Podcast appearances and mentions of Eric Berger

Musk's Audacious Mars Colonization Vision. Eric Berger discusses Elon Musk's remarkable September 2016 speech in Guadalajara outlining the colonization of Mars. Musk proposed building a self-sustaining colony requiring landing a million tons of equipment using a fully reusable massive rocket. This vision, described as audacious and like science fiction, revealed the company's true intent: establishing a second civilization to prevent species extinction, informing every subsequent step taken by SpaceX. Guest: Eric Berger.

Developing and Launching the First Falcon 9. Eric Berger recounts the difficult summer of 2009 preparing the first Falcon 9 booster, featuring nine Merlin engines housed in an octagonal web. Engineers endured intense 100-hour weeks handling complex wiring and propulsion plumbing. The subsequent road trip from Texas to Florida was arduous, including crashing the rocket's interstage into a building. Despite severe issues, like storm-fried antennas, an impatient Elon Musk pushed for a successful launch in June 2010, securing potential NASA contracts. Guest: Eric Berger.

Dragon Spacecraft Development and Reusability Focus. Eric Berger explains that SpaceX needed NASA contracts to fund its Mars ambition. NASA provided critical funding in 2006 and 2009 for the Dragon spacecraft to deliver cargo to the International Space Station, replacing retiring vehicles like the Space Shuttle. Dragon was designed for recoverability and reuse, incorporating propulsion into the capsule itself, which increased complexity. Under pressure from Musk's impatience, SpaceX combined two critical test missions, C2 and C3, in 2012, ultimately succeeding due to a brave decision by a NASA flight director to allow on-the-spot software changes. Guest: Eric Berger.

Falcon 9 Full Thrust: Densification and Barge Landings. Eric Berger describes how, following a 2015 failure, SpaceX developed the Falcon 9 Full Thrust, version 3.0/4.0. Driven by the Mars vision, they adopted densification—chilling liquid oxygen to boost density and increase payload efficiency by 10 to 12 percent. Crucially, they focused on landing the booster vertically on a moving barge, skipping steps in the reusability process. This challenge required redesigned Merlin engines and advanced avionics, leading to several learning failures as they tried to figure out how best to line up the rocket with the ship. Guest: Eric Berger.

Achieving Reusability and Navigating Launch Failures. Eric Berger reports that in December 2015, SpaceX demonstrated reusability with the successful launch and vertical landing of the Falcon 9 Full Thrust at Landing Zone 1. The launch utilized densified propellant, requiring a tight launch window. The risky landing involved the Air Force approving a rocket with fuel returning over expensive real estate, despite concerns from groups like the National Reconnaissance Office. However, three weeks before his Mars speech, the Amos 6 satellite was violently destroyed during fueling in September 2016. Elon Musk favored an unfounded "sniper theory" to explain this failure. Guest: Eric Berger.

Starlink: Funding the Mars Vision through LEO Constellations. Eric Berger discusses Starlink, a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites designed to fund Musk's Mars vision. While the idea wasn't new, deploying thousands of satellites for global internet was previously viewed as impractical due to manufacturing and launch rate limitations. Starlink, now highly successful with about 7,000 operational satellites, minimizes lag compared to geostationary systems like Iridium. This revenue stream is critical to supporting the company's goals, although the work environment demands extreme dedication from employees who often sacrifice personal lives. Guest: Eric Berger.

Crew Dragon and Commercial Human Spaceflight. Eric Berger discusses NASA's Commercial Crew Program, initiated after the Space Shuttle retired. Boeing's entry legitimized the program, securing crucial congressional funding for competitors like SpaceX. SpaceX adapted the Dragon design for crew, involving extensive parachute testing by the "Shoot Show" team in the desert and ultimately agreeing to water landings for astronaut safety. Crew Dragon launched atop the Falcon 9 Block 5, the modern rocket iteration optimized for rapid reuse, emphasizing that reusability remained the central focus, even for human spaceflight. Guest: Eric Berger.

Starship and Super Heavy: The Fully Reusable Mars Vehicle. Eric Berger details the development of Starship and Super Heavy at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. Starship is the culmination of SpaceX's efforts: a fully reusable, super heavy rocket much larger than the Saturn 5, designed to carry humans into deep space and enable the Mars colony. A critical innovation for rapid reuse is the "chopstick" system, which catches both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship second stage, saving time and mass. The long-term plan involves using a fleet of Starships, refueled in low Earth orbit, to transport a million tons of cargo to Mars during biannual transfer windows. Guest: Eric Berger. Retry

Jake and Anthony are joined by Eric Berger, Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica, to talk about the fight to be NASA Administrator, and to provide the lander for Artemis 3.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 216 - Golden Llama (with Eric Berger) - YouTubeWhy did NASA's chief just shake up the agency's plans to land on the Moon? - Ars TechnicaElon Musk just declared war on NASA's acting administrator, apparently - Ars TechnicaHow America fell behind China in the lunar space race—and how it can catch back up - Ars TechnicaActually, we are going to tell you the odds of recovering New Glenn's second launch - Ars TechnicaGEORGE SANTOS reviewing NASA space suit

