Main Engine Cut Off

Last week, I took a visit to Pittsburgh to visit Astrobotic, who is working on a few different landers and rovers destined for the Moon. I got to sit down with several team members for a series of conversations about what they’re working on, how things are going, and how the company is approaching the next few years in the industry.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 43 executive producers—Simon, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, Moritz, Joel, Jan, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian, Lars from Agile Space, Matt, The Astrogators at SEE, Chris, Aegis Trade Law, Fred, Hemant, Dawn Aerospace, Andrew, Harrison, Benjamin, SmallSpark Space Systems, Tyler, nomadic, and seven anonymous—and 837 other supporters.

Topics

• Pittsburgh Aerospace Company | Astrobotic Technology
• Moon Manifest | Astrobotic Technology
• Astrobotic Unveils Peregrine Lunar Lander Flight Model | Astrobotic Technology
• Announcing LunaGrid, a Commercial Power Service for the Moon | Astrobotic Technology
• CubeRover Funded for Survive the Lunar Night Mission | Astrobotic Technology
• Astrobotic’s Wireless Charging System for the Moon Can Survive Lunar Night | Astrobotic Technology
• Astrobotic Acquires Masten Space Systems | Astrobotic Technology
• T+88: CubeRover, Michael Provenzano and Andrew Horchler - Main Engine Cut Off
• T+166: Laura Klicker and Daniel Gillies, Astrobotic - Main Engine Cut Off

The Show

• Like the show? Support the show!
• Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected]
• Follow @WeHaveMECO
• Listen to MECO Headlines
• 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
• Music by Max Justus
• Artwork photo by ULA

In the wake of Axiom-1, NASA has revised the requirements for future Private Astronaut Missions. It seems to put pressure on the market to focus on a certain customer base, like research and national astronauts, and it definitely changes the math for future flights.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 43 executive producers—Simon, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, Moritz, Joel, Jan, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian, Lars from Agile Space, Matt, The Astrogators at SEE, Chris, Aegis Trade Law, Fred, Hemant, Dawn Aerospace, Andrew, Harrison, Benjamin, SmallSpark Space Systems, Schultzy, Tyler, and seven anonymous—and 848 other supporters.

Topics

• NASA revises requirements for ISS private astronaut missions - SpaceNews
• NASA division proposing program to send scientists to ISS - SpaceNews
• NASA, Axiom Sign Second Private Astronaut Mission to Space Station Order | NASA
• NASA requests proposals for two ISS private astronaut missions - SpaceNews
• Axiom Space to fly Saudi astronauts - SpaceNews

The Show

• Like the show? Support the show!
• Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected]
• Follow @WeHaveMECO
• Listen to MECO Headlines
• 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
• Music by Max Justus
• Artwork photo by NASA/Joel Kowsky

Bob Pearce, Associate Administrator of NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, joins me to talk about Aeronautics at NASA. We talk about how the directorate fits into the agency overall, how they develop its strategic direction, how they choose which projects to take on, how they transfer technology to industry, what they’re working on right now, and what they’ll tackle in the future.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 42 executive producers—Simon, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, Moritz, Joel, Jan, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Matt, The Astrogators at SEE, Chris, Aegis Trade Law, Fred, Hemant, Dawn Aerospace, Andrew, Harrison, Benjamin, SmallSpark Space Systems, Schultzy, and seven anonymous—and 844 other supporters.

Topics

• Mr. Robert A. Pearce, Associate Administrator | NASA
• Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate | NASA
• Armstrong Flight Research Center | NASA
• Ames Research Center | NASA
• Glenn Research Center | NASA
• Langley Research Center | NASA
• NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: F-8 Supercritical Wing | NASA
• NASA Helps Create a More Silent Night | NASA
• Quesst | NASA
• Electric Propulsion Airplane | NASA
• Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) | NASA
• Airspace Operations and Safety Program | NASA
• What is Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management? | NASA
• Sustainable Flight Demonstrator Project | NASA

The Show

• Like the show? Support the show!
• Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected]
• Follow @WeHaveMECO
• Listen to MECO Headlines
• 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
• Music by Max Justus
• Artwork photo by NASA/Joel Kowsky

Richard Parker, Head of Space at Canopius, and John Farnsworth, insurance broker and space advocate, join me to talk about the (seemingly) most mysterious topic in spaceflight: insurance!

