Main Engine Cut Off

Main Engine Cut Off

Colangelo Studios, LLC

MECO is opinion and analysis of spaceflight, exploration, policy, and strategy, by Anthony Colangelo.

20 minutes 1 second

T+291: Axiom Updates Station Plans, Firefly Wins Another CLPS Mission
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
The Show
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- Artwork photo by SpaceX
- Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works
21 December 2024, 1:00 pm
21 minutes 15 seconds

T+290: Jared Isaacman Nominated NASA Administrator
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
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
6 December 2024, 4:59 pm
30 minutes 39 seconds

T+289: Starship Flight 6, ABL’s Pivot, NS-26 (Headlines Preview)
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
22 November 2024, 9:22 pm
27 minutes 9 seconds

T+288: The Return of President Trump
Donald Trump has been reelected President of the United States, and the main character of spaceflight, Elon Musk, is one of his top advisors. Some thoughts on where things may go from here, and a bit of my wishlist.
This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 31 executive producers—Lee, Russell, The Astrogators at SEE, Theo and Violet, David, Fred, Donald, Stealth Julian, Josh from Impulse, Joel, Harrison, Warren, Ryan, Pat from KC, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Will and Lars from Agile, Frank, Steve, Joonas, Bob, Better Every Day Studios, Pat, Kris, Jan, Matt, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.
Topics
- NASA faces disruptive presidential transition - SpaceNews
- Elon Musk on X (DOGE statement)
- Eric Berger on X: “To be clear we are far from anything being settled, but based on what I'm hearing it seems at least 50-50 that NASA's Space Launch System rocket will be canceled. Not Block 1B. Not Block 2. All of it. There are other ways to get Orion to the Moon.”
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
13 November 2024, 7:01 pm
42 minutes 17 seconds

T+287: Polaris Dawn (with Jared Isaacman)
Jared Isaacman of the Polaris Program joins me to talk about the Polaris Dawn mission, his EVA experience, the Hubble Space Telescope situation, how the Polaris Program and SpaceX approach tech development and flight planning, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
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
- Jared Isaacman (@rookisaacman) / X
- Polaris Program
- Polaris Dawn
- SpaceX on X: “The @PolarisProgram’s Polaris Dawn crew performed the first-ever spacewalk from Dragon, travelled farther from Earth than anyone since the Apollo program, and used @Starlink to connect with those back on Earth”
- T+233: Jared Isaacman, Polaris Program - Main Engine Cut Off
- Private mission to save Hubble Space Telescope raises concerns, NASA emails show : NPR
- In first sports bet from space, billionaire Jared Isaacson picks Eagles to win Super Bowl LVI | PhillyVoice
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
1 November 2024, 6:58 pm
20 minutes 55 seconds

T+286: Starship Flight 5
SpaceX is entering a new era for Starship after the epic Flight 5, with its pinpoint ship reentry and staggeringly beautiful booster catch.
This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 31 executive producers—Matt, Will and Lars from Agile, Steve, Harrison, Warren, Frank, Russell, Josh from Impulse, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Stealth Julian, Fred, Lee, David, Theo and Violet, Joonas, Better Every Day Studios, Jan, Ryan, Pat, Pat from KC, Joel, Kris, Donald, The Astrogators at SEE, Bob, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.
Topics
- SpaceX on X: “Watch Starship's fifth flight test”
- SpaceX on X: “Starship on its fifth flight test. Views powered by @Starlink”
- Starship’s Fifth Flight Test - SpaceX - Launches
- SpaceX Catches a Super Heavy Booster During a Milestone Flight 5 - NASASpaceFlight.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 SpaceX
- Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works
17 October 2024, 6:26 pm
18 minutes 49 seconds

