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Artwork for Main Engine Cut Off

Main Engine Cut Off

Anthony Colangelo
NASA
Spacex
Starship
Artemis Program
Blue Origin
International Space Station
Artemis II
Commercial Space Stations
Elon Musk
Jared Isaacman
FAA
Intuitive Machines
European Space Agency
Falcon 9
Commercial Lunar Payload Services
Starliner
Mars Sample Return
Firefly Aerospace
Economics Of Space
Starlink

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes331Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceTechnologyNatural Sciences

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Artwork for Main Engine Cut Off

Latest Episodes

The show turned 10 last Monday, so I thought it would be fun to have our good friend Jake Robins on to look back at where we were then, what’s happened since, and what that teaches us about the future.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought ... more

Ghonhee Lee, CEO of Katalyst Space, joins me to talk about their upcoming mission to boost NASA’s Swift observatory, and how they are approaching in-orbit services differently than those that came before.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is broug... more

Pam Melroy, Former NASA Deputy Administrator, Space Shuttle Commander, and three-time Shuttle astronaut, joins me to talk about space policy past, present, and future. We talk about the most critical decisions and moments during her time as Deputy Ad... more

Artemis II completed their lunar flyby yesterday, and it was epic on all levels. Paul Fjeld and I discuss that and many other topics related to Artemis, Apollo, and human spaceflight.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 32 execu... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ghonhee Lee
Founder and CEO at Katalyst Space
Katalyst Space
Episode: T+329: Katalyst Space and the Mission to Boost Swift (with Ghonhee Lee, Founder and CEO)
Pam Melroy
Former NASA Deputy Administrator; Shuttle Commander
NASA
Episode: T+328: Pam Melroy, Former NASA Deputy Administrator and Space Shuttle Commander
Paul Fjeld
NASA artist during the Apollo program; involved in mission patches and historical context
NASA (Apollo era) / Smithsonian
Episode: T+327: Artemis II, the Lunar Flyby Edition (with Paul Fjeld)
Tom Mueller
Founder and CEO of Impulse Space
Impulse Space
Episode: T+324: Impulse Space (with Tom Mueller, Founder and CEO)
Loren Grush
Space industry reporter at Bloomberg
Bloomberg
Episode: T+322: SpaceX Acquires xAI as it Prepares for IPO, Blue Origin Cancels New Shepard, and Artemis II Delayed (with Loren Grush)
Casey Dreier
The Planetary Society
The Planetary Society
Episode: T+320: NASA’s FY2026 Budget, the Isaacman Era, and the Eve of Artemis II (with Casey Dreier)
General Chance Saltzman
Chief of Space Operations, US Space Force
United States Space Force
Episode: T+318: General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force
Simone D'Amico
Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics and of Geophysics by courtesy; Chief Science Officer of EraDrive, a satellite technology spin-off from Stanford.
Stanford University
Episode: T+315: Autonomy in Space (with Simone D’Amico, DJ Bush, and Al Tadros)
DJ Bush
Senior Account Manager at Nvidia, focusing on aerospace customers and leading space projects.
Nvidia
Episode: T+315: Autonomy in Space (with Simone D’Amico, DJ Bush, and Al Tadros)

Host

Anthony Colangelo
Host providing opinion and analysis of spaceflight, exploration, policy, and strategy.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 761 ratings
  • Excellent source of space news, good and challenging interviews with people in the industry, and Anthony has a great sense of where the industry is and where it is headed. His predictions consistently hit the mark.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    CallMeKenneth
    5 months ago
  • Make time for this

    Anthony is a warm, funny and thoughtful host. Esp for those w/o a strong technical background, this is the way to stay informed on whats happening in space. There’s a “human first” approach here, which means you’ll always be enjoying the ride.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    venkabanks
    United Statesa year ago
  • Wonderful space podcast

    One of the best space podcasts, maybe the best. Anthony has insightful in depth coverage of the launch industry and broader space sector.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BrianOak
    United States2 years ago
  • Go MECO!

    Huge fan of this one, always meaningful and with interesting insights. I like the fact that it does not have a defined frequency, but Anthony will comment most of the time within a week of any significant development. So when an episode is out, you know it is going to be worth it. And I never let an episode without listening for more than a few days. Keep up the good work Anthony!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    glionzion
    Spain2 years ago
  • Amazing updates on what's going on with space flight

    Podcast Addict
    5
    mrDLSable
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans enjoy the honest discussions surrounding both successes and challenges in the space industry.
Reviews highlight the podcast as a necessary resource for anyone invested in space exploration and stay informed on industry trends.
The host is recognized for his ability to simplify technical subjects while maintaining accuracy and depth.
Listeners appreciate the engaging delivery and in-depth analysis of complex space topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

T+329: Katalyst Space and the Mission to Boost Swift (with Ghonhee Lee, Founder and CEO)
Q: What makes this mission a proof of concept for a broader future, and how do you envision scaling this beyond Swift?
Lee emphasizes that this mission is a statement about possibility, not a one-off cash grab. By owning the full system and modular payload strategy, Katalyst can service multiple customers with a single platform, enabling life extension and future missions from LEO to GEO and beyond. The focus is on economics and use cases, showing that robotic servicing can be repeatable, scalable, and integrated with both commercial and national-security missions, potentially extending satellites like Hubble in the future.
T+329: Katalyst Space and the Mission to Boost Swift (with Ghonhee Lee, Founder and CEO)
Q: What originally drew you to pursuing robotic servicing and how did Katalyst come to work with NASA on this Swift mission?
The founders saw a clear pathway from industrial robotics to space, recognizing a big industry gap for practical servicing missions. Lee explains that Katalyst aimed to create pragmatic, repeatable servicing capabilities rather than chasing a grand, high-cost mission; acquiring another company helped unify hardware, software, and contracts into a single, capable team. The team demonstrated the ability to move from a napkin sketch to a flight-ready system within a tight nine-month window, earning NASA's trust for the Swift mission.
T+318: General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force
Q: How do you think the US Space Force can adapt to the increasing threats posed by China's space program?
General Saltzman emphasizes the importance of agility and speed in adapting to new technologies and threats.
T+318: General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force
Q: What is your opinion on the need for acquisition reform?
General Saltzman believes that the effort to reform acquisition processes is crucial for adapting to fast-changing military needs.
T+318: General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force
Q: What most important changes have occurred in the Space Force in the last couple of years?
General Saltzman reflects on the rapid changes and dynamic environment since the establishment of the Space Force, particularly during the pandemic.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Main Engine Cut Off

What is Main Engine Cut Off about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Content focuses on developments in space exploration, including significant updates from NASA and private companies in the aerospace sector. Topics frequently include the Artemis program, SpaceX, Blue Origin, and the broader implications of industry changes on policy and public perception. The host balances technical analysis with accessible discussions, making complex subjects comprehensible to a broader audience. Noteworthy is the engaging presentation style and the incorporation of expert insights, providing listeners with informed perspectives on critical space-related issues.

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Which podcasts are similar to Main Engine Cut Off?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Main Engine Cut Off:

1. Off-Nominal
2. Are We There Yet?
3. Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science
4. This Week in Space (Audio)
5. Houston We Have a Podcast

How many episodes of Main Engine Cut Off are there?

Main Engine Cut Off launched 10 years ago and published 331 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Main Engine Cut Off?

Recent guests on Main Engine Cut Off include:

1. Ghonhee Lee
2. Pam Melroy
3. Paul Fjeld
4. Tom Mueller
5. Loren Grush
6. Casey Dreier
7. General Chance Saltzman
8. Simone D'Amico

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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