Massive “No Kings” protests swept across the country this weekend — peaceful, organized, and impossible to ignore. Chuck Todd breaks down what the demonstrations say about growing frustration with Trump’s leadership as his administration faces a government shutdown, soaring insurance costs, and a controversial new military campaign in the Caribbean. As Trump retweets crude AI videos and governs for only half the country, Congress remains silent on legally dubious strikes against Venezuela, an operation critics say has more to do with ousting Maduro than fighting drugs. Todd examines how America’s history of self-interest in Latin America and declining democratic norms at home have converged to create a moment of moral and political reckoning — and why ignoring it might come at a cost. Then, Ars Technica space journalist Eric Berger joins Chuck Todd to unpack the new global race to the moon — and why it’s about power as much as science. With China poised to beat the U.S. back to the lunar surface, NASA’s Artemis program faces both technological and geopolitical pressure. Berger and Todd explore how space has become the next great stage for competition, where the first shots of a future war could be fired — not on Earth, but in orbit. From SpaceX’s dominance and Elon Musk’s influence, to Blue Origin’s lagging efforts and Boeing’s uncertain role, the conversation digs into who will actually shape humanity’s future beyond Earth. They also discuss the growing role of private companies in both space exploration and weather forecasting, how AI is reshaping meteorology, and whether we’ll ever see space-based energy or asteroid mining become viable. It’s a sweeping look at how politics, technology, and ambition are colliding — in a sky that’s getting more crowded by the day. Finally, Chuck Todd hops in the ToddCast Time Machine to recap the history of the Teapot Dome scandal and how it closely mirrors the corruption of the Trump administration, answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment, and recaps the weekend in college football. Got injured in an accident? You could be one click away from a claim worth millions. Just visit https://www.forthepeople.com/TODDCAST to start your claim now with Morgan & Morgan without leaving your couch. Remember, it's free unless you win! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:30 No Kings protests held around the country 02:15 Protests were timed deliberately in advance of elections 04:30 Huge turnout numbers at the protests 08:30 No incidents at protests that led to confrontations with police 09:45 Trump retweets AI video of himself flying plane and dropping poop 10:45 Trump has the mentality of a 13 year old boy 12:00 Trump has no lifelong friends 13:15 Trump isn’t traveling the country to sell his agenda, unlike first term 14:15 Remarkable that so many people are willing to protest on a Saturday 16:00 Republicans would be wise not to dismiss the protests 16:30 Controversy grows around Trump’s military strikes in Caribbean 17:45 Congress is failing to provide any oversight of the executive 19:00 Insurance notices indicating massive premium spikes coming soon 20:00 Shocking there’s less outrage Trump governs for only half the country 20:45 Government shutdown has turned into a giant mess 22:15 Trump’s administration hints they aren’t sure boat strikes are legal 23:45 Venezuela story would get more attention if it was anywhere else 24:30 Administration refuses to call the strikes “war” 25:15 Repatriating captives helps administration avoid legal questions 26:45 Legality of strikes will be eventually be determined in US courts 28:00 Claiming cartels are “terrorists” doesn’t meet legal definition 28:45 Venezuela isn’t part of the fentanyl drug trade 29:30 Trump & Rubio’s obsession is actually about getting rid of Nicolas Maduro 31:00 The U.S. military has never gone after narcoterrorists before 32:00 Congress has not authorized use of military force in Caribbean 33:30 Members of congress not convinced by rationale for strikes 35:00 Trump is greenlighting killings without making case for it 37:30 If overdose deaths are the rationale, the problem is with Mexico 39:00 Trump hasn’t ruled out striking the Venezuelan mainland 41:00 The US had never designated a cartel as terrorists until this year 44:30 America’s history in Latin America is atrocious and self-interested 48:15 Eric Berger joins the Chuck ToddCast 49:15 China is on track to beat the U.S. back to the moon 50:45 NASA is still pursuing the Artemis program 52:00 Both the U.S. and China are targeting the moon's south pole 54:15 If you want to be a superpower, needs a presence on the moon 54:45 SpaceX's Starship is best equipped for Mars mission 55:30 Best methods of propulsion for long distance space missions 56:45 The biggest reason for lunar landing is geopolitics/flexing 57:30 Treaty says that no country can claim ownership of the moon 58:30 How would a private company stake a resource claim on the moon? 1:00:00 Has low earth orbit gotten too crowded with man made satellites? 1:01:00 In the next big war, the first shots will likely be fired into space 1:02:45 Cooperation in space has diminished, become more nationalistic 1:04:45 Most countries forced to rely on US, Russia and China for space launches 1:05:45 UAE is developing space capabilities with NASA's help 1:06:30 NASA can't get to space without private contractors/SpaceX 1:07:00 Elon Musk is the most important person to spacefight globally 1:08:30 Blue Origin is far behind SpaceX in capabilities for lunar lander 1:09:15 Will Boeing's space program ever deliver? 1:10:15 Will the first space hotel be in orbit or on the moon? 1:11:15 There's very little demand for orbital tourism, very expensive 1:12:45 Mars missions are incredibly different, will likely be one-way to start 1:14:15 There are no resources on Mars worth the cost of mining and shipping back 1:15:00 The only reason to go to Mars is to make humans a space-faring species 1:16:00 Robots are far superior to humans for scientific research missions 1:17:15 There's more water on Europa than Earth, life could be there 1:18:45 Best places in solar system for humans to possibly create bases 1:20:30 Is Bezos's idea of heavy manufacturing on the moon a pipe dream? 1:21:45 Mining asteroids could provide all the metals we'd ever need 1:22:30 SpaceX's Falcon9 rocket made cost of accessing space far lower 1:23:45 Are energy production advances the best way to sell space costs to taxpayers? 1:25:30 Space based energy production is far from being commercially viable 1:26:45 The Europeans surpassed the U.S. at meteorology 1:27:45 Can AI tools help fill the gaps after U.S. cut funding for NOAA? 1:28:30 AI hurricane modeling seems to be just as good as physics based models 1:29:30 Private sector still relies on the government for weather forecasting 1:30:45 We need better data collection for our weather forecasting 1:33:00 Private companies are hiring their own meteorologists 1:35:45 Microforecasting has gotten much better due to the internet 1:36:53 What does Ars Technica cover and what is its mission? 1:39:00 Do we know more about the solar system or the oceans? 1:43:15 Chuck's thoughts on the interview with Eric Berger 1:43:30 ToddCast Time Machine 1:43:45 October 25th, 1929 - Jury convicts the first cabinet secretary to prison 1:45:15 Teapot Dome scandal 1:46:30 Harding signed executive order transferring oil fields, leased to oil barons 1:47:45 Fall received $7 million dollars in exchange for oil leases 1:49:15 Harding's death spawned conspiracy theories about corruption 1:49:45 Albert Fall convicted of bribery 1:50:30 Comparing teapot dome to Trump's modern day corruption 1:51:45 The "out" party should always be the one in charge of oversight 1:53:00 Watergate isn't the parallel to Trump's corruption, Teapot Dome is 1:53:15 Ask Chuck 1:53:30 Will the No Kings protests have any real effect on politics? 1:56:00 How can Democrats regain control of the political narrative? 2:01:00 College football updateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ars Technica space journalist Eric Berger joins Chuck Todd to unpack the new global race to the moon — and why it’s about power as much as science. With China poised to beat the U.S. back to the lunar surface, NASA’s Artemis program faces both technological and geopolitical pressure. Berger and Todd explore how space has become the next great stage for competition, where the first shots of a future war could be fired — not on Earth, but in orbit. From SpaceX’s dominance and Elon Musk’s influence, to Blue Origin’s lagging efforts and Boeing’s uncertain role, the conversation digs into who will actually shape humanity’s future beyond Earth. They also discuss the growing role of private companies in both space exploration and weather forecasting, how AI is reshaping meteorology, and whether we’ll ever see space-based energy or asteroid mining become viable. It’s a sweeping look at how politics, technology, and ambition are colliding — in a sky that’s getting more crowded by the day. Timeline: 00:00 Eric Berger joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 China is on track to beat the U.S. back to the moon 02:30 NASA is still pursuing the Artemis program 03:45 Both the U.S. and China are targeting the moon’s south pole 06:00 If you want to be a superpower, needs a presence on the moon 06:30 SpaceX’s Starship is best equipped for Mars mission 07:15 Best methods of propulsion for long distance space missions 08:30 The biggest reason for lunar landing is geopolitics/flexing 09:15 Treaty says that no country can claim ownership of the moon 10:15 How would a private company stake a resource claim on the moon? 11:45 Has low earth orbit gotten too crowded with man made satellites? 12:45 In the next big war, the first shots will likely be fired into space 14:30 Cooperation in space has diminished, become more nationalistic 16:30 Most countries forced to rely on US, Russia and China for space launches 17:30 UAE is developing space capabilities with NASA’s help 18:15 NASA can’t get to space without private contractors/SpaceX 18:45 Elon Musk is the most important person to spacefight globally 20:15 Blue Origin is far behind SpaceX in capabilities for lunar lander 21:00 Will Boeing’s space program ever deliver? 22:00 Will the first space hotel be in orbit or on the moon? 23:00 There’s very little demand for orbital tourism, very expensive 24:30 Mars missions are incredibly different, will likely be one-way to start 26:00 There are no resources on Mars worth the cost of mining and shipping back 26:45 The only reason to go to Mars is to make humans a space-faring species 27:45 Robots are far superior to humans for scientific research missions 29:00 There’s more water on Europa than Earth, life could be there 30:30 Best places in solar system for humans to possibly create bases 32:15 Is Bezos’s idea of heavy manufacturing on the moon a pipe dream? 33:30 Mining asteroids could provide all the metals we’d ever need 34:15 SpaceX’s Falcon9 rocket made cost of accessing space far lower 35:30 Are energy production advances the best way to sell space costs to taxpayers? 37:15 Space based energy production is far from being commercially viable 38:30 The Europeans surpassed the U.S. at meteorology 39:30 Can AI tools help fill the gaps after U.S. cut funding for NOAA? 40:15 AI hurricane modeling seems to be just as good as physics based models 41:15 Private sector still relies on the government for weather forecasting 42:30 We need better data collection for our weather forecasting 44:45 Private companies are hiring their own meteorologists 47:30 Microforecasting has gotten much better due to the internet 48:38 What does Ars Technica cover and what is its mission? 50:45 Do we know more about the solar system or the oceans?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1.  Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days that Launched SpaceX by Eric Berger, chronicles the turbulent and often precarious genesis of Elon Musk's ambitious rocket company, SpaceX. The narrative begins in March 2006 on Omelek Island, part of the Marshall Islands, where SpaceX prepared for the inaugural flight of its Falcon 1 rocket. Musk, having conceived the idea in 2001 to disrupt the space industry, founded SpaceX in 2002 despite being "laughed out of the room" by experts. He self-educated in rocketry and committed a significant portion of his fortune to the venture, pioneering a vertically integrated approach to manufacturing, building components like the Merlin engine in-house to reduce costs and accelerate development. The first three Falcon 1 launches were failures, each providing critical, hard-won lessons: 1. Launch 1 (March 2006): The Merlin engine ignited, but a corroded bolt, exacerbated by the humid tropical environment, caused a fuel leak and an engine fire, leading the rocket to crash back onto Omelek Island just 30 seconds after liftoff. Musk's philosophy that "failure is an option" guided the immediate post-crash investigation to collect debris and pinpoint the cause. 2. Launch 2 (March 2007): Despite the first stage working perfectly, the second stage, lacking "slosh baffles" (omitted based on computer models to save weight), spun out of control due to fuel sloshing. While it reached space (above 100 km), it failed to achieve a stable orbit, meaning SpaceX was not yet considered a "real rocket company" in the industry. This failure popularized the SpaceX proverb, "always go to 11". 3. Launch 3 (August 2008): Carrying multiple customer payloads, including the ashes of Star Trek's Scotty, this launch again saw a successful first stage. However, an unexpected relight of the first stage engine after separation caused it to bump and knock the second stage off course, killing the mission. This was a profound setback, as Musk had budgeted for only three flights, and the global economy was simultaneously collapsing. With the company nearly out of money and the world in a severe recession, Musk gathered his team, who expected him to announce closure. Instead, he declared they would make one more attempt with the remaining rocket parts, demanding it be ready in six weeks, though six months would have been more realistic. This fourth rocket's journey was not without its own drama: during transport in an Air Force C-17, the first stage imploded due to a pressure differential (SpaceX had used an outdated manual for the aircraft's pressurization). A young engineer, Zack Dunn, heroically crawled inside the crumpling rocket during descent to manually open valves, saving it from destruction. After rapid repairs, the fourth Falcon 1 launched in late September 2008. This time, it achieved orbit, carrying a dummy payload named "Rats". The team's jubilation, screaming "Orbit, orbit" at each other, marked a pivotal moment that Berger describes as "the end of the beginning" for SpaceX. This success, amidst immense technical hurdles, financial desperation, and a global economic crisis, underscored Musk's relentless determination, vertical integration strategy, and acceptance of failure as a learning tool. 1955