T+285: The Public Dispute Between SpaceX and the FAA
SpaceX and the FAA have been going a few rounds back and forth in public over fines and delays. It’s weird and inscrutable but maybe helpful in the long run in a few ways.
This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 31 executive producers—Donald, Pat from KC, Joel, Jan, Lee, Better Every Day Studios, Fred, Theo and Violet, Russell, Pat, Warren, Joonas, David, Stealth Julian, Bob, Harrison, Frank, Josh from Impulse, The Astrogators at SEE, Kris, Ryan, Will and Lars from Agile, Steve, Matt, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), and four anonymous—and 821 other supporters.
Topics
- The war of words between SpaceX and the FAA keeps escalating | Ars Technica
- FAA administrator defends SpaceX licensing actions on safety grounds - SpaceNews
- SpaceX letter criticizes FAA for “systemic challenges” in launch licensing - SpaceNews
- SpaceX on X: “FAA Administrator Whitaker made several incorrect statements today regarding SpaceX. In fact, every statement he made was incorrect. It is deeply concerning that the Administrator does not appear to have accurate information immediately available to him with respect to SpaceX”
- Elon Musk on X: “Amazingly, no Starliner fines for Boeing! The FAA space division is harassing SpaceX about nonsense that doesn’t affect safety while giving a free pass to Boeing even after NASA concluded that their spacecraft was not safe enough to bring back the astronauts. There need to be resignations from the FAA leadership.”
- Elon Musk on X: “Shouldn’t the head of an organization responsible for regulating the safety of airplanes & rockets know something about how they work?”
- Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age | West Houston's Neighborhood Bookshop
- Reentry by Eric Berger - Audiobook - Audible.com
- Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age Kindle Edition
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 ESA
- Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works
30 September 2024, 7:41 pm
1 hour 1 minute

T+284: Stoke Space (with Andy Lapsa, CEO)
Andy Lapsa, Co-Founder and CEO of Stoke Space, joins me to talk about the company, their vision for the future, their approach to launch, the larger trends that are shaping the market, and how that all might come together in the next few years.
This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 31 executive producers—Steve, Fred, Joonas, Better Every Day Studios, Stealth Julian, Kris, Theo and Violet, Harrison, Matt, Josh from Impulse, Russell, Warren, Pat from KC, Ryan, Jan, Donald, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Bob, Pat, Joel, Will and Lars from Agile, David, The Astrogators at SEE, Lee, Frank, and four anonymous—and 821 other supporters.
Topics
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 ESA
- Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works
22 August 2024, 6:37 pm
50 minutes 45 seconds

T+283: Starliner, Fram2, VIPER, Blue Moon (with Jeff Foust)
Jeff Foust of Space News joins me to talk about Starliner, Fram2, VIPER, Blue Moon, and everything else going on in space.
This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 31 executive producers—Jan, Warren, Pat from KC, David, Frank, Lee, Joonas, Josh from Impulse, Steve, Harrison, Russell, Joel, Bob, The Astrogators at SEE, Stealth Julian, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Kris, Fred, Theo and Violet, Matt, Donald, Will and Lars from Agile, Ryan, Pat, Better Every Day Studios, and four anonymous—and 823 other supporters.
Topics
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 ESA
- Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works
15 August 2024, 3:56 pm
57 minutes 7 seconds

T+282: Space Policy and Presidential Transitions (with Mark Albrecht)
Mark Albrecht joins me to talk about the state and future of space policy in a very dynamic Presidential election year. He shares some stories from the past, talks about his experience in presidential transitions and on the National Space Council, and ruminates on what we may see in November and beyond.
This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 31 executive producers—Stealth Julian, Joel, Lee, Kris, David, Ryan, Theo and Violet, Donald, Jan, Harrison, Will and Lars from Agile, Josh from Impulse, Matt, Steve, The Astrogators at SEE, Bob, Russell, Frank, Pat from KC, Joonas, Pat, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Better Every Day Studios, Warren, Fred, and four anonymous—and 816 other supporters.
Topics
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 ESA
- Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works
1 August 2024, 6:43 pm
34 minutes 24 seconds

T+281: Star Catcher (with Andrew Rush, President & CEO)
Andrew Rush returns to the show to talk about his new venture, Star Catcher. They are working to build an energy grid in space, beaming energy directly to existing solar panels on satellites in LEO.
This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 31 executive producers—Steve, Kris, Theo and Violet, Warren, Ryan, Josh from Impulse, Better Every Day Studios, Lee, Jan, Harrison, Fred, Matt, Donald, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Pat, The Astrogators at SEE, Stealth Julian, Joonas, Russell, David, Pat from KC, Will and Lars from Agile, Bob, Joel, Frank, and four anonymous—and 821 other supporters.
Topics
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 NASA
- Work with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works
24 July 2024, 1:00 pm
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