Eric Schmidt has taken a majority stake in Relativity and will serve as its CEO, so this is a good time to check in on their plans. Rocket Lab is planning to acquire Mynaric, and I have a theory I felt like I needed to float.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 32 executive producers—Matt, Donald, Frank, David, Lee, Will and Lars from Agile, Kris, Pat from KC, Joel, Bob, The Astrogators at SEE, Joakim (Jo-Kim), Steve, Josh from Impulse, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Warren, Better Every Day Studios, Ryan, Heiko, Joonas, Pat, Jan, Fred, Stealth Julian, Theo and Violet, Russell, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.

Topics

• Eric Schmidt Joins Relativity Space as C.E.O. - The New York Times
• Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is the new leader of Relativity Space - Ars Technica
• Relativity Space makes significant progress on Terran R; flight hardware in production - NASASpaceFlight.com
• Relativity names Eric Schmidt as CEO as it updates Terran R development - SpaceNews
• To avoid the Panama Canal, Relativity Space is moving some operations to Texas - Ars Technica
• Rocket Lab to expand into laser communications with Mynaric acquisition - 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 Firefly
• Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

Josh Dinner of Space.com joins me to talk about a wild week in space—Firefly’s Blue Ghost 1, Intuitive Machines’ IM-2, SpaceX’s Starship Flight 8, Rocket Lab announcements, and more.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 32 executive producers—Stealth Julian, Kris, Heiko, Pat, Jan, Warren, Josh from Impulse, Ryan, Lee, Joel, David, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Matt, Pat from KC, Will and Lars from Agile, Joonas, Donald, Bob, Frank, Joakim (Jo-Kim), Steve, Theo and Violet, Better Every Day Studios, Fred, Russell, The Astrogators at SEE, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.

Topics

• Josh Dinner (@JoshDinner) / X
• Articles by Josh Dinner, Staff Writer, Spaceflight | Space
• IM-2 lunar lander mission ends - SpaceNews
• AstroForge | Odin't: A Complete Debrief of Our Deep Space Mission
• Starship destroyed on second consecutive test flight - SpaceNews
• Starship’s Eighth Flight Test - SpaceX - Launches
• Rocket Lab Announces Flatellite: A New Satellite Designed for Mass Manufacture and Tailored for Large Constellations | Rocket Lab
• Rocket Lab Reveals Ocean Platform for Neutron Rocket Landings at Sea | Rocket Lab

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

Former Congressman and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine joins me to talk space policy, then and now: CLPS, Commercial Space Stations, Artemis, international partnerships, and more.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 32 executive producers—Stealth Julian, Kris, Heiko, Pat, Jan, Warren, Josh from Impulse, Ryan, Lee, Joel, David, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Matt, Pat from KC, Will and Lars from Agile, Joonas, Donald, Bob, Frank, Joakim (Jo-Kim), Steve, Theo and Violet, Better Every Day Studios, Fred, Russell, The Astrogators at SEE, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.

Topics

• Home | The Artemis Group
• Touchdown! Carrying NASA Science, Firefly’s Blue Ghost Lands on Moon - NASA
• Firefly’s Blue Ghost 1 lands on the moon - SpaceNews
• Blue Ghost Mission 1 - Firefly Aerospace
• Falcon 9 launches second Intuitive Machines lunar lander - SpaceNews
• House Committee Backs Moon-to-Mars, But Changes May Be Needed – SpacePolicyOnline.com

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

Matthew Weinzierl and Brendan Rosseau join me to talk about their new book, Space to Grow: Unlocking the Final Economic Frontier. We talk about the economics driving the space industry today, how traditional economic theories apply—or not!—to the industry, and how to use economics as a lens to shape your business and policy approach to the future.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 31 executive producers—Josh from Impulse, Russell, Joakim (Jo-Kim), Ryan, Lee, Fred, Pat from KC, Steve, David, Stealth Julian, Joel, Jan, Frank, Matt, Bob, Pat, Better Every Day Studios, Joonas, Donald, Warren, Theo and Violet, Kris, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), The Astrogators at SEE, Will and Lars from Agile, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.