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 42 executive producers—Simon, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, Moritz, Joel, Jan, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Matt, The Astrogators at SEE, Chris, Aegis Trade Law, Fred, Hemant, Dawn Aerospace, Andrew, Harrison, Benjamin, SmallSpark Space Systems, Schultzy, and seven anonymous—and 835 other supporters.

Topics

• Canopius global specialty (re)insurance
• Measat gives up on drifting satellite in a blow for insurers - SpaceNews
• Insurance claim for failed Measat-3 satellite in dispute - SpaceNews
• The Space Review: Boldly insure where no one has gone
• OneWeb takes $229 million charge for canceled Soyuz launches - SpaceNews
• Starlink’s head of India resigns as SpaceX refunds preorders - SpaceNews

The Show

• Like the show? Support the show!
• Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected]
• Follow @WeHaveMECO
• Listen to MECO Headlines
• 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
• Music by Max Justus
• Artwork photo by NASA/Joel Kowsky

Artemis I scrubbed its way through its first and second launch attempts, and is now undergoing repairs on the pad, ahead of its next launch attempt. I talk about the initial attempts, general thoughts on where we’re at with this program, where it’s headed in the future, and what public reactions to Artemis I have been.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 43 executive producers—Simon, Lauren, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, Moritz, Joel, Jan, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Matt, The Astrogators at SEE, Chris, Aegis Trade Law, Fred, Hemant, Dawn Aerospace, Andrew, Harrison, Benjamin, SmallSpark Space Systems, Schultzy, and seven anonymous—and 826 other supporters.

Topics

• First Artemis 1 launch attempt scrubbed - SpaceNews
• Second Artemis 1 launch attempt scrubbed - SpaceNews
• NASA to repair SLS liquid hydrogen leak on the pad - SpaceNews
• NASA officials evaluating late September launch dates for Artemis 1 moon mission – Spaceflight Now
• Spaceflight Now on Twitter: “Here’s a NASA photo of the temporary enclosure assembled at the base of the Space Launch System moon rocket, providing environmental protection as workers replace seals on liquid hydrogen connections between the rocket and the launch platform.”

The Show

• Like the show? Support the show!
• Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected]
• Follow @WeHaveMECO
• Listen to MECO Headlines
• 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
• Music by Max Justus
• Artwork photo by NASA/Joel Kowsky

Jonathan Barlow from the NASA Ames Research Center joins me to talk about Astrobee—the free-flying robots on the International Space Station that test new technologies, sensors, and operations, and assist astronauts and mission controllers alike. Jonathan is the Astrobee Lead Engineer and has been with the program since the beginning, so we go way back to its origins and talk in-depth about what the robots are up to today on the ISS.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 43 executive producers—Simon, Lauren, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, Moritz, Joel, Jan, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Matt, The Astrogators at SEE, Chris, Aegis Trade Law, Fred, Hemant, Dawn Aerospace, Andrew, Harrison, Benjamin, SmallSpark Space Systems, Schultzy, and seven anonymous—and 818 other supporters.

Topics

• What is Astrobee? | NASA
• Astrobee - Four Years in Video | NASA Image and Video Library
• NASA Celebrates Three Years of Astrobees Buzzing on Space Station | NASA
• Meet ISAAC, Integrating Robots with the Space Stations of the Future | NASA
• Astrobee Space-Bots Mark a New Milestone in Human-Robot Teamwork | NASA
• NPS, NASA Team Up on “Astrobatics” Project to Advance Spacecraft Robotics - Naval Postgraduate School
• Artemis 1 Launch Events - Off-Nominal

The Show

• Like the show? Support the show!
• Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected]
• Follow @WeHaveMECO
• Listen to MECO Headlines
• 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
• Music by Max Justus
• Artwork photo by ESA

Northrop Grumman and Firefly announced a partnership to develop a new first stage for Antares—the same first stage that will power Firefly’s larger launch vehicle, Beta. It’s a great partnership for both parties that will surely lead to more interesting things in the future.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 42 executive producers—Simon, Lauren, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, Moritz, Joel, Jan, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Matt, The Astrogators at SEE, Chris, Aegis Trade Law, Fred, Hemant, Dawn Aerospace, Andrew, Harrison, Benjamin, SmallSpark Space Systems, and seven anonymous—and 816 other supporters.

