I’m back after a few wonderful weeks offline with my newly-arrived son, Will! I figured I’d jump back in with a rundown of the important and notable bits of news that happened while I was gone.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 38 executive producers—Brandon, Matthew, Simon, Lauren, Melissa, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Ryan, Nadim, 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 402 other supporters.

Topics

My son has arrived! Signing off for a few weeks. - Main Engine Cut Off
Main Engine Cut Off on Twitter: “It’s Space Shirt Friday over in the @offnom Discord and I’m guessing @JimBridenstine will appreciate Will’s first participation in it.”
Discovery of noxious gas on Venus could be a sign of life - The Verge
What the future of Venus exploration could look like following major discovery - The Verge
Venus is One Stop in Our Search for Life - Administrator Jim Bridenstine
Rocket Lab Launches First In-house Designed & Built Photon Satellite | Rocket Lab
NASA signs agreement with Italy to cooperate on Artemis - SpaceNews
NASA Publishes Artemis Plan to Land First Woman, Next Man on Moon | NASA
Bridenstine Optimistic About Full HLS Funding - SpacePolicyOnline.com
Senate Hearing Offers No Hints on Prospect for Artemis Funding - SpacePolicyOnline.com
Another Senate Hearing, But Still No Clue on Likely Fate of Artemis Funding - SpacePolicyOnline.com
Space Resources are the Key to Safe and Sustainable Lunar Exploration - Administrator Jim Bridenstine
Purchase of Lunar Regolith and/or Rock Materials from Contractor - beta.SAM.gov
NASA Moon Rocket Stage Passes Simulated Countdown Test | NASA
Jim Bridenstine on Twitter: “More progress on @NASA_SLS Green Run Hot Fire! @NASA_Stennis teams completed the sixth test of the Green Run test series – the simulated countdown – on Sunday, validating the stage for the sequence of events leading up to an Artemis launch.”
OneWeb secures additional financing as bankruptcy restructuring continues - SpaceNews
Bankruptcy court approves OneWeb sale - SpaceNews
SpaceX wins launch contract for NASA space science mission - SpaceNews
After second hop, SpaceX preps for next phase of Starship testing - Spaceflight Now
Starship SN8 prepares for test series - First sighting of Super Heavy - NASASpaceFlight.com
Super Heavy waiting in the wings amid Starship testing - NASASpaceFlight.com
SpaceX on Twitter: “Completed a full duration test fire of the Raptor Vacuum engine at SpaceX’s rocket development facility in McGregor, Texas”
SpaceX launches the first south-bound rocket from Florida in decades - The Verge
Episode T+167: Phillip Hargrove, NASA Launch Services Program - Main Engine Cut Off
SpaceX to Fly to Polar Orbit from Florida - Main Engine Cut Off
Software fix could position Astra for another launch attempt by end of year - Spaceflight Now
Video of Astra Flight 3 from Jennifer Culton
Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit is Seeking Investors - Parabolic Arc
ExoTerra to develop upper stage for Virgin Orbit LauncherOne - SpaceNews

The Show

Like the show? Support the show!
Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.com
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
Buy shirts and Rocket Socks from the Main Engine Cut Off Shop
Music by Max Justus

T+170: Catching Up on the News

Main Engine Cut Off