2.  Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days that Launched SpaceX by Eric Berger, chronicles the turbulent and often precarious genesis of Elon Musk's ambitious rocket company, SpaceX. The narrative begins in March 2006 on Omelek Island, part of the Marshall Islands, where SpaceX prepared for the inaugural flight of its Falcon 1 rocket. Musk, having conceived the idea in 2001 to disrupt the space industry, founded SpaceX in 2002 despite being "laughed out of the room" by experts. He self-educated in rocketry and committed a significant portion of his fortune to the venture, pioneering a vertically integrated approach to manufacturing, building components like the Merlin engine in-house to reduce costs and accelerate development. The first three Falcon 1 launches were failures, each providing critical, hard-won lessons: 1. Launch 1 (March 2006): The Merlin engine ignited, but a corroded bolt, exacerbated by the humid tropical environment, caused a fuel leak and an engine fire, leading the rocket to crash back onto Omelek Island just 30 seconds after liftoff. Musk's philosophy that "failure is an option" guided the immediate post-crash investigation to collect debris and pinpoint the cause. 2. Launch 2 (March 2007): Despite the first stage working perfectly, the second stage, lacking "slosh baffles" (omitted based on computer models to save weight), spun out of control due to fuel sloshing. While it reached space (above 100 km), it failed to achieve a stable orbit, meaning SpaceX was not yet considered a "real rocket company" in the industry. This failure popularized the SpaceX proverb, "always go to 11". 3. Launch 3 (August 2008): Carrying multiple customer payloads, including the ashes of Star Trek's Scotty, this launch again saw a successful first stage. However, an unexpected relight of the first stage engine after separation caused it to bump and knock the second stage off course, killing the mission. This was a profound setback, as Musk had budgeted for only three flights, and the global economy was simultaneously collapsing. With the company nearly out of money and the world in a severe recession, Musk gathered his team, who expected him to announce closure. Instead, he declared they would make one more attempt with the remaining rocket parts, demanding it be ready in six weeks, though six months would have been more realistic. This fourth rocket's journey was not without its own drama: during transport in an Air Force C-17, the first stage imploded due to a pressure differential (SpaceX had used an outdated manual for the aircraft's pressurization). A young engineer, Zack Dunn, heroically crawled inside the crumpling rocket during descent to manually open valves, saving it from destruction. After rapid repairs, the fourth Falcon 1 launched in late September 2008. This time, it achieved orbit, carrying a dummy payload named "Rats". The team's jubilation, screaming "Orbit, orbit" at each other, marked a pivotal moment that Berger describes as "the end of the beginning" for SpaceX. This success, amidst immense technical hurdles, financial desperation, and a global economic crisis, underscored Musk's relentless determination, vertical integration strategy, and acceptance of failure as a learning tool. 1955

