Ars Technica
SpaceX's Starship goes orbital, deploying first next-gen Starlinks - Ars Technica
Vast Establishes Lunar Programs Division, Applying Haven Flight Heritage to Power, Communications, and Habitats on the Moon — an update by VAST
The Show
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Artwork photo by Zhou Quan
Work 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

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Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com

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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 anthony@mainenginecutoff.com

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Artwork photo by Zhou Quan

Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

Justin Fiaschetti, Co-Founder and CEO of Inversion Space, joins me to talk about the company’s plan to store maneuverable reentry vehicles in orbit for rapid cargo delivery, the design and architecture decisions driving Arc including cross-range requirements and payload accomodations, and how they see the market for these services.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 32 executive producers—Russell, Fred, Natasha Tsakos, Matt, Joonas, Matt from Built, Josh from Impulse, Pat, Steve, David, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Joel, Stealth Julian, Ryan, Theo and Violet, Kris, The Astrogators at SEE, Miles O’Brien, Jan, Donald, Joakim, Frank, Will and Lars from Agile, Warren, Lee, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.

Topics

Inversion

Arc - Inversion

Anduril, Team of Partners to Work on Space Force’s Space-Based Interceptors for Golden Dome for America | Anduril

Arc Orbital Supply Capsule Aims To Put Military Supplies Anywhere On Earth Within An Hour

The Show

Like the show? Support the show on Patreon or Substack!

Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com

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Artwork photo by Zhou Quan

Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

Rocket Lab is buying Iridium for $8 billion, Blue Origin has a new plan to get New Glenn flying again without rebuilding the same pad architecture, and NASA just awarded four new CLPS missions.

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

Rocket Lab to acquire Iridium - SpaceNews

Rocket Lab to Acquire Iridium in Historic Deal, Creating A

New Glenn Return to Flight - Blue Origin

NASA Awards More Moon Base Science, Previews New Opportunities

NextSTEP-3 B: Moon Base Demonstrations - NASA

Episode 154 - They Ran Into Us (with Matt Desch, CEO of Iridium) - Off-Nominal

The Show

Like the show? Support the show on Patreon or Substack!

Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com

Follow @WeHaveMECO

Follow @meco@spacey.space on Mastodon

Listen to MECO Headlines

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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 SpaceX

Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works