Episode 1505: SpaceX Can’t Slow Down; Starliner’s Pet Black Swan

This episode is packed full of news and insights. Let’s get to it!

In the News Roundup:

• NASA selects the second lunar lander partnership for the Artemis moon missions
• Rocket Lab scoops up a bargain with purchase of lease for Virgin Orbit’s Long Beach, CA headquarters and the usual “certain other assets”
• Virgin Galactic’s Unity 25 successful test flight with a full test-crew complement – next comes paying customers
• Spain joins the Artemis Accords
• The Axiom Ax2 Mission is accomplished, spending eight days aboard the ISS and returning to Earth safely on May 30, 2023
• Join the Europa Clipper mission and have your name engraved on NASA’s spacecraft as it prepares to leave for Europa

Next, Larry brings us a story about Elon Musk’s companies (SpaceX and The Boring Company) making messes seemingly everywhere they go in Texas. Regulatory agencies can hardly keep up with the citations and Notices of Violation for environmental and public safety concerns. Regarding our coverage of an environmentalist group’s lawsuit against the FAA: while we did report that SpaceX also responded to the lawsuit with its own filing with the court a request to be included as a defendant in the lawsuit, we did not mention in the episode that SpaceX’s filing outlines the potential consequences for the company if the environmentalists prevail in the lawsuit. These consequences include negative outcomes for its business as well as damage to the “substantial national interest.” SpaceX also asserted that the scientific knowledge facilitated by Starship would suffer as a result. These are all valid concerns, and it’s likely there are ways to satisfy both sides of this issue without undue delay or unjustified expense. We’ll be following this issue closely.

Finally, Gene and Sawyer provide detailed insights to the news that the first-ever crewed launch of the Boeing Starliner astronaut capsule has been delayed once again due to safety issues with the spacecraft’s parachutes and electrical wiring harness tape that were discovered in late May.  

Please be sure to let us know your thoughts on the topics we discuss. You can always reach us at mailbag@TalkingSpaceOnline.com .

Show recorded 06-04-2023.

Host: Sawyer Rosenstein

Panelists: Gene Mikulka, Mark Ratterman and Larry Herrin (Dr. Kat Robison will return)

Podcast Editor: Larry Herrin

Transition Music Credit: Pixabay - StudioKolomna