3.  Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days that Launched SpaceX by Eric Berger, chronicles the turbulent and often precarious genesis of Elon Musk's ambitious rocket company, SpaceX. The narrative begins in March 2006 on Omelek Island, part of the Marshall Islands, where SpaceX prepared for the inaugural flight of its Falcon 1 rocket. Musk, having conceived the idea in 2001 to disrupt the space industry, founded SpaceX in 2002 despite being "laughed out of the room" by experts. He self-educated in rocketry and committed a significant portion of his fortune to the venture, pioneering a vertically integrated approach to manufacturing, building components like the Merlin engine in-house to reduce costs and accelerate development. The first three Falcon 1 launches were failures, each providing critical, hard-won lessons: 1. Launch 1 (March 2006): The Merlin engine ignited, but a corroded bolt, exacerbated by the humid tropical environment, caused a fuel leak and an engine fire, leading the rocket to crash back onto Omelek Island just 30 seconds after liftoff. Musk's philosophy that "failure is an option" guided the immediate post-crash investigation to collect debris and pinpoint the cause. 2. Launch 2 (March 2007): Despite the first stage working perfectly, the second stage, lacking "slosh baffles" (omitted based on computer models to save weight), spun out of control due to fuel sloshing. While it reached space (above 100 km), it failed to achieve a stable orbit, meaning SpaceX was not yet considered a "real rocket company" in the industry. This failure popularized the SpaceX proverb, "always go to 11". 3. Launch 3 (August 2008): Carrying multiple customer payloads, including the ashes of Star Trek's Scotty, this launch again saw a successful first stage. However, an unexpected relight of the first stage engine after separation caused it to bump and knock the second stage off course, killing the mission. This was a profound setback, as Musk had budgeted for only three flights, and the global economy was simultaneously collapsing. With the company nearly out of money and the world in a severe recession, Musk gathered his team, who expected him to announce closure. Instead, he declared they would make one more attempt with the remaining rocket parts, demanding it be ready in six weeks, though six months would have been more realistic. This fourth rocket's journey was not without its own drama: during transport in an Air Force C-17, the first stage imploded due to a pressure differential (SpaceX had used an outdated manual for the aircraft's pressurization). A young engineer, Zack Dunn, heroically crawled inside the crumpling rocket during descent to manually open valves, saving it from destruction. After rapid repairs, the fourth Falcon 1 launched in late September 2008. This time, it achieved orbit, carrying a dummy payload named "Rats". The team's jubilation, screaming "Orbit, orbit" at each other, marked a pivotal moment that Berger describes as "the end of the beginning" for SpaceX. This success, amidst immense technical hurdles, financial desperation, and a global economic crisis, underscored Musk's relentless determination, vertical integration strategy, and acceptance of failure as a learning tool. 1957

4.  Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days that Launched SpaceX by Eric Berger, chronicles the turbulent and often precarious genesis of Elon Musk's ambitious rocket company, SpaceX. The narrative begins in March 2006 on Omelek Island, part of the Marshall Islands, where SpaceX prepared for the inaugural flight of its Falcon 1 rocket. Musk, having conceived the idea in 2001 to disrupt the space industry, founded SpaceX in 2002 despite being "laughed out of the room" by experts. He self-educated in rocketry and committed a significant portion of his fortune to the venture, pioneering a vertically integrated approach to manufacturing, building components like the Merlin engine in-house to reduce costs and accelerate development. The first three Falcon 1 launches were failures, each providing critical, hard-won lessons: 1. Launch 1 (March 2006): The Merlin engine ignited, but a corroded bolt, exacerbated by the humid tropical environment, caused a fuel leak and an engine fire, leading the rocket to crash back onto Omelek Island just 30 seconds after liftoff. Musk's philosophy that "failure is an option" guided the immediate post-crash investigation to collect debris and pinpoint the cause. 2. Launch 2 (March 2007): Despite the first stage working perfectly, the second stage, lacking "slosh baffles" (omitted based on computer models to save weight), spun out of control due to fuel sloshing. While it reached space (above 100 km), it failed to achieve a stable orbit, meaning SpaceX was not yet considered a "real rocket company" in the industry. This failure popularized the SpaceX proverb, "always go to 11". 3. Launch 3 (August 2008): Carrying multiple customer payloads, including the ashes of Star Trek's Scotty, this launch again saw a successful first stage. However, an unexpected relight of the first stage engine after separation caused it to bump and knock the second stage off course, killing the mission. This was a profound setback, as Musk had budgeted for only three flights, and the global economy was simultaneously collapsing. With the company nearly out of money and the world in a severe recession, Musk gathered his team, who expected him to announce closure. Instead, he declared they would make one more attempt with the remaining rocket parts, demanding it be ready in six weeks, though six months would have been more realistic. This fourth rocket's journey was not without its own drama: during transport in an Air Force C-17, the first stage imploded due to a pressure differential (SpaceX had used an outdated manual for the aircraft's pressurization). A young engineer, Zack Dunn, heroically crawled inside the crumpling rocket during descent to manually open valves, saving it from destruction. After rapid repairs, the fourth Falcon 1 launched in late September 2008. This time, it achieved orbit, carrying a dummy payload named "Rats". The team's jubilation, screaming "Orbit, orbit" at each other, marked a pivotal moment that Berger describes as "the end of the beginning" for SpaceX. This success, amidst immense technical hurdles, financial desperation, and a global economic crisis, underscored Musk's relentless determination, vertical integration strategy, and acceptance of failure as a learning tool. 1958