Topics

• Space to Grow: Unlocking the Final Economic Frontier: Weinzierl, Matthew, Rosseau, Brendan: 9781647827168: Amazon.com: Books
• Economics of Space | Economics of Space

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 Blue Origin
• Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

Eric Berger of Ars Technica joins me to talk about Elon Musk and the whirlwind start of the second Trump administration, and what the future may hold for SLS.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 31 executive producers—Will and Lars from Agile, Fred, The Astrogators at SEE, Ryan, Stealth Julian, Warren, Joakim (Jo-Kim), Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), David, Frank, Lee, Joonas, Josh from Impulse, Joel, Matt, Steve, Pat, Bob, Pat from KC, Theo and Violet, Better Every Day Studios, Donald, Jan, Russell, Kris, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.

Topics

• Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) / X
• Eric Berger | Ars Technica
• Boeing has informed its employees of uncertainty in future SLS contracts - Ars Technica
• NASA will swap Dragon spacecraft on the ground to return Butch and Suni sooner - Ars Technica
• Concern about SpaceX influence at NASA grows with new appointee - Ars Technica

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 Blue Origin
• Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

Jonathan McDowell—astrophysicist at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the namesake of the McDowell Line at 80 kilometers—joins me to talk about his fundraiser to move his epic space library to a new, permanent home. Let’s help him out!

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

Topics

• Fundraiser by Jonathan McDowell : Fund Jonathan's Space Report Library Transition
• Jonathan's Space Report
• Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589.bsky.social) — Bluesky
• Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) / X
• The edge of space: Revisiting the Karman Line - ScienceDirect
• T+105: Jonathan McDowell - Main Engine Cut Off

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

Blue Origin flew New Glenn successfully for the first time, and SpaceX flew Starship for the seventh time. Both featured failures at different points of the flight, with the impacts on Starship being significantly bigger than those on New Glenn.

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

Topics

• New Glenn reaches orbit on first launch - SpaceNews
• FAA requires mishap investigation for failed New Glenn landing - SpaceNews
• Starship’s Seventh Flight Test - SpaceX - Launches
• Starship upper stage lost on seventh test flight - SpaceNews
• FAA investigating Starship debris reports - 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 SpaceX
• Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

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.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 32 executive producers—Josh from Impulse, Fred, Kris, Will and Lars from Agile, Pat, Ryan, Donald, Joel, Better Every Day Studios, Joakim (Jo-Kim), Jan, David, Pat from KC, Bob, Harrison, Joonas, Steve, Warren, The Astrogators at SEE, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Russell, Lee, Matt, Stealth Julian, Theo and Violet, Frank, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.

Topics

• Axiom Space revises space station assembly plans - SpaceNews
• Axiom Space Accelerates Axiom Station Assembly
• Axiom Station — Axiom Space
• More NASA Science, Tech will Fly to Moon Aboard Future Firefly Flight - NASA

The Show

• Like the show? Support the show!
• 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 SpaceX
• Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works

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

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

Topics

• T+287: Polaris Dawn (with Jared Isaacman) - Main Engine Cut Off
• T+288: The Return of President Trump - Main Engine Cut Off
• Jared Isaacman Tapped to be Next NASA Administrator – SpacePolicyOnline.com
• Trump selects Isaacman to be NASA administrator - SpaceNews
• How did the CEO of an online payments firm become the nominee to lead NASA? - Ars Technica

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

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!

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 31 executive producers—Jan, Matt, Fred, Harrison, The Astrogators at SEE, Pat from KC, Will and Lars from Agile, Warren, Steve, Joel, Pat, Better Every Day Studios, Donald, Lee, David, Kris, Frank, Josh from Impulse, Joonas, Ryan, Russell, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Stealth Julian, Bob, Theo and Violet, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.

Topics

• ABL Space exits commercial launch market, shifts focus to missile defense - SpaceNews
• Dan Piemont on X: “ANNOUNCEMENT Today we’re announcing major changes to our mission at ABL. We are stepping away from the commercial launch market and focusing our efforts on missile defense. Commercial Launch Over the past six years, we developed an orbital rocket with unique traits…”

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