Main Engine Cut Off

Grant Bonin, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Spaceflight joins me to talk about everything they’ve been up to lately, including being acquired, signing deals with SpaceX for rideshares on Starlink missions and on dedicated flights to SSO, signing deals with new launch companies and international providers, and a lot more including manifesting satellites, last-mile services, and about what makes Spaceflight unique.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 38 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Simon, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Adam, and seven anonymous—and 385 other supporters.

Topics

• donate.offnominal.space
• Grant Bonin (@grantbonin) / Twitter
• Grant Bonin - Spaceflight
• Welcome to Spaceflight Grant! - Spaceflight
• Spaceflight Industries Signs Definitive Agreement to Sell Spaceflight, its Rideshare Launch Services Provider, to Japan’s Mitsui & Co., Ltd and Yamasa Co., Ltd. - Spaceflight
• Spaceflight Inc. Acquisition Finalized - Spaceflight
• Spaceflight to Launch Its First Rideshare Payloads on a SpaceX Starlink Mission - Spaceflight
• Spaceflight Inc. Signs Multi-Launch Agreement with SpaceX for Rideshare Services - Spaceflight
• Spaceflight Readies 28 Payloads for Inaugural Rideshare Launch on Arianespace’s Vega - Spaceflight
• Spaceflight Inc. Closes 2019 with Three Successful Launches in One Week Across Three Continents - Spaceflight
• Firefly Aerospace and Spaceflight Inc. Sign Launch Services Agreement - Spaceflight
• Reality Rating | SpaceFund
• Synergy Ornithocket (@ornithocket) / Twitter

The Show

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• Music by Max Justus

Mark Wiese, Manager of NASA’s Gateway Deep Space Logistics, joins me to talk about the logistics architecture for Gateway and, specifically, the selection of SpaceX and Dragon XL for missions in the future. He even lets me get really nerdy and responds to some of my complaints and questions from past episodes!

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 38 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Simon, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Adam, and seven anonymous—and 384 other supporters.

Topics

• Mark Wiese (@MW_go4launch) / Twitter
• Mark D. Wiese, Manager, Deep Space Logistics, Gateway Program | Kennedy Biographies | NASA
• About Gateway Deep Space Logistics | NASA
• NASA Awards Artemis Contract for Gateway Logistics Services | NASA
• Source Selection Statement for the Gateway Logistics Services Contract
• Episode T+152: SpaceX’s Dragon XL Wins Gateway Logistics Services Contract - Main Engine Cut Off
• NASA Seeks Information for Gateway Cargo Delivery Services
• Gateway Logistics Services - Main Engine Cut Off
• Episode T+124: Gateway Logistics Services, FY2020 NDAA, and Small GEO Satellites - Main Engine Cut Off
• Gateway Logistics Services - Draft RFP - beta.SAM.gov

The Show

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• Music by Max Justus

Northrop Grumman was awarded $187 million for the Gateway Habitat design, which caps off NASA’s 2020 budget work for Artemis components. Additionally, Kathy Lueders was named head of human spaceflight at NASA, which is huge and fantastic news. We take a look at the Artemis program’s acquisitions so far and the road ahead under Lueders’ leadership.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 38 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Simon, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Adam, and seven anonymous—and 377 other supporters.

Topics

• donate.offnominal.space
• Let’s Make Space Better. | Off-Nominal
• Origins: Jim Bridenstine | Off-Nominal
• WeMartians Podcast
• NASA to sole source Gateway habitation module to Northrop Grumman - SpaceNews.com
• NASA Awards Northrop Grumman Artemis Contract for Gateway Crew Cabin | NASA
• NASA selects Maxar to build first Gateway element - SpaceNews.com
• First Two Gateway Elements to Launch Together - Main Engine Cut Off
• Kathy Lueders Selected to Lead NASA’s Human Spaceflight Office | NASA
• Episode T+158: Doug Loverro Resigns, and a Bit About the Artemis Accords - Main Engine Cut Off
• Episode T+159: SpaceX Demo-2 Carries Crew to ISS - Main Engine Cut Off
• NASA Selects Blue Origin, Dynetics, SpaceX for Artemis Human Landers
• NASA Awards Artemis Contract for Gateway Logistics Services | NASA

The Show

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• Music by Max Justus

It happened! American astronauts on American rockets from American soil. Bob and Doug successfully launched, docked to the ISS, and joined Expedition 63. I talk about what this means for SpaceX, NASA, space policy, and where things go from here.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 37 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Mints, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Adam, and six anonymous—and 371 other supporters.