Topics

• Northrop Grumman Teams with Firefly Aerospace to Develop Antares Rocket Upgrade and New Medium Launch Vehicle | Northrop Grumman
• Northrop Grumman and Firefly to partner on upgraded Antares - SpaceNews
• Beta - Firefly Aerospace
• Stephen Clark on Twitter: “Northrop Grumman's Kurt Eberly says the company has booked three Falcon 9 missions with SpaceX, beginning in the second half of 2023, to launch Cygnus resupply missions to the International Space Station. Northrop hopes to have upgraded Antares 330 ready by end of 2024.”
• Firefly partners with Aerojet Rocketdyne, mulls AR1 engine for Beta launch vehicle - SpaceNews
• AE Industrial Partners to acquire stake in Firefly from Noosphere - SpaceNews
• Firefly co-founder Markusic to step down as CEO - SpaceNews

The Show

• Like the show? Support the show!
• Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected]
• Follow @WeHaveMECO
• Listen to MECO Headlines
• 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
• Music by Max Justus
• Artwork photo by ESA

Mike Loucks and John Carrico of Space Exploration Engineering join me to talk about astrogation, mission planning, missions they’ve worked on, how they interact with teams of all types, and everything else they do at SEE.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 42 executive producers—Simon, Lauren, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, Moritz, Joel, Jan, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Matt, The Astrogators at SEE, Chris, Aegis Trade Law, Fred, Hemant, Dawn Aerospace, Andrew, Harrison, Benjamin, SmallSpark Space Systems, and seven anonymous—and 811 other supporters.

Topics

• Space Exploration Engineering
• Space Exploration Engineering (@SEE_Aerospace) / Twitter
• Mike Loucks (@Astrogator_Mike) / Twitter
• Astrogator John (@AstrogatorJohn) / Twitter
• Rocket Lab’s CAPSTONE injection profile comes from SEE’s broad experience in cislunar space | The Astrogator's Guild

The Show

• Like the show? Support the show!
• Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected]
• Follow @WeHaveMECO
• Listen to MECO Headlines
• 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
• Music by Max Justus
• Artwork photo by ESA

Rick Mastracchio, former NASA astronaut and current Director Of Business Development at Northrop Grumman Space Systems, joins me to talk about Northrop Grumman’s Commercial Space Station concept that they are working on as part of NASA’s Commercial LEO Destinations program.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 42 executive producers—Simon, Lauren, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, Moritz, Joel, Jan, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Matt, The Astrogators at SEE, Chris, Aegis Trade Law, Fred, Hemant, Dawn Aerospace, Andrew, Harrison, Benjamin, SmallSpark Space Systems, and seven anonymous—and 807 other supporters.

Topics

• Commercial Space Station - Northrop Grumman
• Commercial Space Station Data Sheet - Northrop Grumman
• NASA Selects Companies to Develop Commercial Destinations in Space | NASA
• A Closer Look at Northrop Grumman Commercial Space Station – Parabolic Arc

The Show

• Like the show? Support the show!
• Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected]
• Follow @WeHaveMECO
• Listen to MECO Headlines
• 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
• Music by Max Justus
• Artwork photo by ESA

NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program is in a tricky spot right now. VIPER has been delayed a year, new task orders are being awarded to new teams like the one led by Draper, and Masten is all but dead.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 41 executive producers—Simon, Lauren, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, Moritz, Joel, Jan, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Matt, The Astrogators at SEE, Chris, Aegis Trade Law, Fred, Hemant, Dawn Aerospace, Andrew, Harrison, Benjamin, and seven anonymous—and 810 other supporters.

Topics

• Commercial Lunar Payload Services | NASA
• NASA delays VIPER lunar rover launch by a year - SpaceNews
• WeMartians Podcast on Twitter: “I feel like maybe VIPER was rushed on to CLPS to give it some credibility. But now it’s two years behind schedule because NASA has changed the design, and the total cost is $433M. We’re not that far off from a Discovery-class mission at this rate.”
• Cash-strapped Masten Space Furloughs Employees, Moon Landing Mission at Risk – Parabolic Arc
• NASA Selects Draper to Fly Research to Far Side of Moon | NASA
• Draper wins NASA contract for farside lunar lander mission - SpaceNews

The Show

• Like the show? Support the show!
• Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to [email protected]
• Follow @WeHaveMECO
• Listen to MECO Headlines
• 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
• Music by Max Justus
• Artwork photo by ESA/JAXA