Main Engine Cut Off
MECO is opinion and analysis of spaceflight, exploration, policy, and strategy, by Anthony Colangelo.
- Update frequency
- every 11 days
- Average duration
- 33 minutes
- Episodes
- 310
- Years Active
- 2016 - 2025
T+9: ExoMars 2016 and 2020, Chinese Partnerships and Policy
The ExoMars 2020 rover received a funding boost and a reassessed schedule, the 2016 orbiter/lander set its sights on Mars, NASA and ESA coordinated a practice communication session, and China opens u…
T+8: Masten’s Xodiac and XaeroB, Blue Origin’s Next Flight of New Shepard
Masten Space Systems released a video of test flights of their two latest vehicles. Blue Origin was awarded a NASA Flight Opportunities contract, is planning the 4th flight of New Shepard, and began …
T+7: Bezos and Musk at Code Conference, and a Hard Look at Vulcan’s Economics
Some interesting tidbits emerged from interviews with Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk at Code Conference. And a hard look at the economics of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan.
T+6: Orbital ATK’s Next-Gen Vehicle, Falcon 9 Proving Its Reusability, and ULA’s Tough Future
Orbital ATK shared some more details about their next-generation launch vehicle, SpaceX is working out their certification process for reflown stages, and how these events affect the industry and oth…
T+5: Space Stations Around the Moon and Mars, ExoMars 2016, and China’s Momentum in Space
Orbital ATK and Lockheed Martin unveiled proposals for space stations around the Moon by 2020, and Mars by 2028. ExoMars 2016 completed a functionality analysis test ahead of its October arrival at M…
T+4: Boeing’s CST-100, SpaceX’s Dragon 2, and a Scorched Falcon 9
Boeing announced a 6 month delay in the schedule for their CST-100 crew vehicle. SpaceX’s Dragon 2 is in the lead to be the first Commercial Crew vehicle to fly. The most recently-returned Falcon 9 t…
T+3: Falcon 9 GTO Mission Drone Ship Landing, Orbital ATK’s Current and Future Launch Vehicles
SpaceX landed another Falcon 9 first stage on their drone ship—this time on a GTO launch, which is a major milestone on their way to full reusability and Falcon Heavy flights. Orbital ATK’s Antares l…
T+2: SpaceX’s Red Dragon, Falcon Performance, and the Political Fallout of OA-6
SpaceX officially announced their first Red Dragon mission to Mars, which will pave the way for future missions. They also posted new performance metrics for Falcon 9 and Heavy, which position the la…
T+1: The Near Future of NASA’s Orion and SLS Programs
An analysis of NASA’s human spaceflight programs, Orion and the Space Launch System. How we got here, where we’re going, and how things could shake out with an eventful November in US politics coming…
T-0: The Near Future of US-Based Competitors
An analysis of the intricate dance between United Launch Alliance, SpaceX, and Blue Origin as we enter the next era of spaceflight.