Topics

• NASA Astronauts Launch from America in Test of SpaceX Crew Dragon | NASA
• Station Welcomes First SpaceX Crew Dragon with Astronauts | NASA
• SpaceX DM-2 Launch! Hang out and watch the prep, launch, and early orbital operations. - YouTube
• Crew Demo 2 (Launch) - YouTube
• Crew Demo 2 (Approach and Docking) - YouTube
• Main Engine Cut Off on Twitter: “Fantastic clip, and a wonderful event from Dragon this morning”
• After troubled first flight, Boeing will refly Starliner without crew | Ars Technica
• Michael Baylor on Twitter: “SpaceX has been given NASA approval to fly flight-proven Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon vehicles during Commercial Crew flights starting with Post-Certification Mission 2, per a modification to SpaceX's contract with NASA.”
• Michael Sheetz on Twitter: “Axiom Space CEO Mike Suffredini said his company's private trip to the ISS with SpaceX is scheduled for October 2021, so Demo-2 helped ‘our customers know that it's going to be real.’ Axiom plans to announce the 3 passengers in a month or so.”
• Space Adventures Announces Agreement with SpaceX to Launch Private Citizens on the Crew Dragon Spacecraft - Space Adventures
• Current and former NASA leadership share credit for commercial crew - SpaceNews.com

The Show

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• Music by Max Justus

The head of human spaceflight at NASA resigned last week, just before the most important crewed launch the agency has seen in a decade. However, it appears as though the resignation is related to the Artemis program and its landers. I give some thoughts on the implications of the departure, and also cover a recent development in international space politics—the Artemis Accords.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 37 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Mints, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Adam, and six anonymous—and 371 other supporters.

Topics

• NASA human spaceflight head Loverro leaves agency - SpaceNews.com
• Here’s why NASA’s chief of human spaceflight resigned—and why it matters | Ars Technica
• Doug Loverro Resigns - SpacePolicyOnline.com
• Head of NASA’s human exploration program demoted as agency pushes for Moon return - The Verge
• Episode T+126: The NASA Ousters - Main Engine Cut Off
• Episode T+157: Blue Origin, Dynetics, and SpaceX Win NASA Lunar Lander Contracts - Main Engine Cut Off
• NASA Artemis Accords
• NASA Unveils “Artemis Accords” - SpacePolicyOnline.com

The Show

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• Buy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off Shop
• Music by Max Justus

NASA announced three contract awards for the Artemis Progam’s Human Landing System—a Blue Origin-led team, Dynetics, and SpaceX’s Starship. I talk through some thoughts on each landing system and what the future might hold for NASA, regarding both politics and decisions.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 37 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Mints, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Adam, and six anonymous—and 363 other supporters.

Topics

• NASA Selects Blue Origin, Dynetics, SpaceX for Artemis Human Landers
• NASA Names Companies to Develop Human Landers for Artemis Missions | NASA
• Blue Origin's HLS National Team Mission to the Moon to Stay with NASA - YouTube
• Dynetics Lander Infographic (PDF, 5.1MB)
• SpaceX on Twitter: “A lunar optimized Starship can fly many times between the surface of the Moon and lunar orbit without flaps or heat shielding required for Earth return”
• House members criticize NASA lunar lander awards - SpaceNews.com
• Episode T+152: SpaceX’s Dragon XL Wins Gateway Logistics Services Contract - Main Engine Cut Off
• NASA Announces Industry Partnerships to Advance Moon, Mars Technology | NASA
• New Companies Join Growing Ranks of NASA Partners for Artemis Program | NASA

The Show

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• Music by Max Justus

Sean Mahoney, CEO of Masten Space Systems joins me to talk about everything they’ve been up to lately, from flights of their terrestrial vehicles out in Mojave, NASA’s Lunar CATALYST program, their recent Commercial Lunar Payload Services task order award, and some other projects like DARPA’s XS-1, the Broadsword engine, and XEUS.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 37 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Mints, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Adam, and six anonymous—and 361 other supporters.