Meeting assets for record hotel lmal are ready!Hi David LivingstonThe following assets for the meeting - record hotel lmal are now available.Meeting summaryQuick recapSpaceX successfully conducted a Starship 10 test flight that achieved its key objectives despite some technical issues, though the delays have pushed back various mission timelines by about 9 months. The flight demonstrated successful satellite deployment capabilities and tested the vehicle's reentry technology, with plans to deploy real satellites on future missions. SpaceX is working toward a monthly launch cadence starting in 2026 with the Starship V3 version, while discussions continue regarding the vehicle's return to the launch site in Mexico.Next steps* SpaceX to continue development and testing of Starship V.3 with more powerful Raptor engines* SpaceX to work with FAA and Mexican government to address regulatory concerns about Starship returning to the launch site over Mexico* SpaceX to prepare for potential deployment of Starlink satellites on future operational Starship flights* SpaceX to analyze data collected from the heat shield performance during reentry* SpaceX to investigate the engine issue and flap damage that occurred during the Starship 10 test flightSummarySpaceX Starship 10 Test ReviewThe discussion focused on SpaceX's successful Starship 10 test flight, where Eric Berger from Ars Technica explained that the mission achieved its objectives of testing the upper stage performance, satellite deployment, and heat shield reentry, despite some engine issues and flap damage. David asked if the flight put SpaceX back on track, to which Berger replied that while they weren't off track, the delays have pushed back timelines for Starlink satellite deployments, refueling tests, and lunar missions by about 9 months. The conversation concluded with a discussion about SpaceX's reentry technology and the decision not to recover the Starship 1st stage during this test.SpaceX Starship Test Flight UpdateDavid discussed SpaceX's recent Starship test flight, explaining that while the vehicle reached nearly 200 kilometers in altitude, it intentionally stayed below orbital speed to ensure a controlled reentry. He noted that the flight successfully demonstrated the ability to deploy dummy Starlink satellites using a "Pez dispenser" mechanism, with plans to deploy real satellites on future flights. David also mentioned that SpaceX is working towards a monthly launch cadence starting in 2026 with the Starship V3 version, though there are ongoing discussions with Mexico regarding the return of the vehicle to the launch site.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:No program on Sunday August 31 due to Labor Day Holiday Weekend.Live Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServhttps://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

Eric talked about the Starship flight 10, overall Starship progress and Artemis timelines. He also talked about the upcoming Version 3 of Starship next year. Read the full summary at www.thespaceshow.com and also doctorspace.substack.com.

Hotel Mars: Space test #10 success. Eric Berger, David Livingston https://aviationweek.com/space/launch-vehicles-propulsion/spacex-starship-program-back-track-after-textbook-flight-10

Show Schedule 8-27-25 Good evening. The show begins in China at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization annual gathering, including Putin, Modi and host Xi. First Hour 9:00-9:15 #Ukraine: SCO show. Colonel Jeff McCausland, USA (Retired) @McCauslJ @CBSNews @DickinsonCol 9:15-9:30 #Ukraine: Populism rising. Colonel Jeff McCausland, USA (Retired) @McCauslJ @CBSNews @DickinsonCol 9:30-9:45 Russia: Recession in the forecast. Michael Bernstam, Hoover 9:45-10:00 Hotel Mars: Space test #10 success. Eric Berger, David Livingston Second Hour 10:00-10:15 PRC: Fearing history. Steve Yates, Gordon Chang @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill 10:15-10:30 PRC: High end does not solve the economy. Fraser Howie, @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill 10:30-10:45 PRC: Crater bottomless. Anne Stevenson-Yang @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill 10:45-11:00 PRC: 600,000 students in the US. Charles Burton, @GordonGChang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill Third Hour 11:00-11:15 Iran: vs Australia. Gregory Copley, Defense & Foreign Affairs 11:15-11:30 SCO bolsters Putin. Gregory Copley, Defense & Foreign Affairs 11:30-11:45 Populism: Turns away from Kyiv. Gregory Copley, Defense & Foreign Affairs 11:45-12:00 King Charles: Health challenges. Gregory Copley, Defense & Foreign Affairs Fourth Hour 12:00-12:15 France: Blackberries ripe; Macron's government overripe. Simon Constable, Occitanie 12:15-12:30 UK: Farage UK Reform rising. Simon Constable, Occitanie 12:30-12:45 Edmund Burke: And DEI. Gregory Collins, Civitas Institute 12:45-1:00 AM Edmund Burke: And DEI. Gregory Collins, Civitas Institute continued

Preview: Starship. Colleague Eric Berger of Ars Technica comments on the SpaceX intention to monetize Starship for Starlink. More tonight. 1940

On Monday's show: The Texas Senate approved new congressional district maps on Saturday, which Gov. Greg Abbott says he'll sign “swiftly.” Does this mean lawmakers will now get to other items on the agenda for the second special session? We learn the latest from Blaise Gainey of the Texas Newsroom.Also this hour: Some recent tests suggest the secretive Chinese space program could beat the United States back to the moon. We learn more from Eric Berger of Ars Technica.Then, we learn about the latest developments in consumer technology with the help of columnist Dwight Silverman.And Major League Baseball is contemplating expansion and realignment. We discuss what that might look like for the Astros as we check in with Jeff Balke, co-host of the Bleav in Astros podcast.

