T+146: Loren Grush on Commercial Crew, Starlink, NASA Authorization, and More

Loren Grush of The Verge joins me to talk about a whole host of current topics—SpaceX’s in-flight abort test, Starliner’s shaky first test and its fallout, space traffic, Starlink, the NASA Authorization bill, and why ”Space is hard” is the worst mantra.

This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 37 executive producers—Brandon, Kris, Pat, Matt, Jorge, Brad, Ryan, Nadim, Peter, Donald, Lee, Chris, Warren, Bob, Russell, John, Moritz, Joel, Jan, Grant, Mike, David, Mints, Joonas, Robb, Tim Dodd the Everyday Astronaut, Frank, Julian and Lars from Agile Space, Tommy, Adam, and six anonymous—and 329 other supporters.

Topics

• Loren Grush (@lorengrush) | Twitter
• Loren Grush Profile and Activity - The Verge
• Verge Science - YouTube
• SpaceX successfully tests escape system on new spacecraft — while destroying a rocket - The Verge
• Boeing and NASA are forming an investigation team to figure out cause of spacecraft mishap - The Verge
• Starliner’s thruster performance receiving close scrutiny from NASA | Ars Technica
• Stop saying ‘space is hard’ - The Verge
• The era of satellite-repairing robots is here - YouTube
• LeoLabs, Inc. on Twitter: “Our latest update this morning for IRAS / GGSE 4 shows a 12m miss distance, with a Probability of Collision (Pc) back to 1 in 100.”
• Mesmerizing graph shows uncomfortably close encounters between space junk - The Verge
• SpaceX successfully launches its fourth batch of internet-beaming Starlink satellites - The Verge
• House Draft NASA Authorization Bill is the Greatest Hits of Terrible, Dead-End Space Policy - Main Engine Cut Off
• A proposed House bill is threatening to rework NASA’s Moon plans - The Verge
• Christian Davenport on Twitter: “Show of force? NASA Administrator @JimBridenstine is at the House space subcommittee mark up. Says he’s here ‘because it’s open to the public.’”

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