Topics

• Masten Space Systems
• Masten Space Systems (@mastenspace) / Twitter
• mastenspace - YouTube
• Whats the Point? — Masten Space Systems
• Lunar CATALYST | NASA
• XL-1 — Masten Space Systems
• NASA Awards Contract to Deliver Science, Tech to Moon | NASA
• Masten Space Systems Will Deliver NASA and Commercial Payloads to the Lunar Surface in 2022 — Masten Space Systems
• Masten Space Systems selected by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for XS-1 Program — Masten Space Systems
• Masten Achieves First Hot-Fire of Broadsword Rocket Engine — Masten Space Systems
• XEUS — Masten Space Systems

The Show

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• Buy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off Shop
• Music by Max Justus

Peter Beck, Founder, CEO, and CTO of Rocket Lab returns to the show to talk about how the industry is dealing with the pandemic, and to update us on their busy past few months, including their acquisition of Sinclair Interplanetary, flying missions to the Moon and beyond, and their work towards reusability.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 37 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Mints, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Adam, and six anonymous—and 357 other supporters.

Topics

• Peter Beck (@Peter_J_Beck) | Twitter
• Rocket Lab | Frequent and reliable access launch is now a reality | Rocket Lab
• Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) | Twitter
• Rocket Lab - YouTube
• Episode T+138: Peter Beck, Founder of Rocket Lab - Main Engine Cut Off
• Rocket Lab executive says company is well positioned to weather crisis - SpaceNews.com
• Rocket Lab Expands Footprint with New Long Beach Headquarters and Production Complex | Rocket Lab
• Rocket Lab to Acquire Satellite Hardware Manufacturer Sinclair Interplanetary | Rocket Lab
• Sinclair Interplanetary
• Rocket Lab Selected by NASA to Launch Pathfinder Mission to the Moon | Rocket Lab
• Rocket Lab’s Electron Launch Vehicle Certified by NASA | Rocket Lab
• Rocket Lab Debuts Fully Autonomous Flight Termination System | Rocket Lab
• Rocket Lab Opens Launch Complex 2, Confirms U.S. Air Force Payload as First Electron Mission from U.S. Soil | Rocket Lab
• Rocket Lab launches milestone tenth mission, completes major success for reusable rocket program | Rocket Lab
• Rocket Lab Successfully Completes Electron Mid-Air Recovery Test   | Rocket Lab
• Rocket Lab to Launch Dedicated Mission for Japanese Space Industry Start-up Company Synspective | Rocket Lab

The Show

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• Music by Max Justus

Tim Ellis, CEO and Cofounder of Relativity joins me for an in-depth discussion about Relativity’s status and work towards their first launch. We cover everything from their company vision, funding, new headquarters, wider fairing, customer backlog, potential west coast launch site, and dive into the details of Stargate and Relativity’s materials work.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 37 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Mints, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Adam, and six anonymous—and 354 other supporters.

Topics

• Relativity Space
• Terran — Relativity Space
• Stargate — Relativity Space
• Relativity Space (@relativityspace) / Twitter
• Tim Ellis (@thetimellis) / Twitter
• Relativity Space raises $140 million - SpaceNews.com
• Relativity to move headquarters to Long Beach - SpaceNews.com
• Relativity Space on Twitter: “Good afternoon from Los Angeles - this is our Stage 2 Iron Bird, which will be the first additively manufactured tank to feed propellants to a rocket engine.”
• Relativity Space has big dreams. Is the company for real? | Ars Technica
• Relativity Signs Telesat, Eyes Polar Launch Site - Main Engine Cut Off

The Show

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• Buy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off Shop
• Music by Max Justus

A flurry of Commercial Crew news hit last week: new crew members were announced for SpaceX Crew-1, Jim Bridenstine shed some light on the DM-2 schedule, and Boeing will refly the Starliner uncrewed test flight. I break down each of those and talk through why those stories are more connected than was hinted at by NASA and others.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 37 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, David, Mints, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Adam, and six anonymous—and 352 other supporters.

Topics

• NASA selects astronauts for Crew Dragon mission - SpaceNews.com
• NASA, SpaceX to launch astronauts in May despite coronavirus pandemic
• Boeing will refly botched Starliner test flight, setting back its hopes for sending people into space this year - The Washington Post
• Boeing Statement on Starliner's Next Flight
• Boeing to Refly Starliner’s Uncrewed Test This Fall, Potentially After SpaceX Crew-1 - Main Engine Cut Off

The Show

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• Subscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off Newsletter
• Buy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off Shop
• Music by Max Justus