Fireflies across the U.S. have seen a robust surge in growth this summer in part to a wetter weather pattern. But those fiery little critters — which some call lightning bugs — might be in a steady decline. “Insect populations are known to vary from year to year,” said Eric Berger, a freelance journalist for The Guardian. “A one-year increase is not enough to indicate that there has been a reversal in the downward trajectory of fireflies.”Berger added that scientists do not have baseline data for firefly species and only recently started to monitor populations. “A lot of what they're using is anecdotal evidence, but they have started to set up monitoring sites to inventory fireflies so that they can determine whether the population has increased or decreased,” he said. Of the studies conducted so far, Berger says fireflies face a number of threats from extended periods of drought due to climate change, light pollution, habitat destruction and the use of pesticides. To hear the full conversation, click play on the audio player above or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

On Monday's show: The death toll continues to rise following devastating flooding in the Texas Hill Country. We get the very latest from Houston Public Media's Dominic Anthony Walsh live from Kerrville. We also hear the accounts of several flood victims, including a Houstonian who was preparing to move there next month. And Space City Weather meteorologist Eric Berger explains the weather that led to Friday's flooding and whether the blame some have sought to place on the National Weather Service is misplaced.We also welcome your thoughts on this and other major stories in the news as we chat with Houston Chronicle op-ed editor Lisa Gray.RELATED: How Houston residents can help Texas Hill Country flood victimsAlso this hour: The future of birthright citizenship.And Jeff Balke updates us on the latest developments in Houston sports.

Anthony is joined by Casey Dreier, Chief of Space Policy at The Planetary Society, and Eric Berger, Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica, to talk about the NASA 2026 budget proposal, the Jared Isaacman saga, and all the space policy storylines you could imagine.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 201 - Bad Ass, But Also Bad (with Casey Dreier and Eric Berger) (with Casey Dreier and Eric Berger) - YouTubeNASA's disastrous 2026 budget proposal in… | The Planetary SocietyThe Space Review: How NASA's proposed budget cuts are felt across the AtlanticThe Space Review: NASA's 2026 budget in brief: Unprecedented, unstrategic, and wastefulThe Planetary Society's NASA Data DashboardsIsaacman's bold plan for NASA: Nuclear ships, seven-crew Dragons, accelerated Artemis - Ars TechnicaThe administration's anti-consensus Mars plan will fail - SpaceNewsSpaceX's next Starship just blew up on its test stand in South Texas - Ars TechnicaShe was a Disney star with platinum records, but Bridgit Mendler gave it up to change the world - Ars TechnicaFollow CaseyCasey Dreier | The Planetary SocietyThe Planetary SocietyFollow EricEric Berger | Ars TechnicaEric Berger (@SciGuySpace) / XFollow Off-NominalSubscribe to the show! - Off-NominalSupport the show, join the DiscordOff-Nominal (@offnom) / TwitterOff-Nominal (@offnom@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow JakeWeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to MarsWeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow AnthonyMain Engine Cut OffMain Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | TwitterMain Engine Cut Off (@meco@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | TwitterAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo@jawns.club) - jawns.club

John and I welcomed back Eric Berger of Ars Technica to Hotel Mars for a one-segment update and discussion on SpaceX, Elon Musk, and Starship. We began by asking Eric what successful Starship testing would look like for SpaceX. He acknowledged that it's difficult to define clear success metrics at this stage.We then discussed the upcoming Demo Test #10, potential hardware and assembly issues, plus Eric elaborated on some of the challenges SpaceX might face. The conversation touched on Starship's role in NASA's planned Moon missions, the importance of testing in low Earth orbit (LEO), and the need to develop and demonstrate in-orbit refueling capabilities. Eric spoke about the types of fuel Starship uses and highlighted the need to address issues like boil-off during storage in space.Before concluding, we asked Eric about the ongoing feud between Elon Musk and President Trump. Eric said it was hard to predict how things would unfold but thought Musk might walk back some of his comments. He emphasized the strategic importance of SpaceX to the U.S. government in both civil space and national security domains. While the FAA could theoretically delay permits in response to Musk's remarks, Eric didn't think that was likely at this time.Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.comThe Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4387: By Zoom: Friday, 6-20 @!09:30 AM PDDTDr. Robert Bishop, Texas A&M Dean on AI, Cyber, Defense Tech & SpaceBroadcast 4388: Sunday, June 22: 12 PM PDT; Dr. Karen Lloyd re her book “Intra-terrestrials: Discovering the Strangest Life on Earth”Live Streaming is at https://www.thespaceshow.com/content/listen-live with the following live streaming sites:Stream Guys https://player.streamguys.com/thespaceshow/sgplayer3/player.php#FastServ https://ic2646c302.fastserv.com/stream Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

HOTEL MARS: SPACEX: THE STARSHIP PLAN FALLS BEHIND. ERIC BERGER, ARS TECHNICA. DAVID LIVINGSTON 1953

PREVIEW: Colleague Eric Berger of Ars Technica reports that Starship Test #9 fell short of desired reentry test and is a disappointment. More.

On Friday's show: Saharan dust is headed to Houston, as it typically does this time of year. And much of the country could see the Northern Lights this weekend because of a powerful geomagnetic storm. We learn about both from Eric Berger of Space City Weather.Also this hour: From the head of FEMA saying he didn't know there was a hurricane season here, to the National Weather Service receiving permission to hire 125 meteorologists and specialists after losing more than 560 employees earlier this year due to Trump administration cuts and retirements, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.Then: Wolverine, Spider-Man, Batman, Black Panther -- a lot of popular superheroes are based on animals. But why? Maybe it's because a lot of animals kind of have superpowers. A new exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science called Extreme Animals Alive explores that.And what makes certain Houston eateries and music venues unforgettable, even after they disappear? We reflect on some of the city's lost iconic spots.

