Max-Q: The Podcast

This week Iain and Ethan discuss everything around New Glenns second flight including a genius way of keeping the booster stable of the droneship. We also have a few updates to Firefly's mishap from September, the Baguette one is going orbital, and SES gave Relativity a contract. We wrap the week up with our launch roundup with the final non Amazon or Starliner Atlas V launch.

Blue Origin Launches Escapade
Shenzou 20 has safely returned to earth
Relativity has signed a multi launch agreement with SES
Firefly shares information on their test failure
RocketLab Q3 2025 financial results
Kuiper now Amazon Leo
Raytheon and Lockheed Martin parter with Avio to provide solid rocket booster production in the US

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This week Iain and Ethan discuss all things IAC which, shockingly, isnt much. They also talk about firefly's mishap during a test, a new reusable vehicle Avio is designing, and they discuss everyones favorite company Vantor!
https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/09/after-another-fiery-setback-it-seems-fireflys-alpha-rocket-is-still-in-beta/
https://europeanspaceflight.com/avio-wins-e40m-esa-contract-to-design-reusable-upper-stage-demo/
https://vantor.com/
https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/02/dismantling_discovery/
https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/australian-space-institute-launches-at-iac-2025

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⁠max-q-news.space⁠
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Have a question, a tip, or just want to chat about the latest in aerospace?
For general inquiries, press releases, or feedback, drop us a line at [email protected].

This week Iain and Ethan discuss all the happenings at NASA, and boy was there a lot to talk about! First we congratulated the new class of astronaut candidates, then we discuss the Artemis two timeline. Blue Origin also got the VIPER contract and SpaceX could be the biggest delay in the Artemis program. Iain then goes on a lengthy rant about NASA leadership that he will someday regret. Then, to cap off the show they discuss some issues surrounding DreamChaser.

NASA 2025 astronaut class -press release
Artemis II gets a launch date -SpaceNews
Blue Origin receives VIPER contract -press release
NASA safety panel concludes that HLS is "significantly challenged" -SpacePolicyOnline
Joseph Pelfrey resigns as the director of Marshal Space Flight Center -WHNT
Dream Chaser no longer allowed to dock to ISS -ars Technica

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Have a question, a tip, or just want to chat about the latest in aerospace?
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Show Notes:
https://www.spacecom.mil/Newsroom/News/Article-Display/Article/4308024/press-release-us-and-uk-demonstrate-partnership-in-first-ever-on-orbit-operation/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2025/09/rocket-lab-eyes-mto-nasa-revives-mission-concepthttps://www.blueorigin.com/news/blue-origin-mars-telecommunications-orbiterhttps://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2025/09/crs-ng-23https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/esdmd/common-exploration-systems-development-division/space-launch-system/nasa-artemis-ii-moon-rocket-ready-to-fly-crew
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Max-Q: The Podcast is a Max-Q News production, owned by the Kaidem Group LLC. Any views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily that of either Max-Q News or our parent company and should not be interpreted as such unless expressly stated.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/firefly-granted-faa-clearance-resume-alpha-rocket-launches-2025-08-26/
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-astronaut-megan-mcarthur-retires/
https://rocketlabcorp.com/updates/rocket-lab-opens-launch-complex-3-a-critical-milestone-on-the-path-to-neutrons-first-launch/
https://www.exploration.space/blog/the-exploration-companys-nyx-earth-capsule-receives-phase-1-iss-safety-approval