It returns. Hot drama. Also a moon lander is happening right now. Also Twitter fights break out. Also a moon lander doesn't happen.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 199 - The Thing That We Grow Plants - YouTubeIsaacman: people with ‘axes to grind' about Musk caused withdrawn NASA nomination - SpaceNewsWhite House to withdraw Isaacman nomination to lead NASA - SpaceNewsNASA Copes with Details of $6 Billion Budget Cut, Leadership Uncertainty – SpacePolicyOnline.comNASA withdraws support for conferences - SpaceNewsCommercial space companies to fund launch range upgrades under $4 billion contract - SpaceNewsChinese launch startup conducts vertical takeoff and splashdown test - SpaceNewsKaitlan Collins on X: “As their blowup escalates, Trump suggests terminating Musk's federal contracts.”Eric Berger on X: “This would both end the International Space Station and simultaneously provide no way to safely deorbit it.”Elon Musk on X: “This just gets better and better

WEEK FOR MARS DREAMING AT STARBASE: 6/8: Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age – by  Eric Berger  (Author) 1957 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. 2015 CURIOSITY?

WEEK FOR MARS DREAMING AT STARBASE:   3/4: Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX  by  Eric Berger  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Liftoff-Desperate-Early-Launched-SpaceX/dp/0062979973/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In Liftoff, Eric Berger, senior space editor at Ars Technica, takes readers inside the wild early days that made SpaceX. Focusing on the company's first four launches of the Falcon 1 rocket, he charts the bumpy journey from scrappy underdog to aerospace pioneer. We travel from company headquarters in El Segundo, to the isolated Texas ranchland where they performed engine tests, to Kwajalein, the tiny atoll in the Pacific where SpaceX launched the Falcon 1. Berger has reported on SpaceX for more than a decade, enjoying unparalleled journalistic access to the company's inner workings. Liftoff is the culmination of these efforts, drawing upon exclusive interviews with dozens of former and current engineers, designers, mechanics, and executives, including Elon Musk. The enigmatic Musk, who founded the company with the dream of one day settling Mars, is the fuel that propels the book, with his daring vision for the future of spacE. 1872 JULES VERNE FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON

WEEK FOR MARS DREAMING AT STARBASE:   2/4: Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX  by  Eric Berger  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Liftoff-Desperate-Early-Launched-SpaceX/dp/0062979973/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In Liftoff, Eric Berger, senior space editor at Ars Technica, takes readers inside the wild early days that made SpaceX. Focusing on the company's first four launches of the Falcon 1 rocket, he charts the bumpy journey from scrappy underdog to aerospace pioneer. We travel from company headquarters in El Segundo, to the isolated Texas ranchland where they performed engine tests, to Kwajalein, the tiny atoll in the Pacific where SpaceX launched the Falcon 1. Berger has reported on SpaceX for more than a decade, enjoying unparalleled journalistic access to the company's inner workings. Liftoff is the culmination of these efforts, drawing upon exclusive interviews with dozens of former and current engineers, designers, mechanics, and executives, including Elon Musk. The enigmatic Musk, who founded the company with the dream of one day settling Mars, is the fuel that propels the book, with his daring vision for the future of spacE. 1868 JULES VERNE 

WEEK FOR MARS DREAMING AT STARBASE:   1/4: Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX  by  Eric Berger  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Liftoff-Desperate-Early-Launched-SpaceX/dp/0062979973/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In Liftoff, Eric Berger, senior space editor at Ars Technica, takes readers inside the wild early days that made SpaceX. Focusing on the company's first four launches of the Falcon 1 rocket, he charts the bumpy journey from scrappy underdog to aerospace pioneer. We travel from company headquarters in El Segundo, to the isolated Texas ranchland where they performed engine tests, to Kwajalein, the tiny atoll in the Pacific where SpaceX launched the Falcon 1. Berger has reported on SpaceX for more than a decade, enjoying unparalleled journalistic access to the company's inner workings. Liftoff is the culmination of these efforts, drawing upon exclusive interviews with dozens of former and current engineers, designers, mechanics, and executives, including Elon Musk. The enigmatic Musk, who founded the company with the dream of one day settling Mars, is the fuel that propels the book, with his daring vision for the future of spacE.

WEEK FOR MARS DREAMING AT STARBASE: 7/8: Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age – by  Eric Berger  (Author) 1957 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. 1882 FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON VERNE

WEEK FOR MARS DREAMING AT STARBASE: 8/8: Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age – by  Eric Berger  (Author) 1957 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel.UNDATED OPPORTUNITY MARS

WEEK FOR MARS DREAMING AT STARBASE: 5/8: Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age – by  Eric Berger  (Author) 1957 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. 1872 AROUND THE MOON VERNE

WEEK FOR MARS DREAMING AT STARBASE: 4/8: Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age – by  Eric Berger  (Author) 1957 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travelL 1945 ROYAL OBSERVATORY GREENWICH

WEEK FOR MARS DREAMING AT STARBASE: 3/8: Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age – by  Eric Berger  (Author) 1957 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. 2006 SPIRIT ROVER

WEEK FOR MARS DREAMING AT STARBASE: 2/8: Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age – by  Eric Berger  (Author) 1957 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. 1997 MARS PATHFINDER

WEEK FOR MARS DREAMING AT STARBASE: 1/8: Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age – by  Eric Berger  (Author) 1957 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. 1965 MARINER 4

WEEK FOR MARS DREAMING AT STARBASE:   4/4: Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX  by  Eric Berger  (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Liftoff-Desperate-Early-Launched-SpaceX/dp/0062979973/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= In Liftoff, Eric Berger, senior space editor at Ars Technica, takes readers inside the wild early days that made SpaceX. Focusing on the company's first four launches of the Falcon 1 rocket, he charts the bumpy journey from scrappy underdog to aerospace pioneer. We travel from company headquarters in El Segundo, to the isolated Texas ranchland where they performed engine tests, to Kwajalein, the tiny atoll in the Pacific where SpaceX launched the Falcon 1. Berger has reported on SpaceX for more than a decade, enjoying unparalleled journalistic access to the company's inner workings. Liftoff is the culmination of these efforts, drawing upon exclusive interviews with dozens of former and current engineers, designers, mechanics, and executives, including Elon Musk. The enigmatic Musk, who founded the company with the dream of one day settling Mars, is the fuel that propels the book, with his daring vision for the future of spacE. 1940

8/8: THERE WAS A REPORTED PUSH TO GET STARSHIP TEST #8 TO ORBIT:.Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age Hardcover – by  Eric Berger  (Author) 1957 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. For the first time, Reentry relates the definitive chronicle of how this daring team was able to redefine what it takes to reach the stars. With Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Eric Berger, author of Liftoff, as your guide, you'll accompany SpaceX's innovative thinkers during their toughest trials and most audacious moments, including: Creating the first orbital rockets that land by themselves and fly again Transporting a 120-foot rocket from Texas to Florida Recovering from a “Hell's Bells” accident before the first Falcon Heavy launch Frantically searching the ocean for the first rocket that splashed down intact Identifying the $20 part that led to a rocket exploding in flight Slicing up an engine days before it launched into space

1/8: THERE WAS A REPORTED PUSH TO GET STARSHIP TEST #8 TO ORBIT:.Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age Hardcover – by  Eric Berger  (Author) 1955 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. For the first time, Reentry relates the definitive chronicle of how this daring team was able to redefine what it takes to reach the stars. With Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Eric Berger, author of Liftoff, as your guide, you'll accompany SpaceX's innovative thinkers during their toughest trials and most audacious moments, including: Creating the first orbital rockets that land by themselves and fly again Transporting a 120-foot rocket from Texas to Florida Recovering from a “Hell's Bells” accident before the first Falcon Heavy launch Frantically searching the ocean for the first rocket that splashed down intact Identifying the $20 part that led to a rocket exploding in flight Slicing up an engine days before it launched into space

2/8: THERE WAS A REPORTED PUSH TO GET STARSHIP TEST #8 TO ORBIT:.Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age Hardcover – by  Eric Berger  (Author) 1958 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. For the first time, Reentry relates the definitive chronicle of how this daring team was able to redefine what it takes to reach the stars. With Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Eric Berger, author of Liftoff, as your guide, you'll accompany SpaceX's innovative thinkers during their toughest trials and most audacious moments, including: Creating the first orbital rockets that land by themselves and fly again Transporting a 120-foot rocket from Texas to Florida Recovering from a “Hell's Bells” accident before the first Falcon Heavy launch Frantically searching the ocean for the first rocket that splashed down intact Identifying the $20 part that led to a rocket exploding in flight Slicing up an engine days before it launched into space

3/8: THERE WAS A REPORTED PUSH TO GET STARSHIP TEST #8 TO ORBIT:.Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age Hardcover – by  Eric Berger  (Author) JUNE 1961 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. For the first time, Reentry relates the definitive chronicle of how this daring team was able to redefine what it takes to reach the stars. With Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Eric Berger, author of Liftoff, as your guide, you'll accompany SpaceX's innovative thinkers during their toughest trials and most audacious moments, including: Creating the first orbital rockets that land by themselves and fly again Transporting a 120-foot rocket from Texas to Florida Recovering from a “Hell's Bells” accident before the first Falcon Heavy launch Frantically searching the ocean for the first rocket that splashed down intact Identifying the $20 part that led to a rocket exploding in flight Slicing up an engine days before it launched into space

4/8: THERE WAS A REPORTED PUSH TO GET STARSHIP TEST #8 TO ORBIT:.Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age Hardcover – by  Eric Berger  (Author) NOVEMBER 1952 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. For the first time, Reentry relates the definitive chronicle of how this daring team was able to redefine what it takes to reach the stars. With Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Eric Berger, author of Liftoff, as your guide, you'll accompany SpaceX's innovative thinkers during their toughest trials and most audacious moments, including: Creating the first orbital rockets that land by themselves and fly again Transporting a 120-foot rocket from Texas to Florida Recovering from a “Hell's Bells” accident before the first Falcon Heavy launch Frantically searching the ocean for the first rocket that splashed down intact Identifying the $20 part that led to a rocket exploding in flight Slicing up an engine days before it launched into space

5/8: THERE WAS A REPORTED PUSH TO GET STARSHIP TEST #8 TO ORBIT:.Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age Hardcover – by  Eric Berger  (Author) SEPTEMBER 1954 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. For the first time, Reentry relates the definitive chronicle of how this daring team was able to redefine what it takes to reach the stars. With Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Eric Berger, author of Liftoff, as your guide, you'll accompany SpaceX's innovative thinkers during their toughest trials and most audacious moments, including: Creating the first orbital rockets that land by themselves and fly again Transporting a 120-foot rocket from Texas to Florida Recovering from a “Hell's Bells” accident before the first Falcon Heavy launch Frantically searching the ocean for the first rocket that splashed down intact Identifying the $20 part that led to a rocket exploding in flight Slicing up an engine days before it launched into space

6/8: THERE WAS A REPORTED PUSH TO GET STARSHIP TEST #8 TO ORBIT:.Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age Hardcover – by  Eric Berger  (Author) 1958 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. For the first time, Reentry relates the definitive chronicle of how this daring team was able to redefine what it takes to reach the stars. With Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Eric Berger, author of Liftoff, as your guide, you'll accompany SpaceX's innovative thinkers during their toughest trials and most audacious moments, including: Creating the first orbital rockets that land by themselves and fly again Transporting a 120-foot rocket from Texas to Florida Recovering from a “Hell's Bells” accident before the first Falcon Heavy launch Frantically searching the ocean for the first rocket that splashed down intact Identifying the $20 part that led to a rocket exploding in flight Slicing up an engine days before it launched into space

7/8: THERE WAS A REPORTED PUSH TO GET STARSHIP TEST #8 TO ORBIT:.Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age Hardcover – by  Eric Berger  (Author) 1950 https://www.amazon.com/Reentry-SpaceX-Reusable-Rockets-Launched/dp/1637745273/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= One company dominates the modern space industry: SpaceX, founded by controversial entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2002, now sending more payloads into orbit than the rest of the world combined. But Musk didn't do it alone—the saga of SpaceX is the story of a diverse cadre of true believers in the limitless potential of space travel. For the first time, Reentry relates the definitive chronicle of how this daring team was able to redefine what it takes to reach the stars. With Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist Eric Berger, author of Liftoff, as your guide, you'll accompany SpaceX's innovative thinkers during their toughest trials and most audacious moments, including: Creating the first orbital rockets that land by themselves and fly again Transporting a 120-foot rocket from Texas to Florida Recovering from a “Hell's Bells” accident before the first Falcon Heavy launch Frantically searching the ocean for the first rocket that splashed down intact Identifying the $20 part that led to a rocket exploding in flight Slicing up an engine days before it launched into space

Preview: Author Eric Berger, "Reentry," explains why SpaceX leads all competition, state and private, for monetizing the Earth-Moon system. More tonight. 1958