254 - An Advocate of Crazy (with Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen)

Jake and Anthony are joined by Daniel Drew of the University of Hawaiʻi to talk about SPARK, his concept for exploring Titan’s caves with aerobots powered by solid-state atmospheric ion thrusters. Seriously.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 258 - Not a Space Guy (with Daniel Drew) - YouTubeSPARKThis Crazy Robot Could Explore the CAVES of Titan [NIAC 2026] - YouTubeHuygens's descent to Titan's surface - YouTubeOryctes rhinoceros - WikipediaSpotted lanternfly - WikipediaSpotted Lanternfly Alert | Commonwealth of PennsylvaniaHere’s Why You Should Kill Spotted Lanternflies - The New York TimesFollow DanDaniel S. Drew - University of HawaiiThe Drew Research LabFollow Off-NominalSubscribe to the show! - Off-NominalSupport the show, join the DiscordOff-Nominal (@offnom) / TwitterOff-Nominal (@[email protected]) - Spacey SpaceFollow JakeWeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to MarsWeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | TwitterJake Robins (@[email protected]) - Spacey SpaceFollow AnthonyMain Engine Cut OffMain Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | TwitterMain Engine Cut Off (@[email protected]) - Spacey SpaceAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | TwitterAnthony Colangelo (@[email protected]) - jawns.club 🐘Off-Nominal MerchandiseOff-Nominal Logo TeeWeMartians Shop | MECO Shop

Jake and Anthony are joined by Nick Cialdella, CTO of Varda Space Industries, to talk about manufacturing pharmaceuticals in space, the reentry technology that brings them back to Earth, Varda’s hypersonic testbed, and the business case for making things in orbit.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 257 - Can You Fix Our RV? (with Nick Cialdella) - YouTubeSpace born, Earth bound • Varda Space IndustriesVarda Space Storefront: Hawaiian ShirtThe Definitive Winnebago Man - YouTube (…language warning)Winnebago Man | Full Documentary Movie | Jack Rebney - YouTube (…also language warning)Could this be the moment that drug manufacturing takes off in orbit? - Ars TechnicaFollow NickNicholas Cialdella | LinkedInFollow Off-NominalSubscribe to the show! - Off-NominalSupport the show, join the DiscordOff-Nominal (@offnom) / TwitterOff-Nominal (@[email protected]) - Spacey SpaceFollow JakeWeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to MarsWeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | TwitterJake Robins (@[email protected]) - Spacey SpaceFollow AnthonyMain Engine Cut OffMain Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | TwitterMain Engine Cut Off (@[email protected]) - Spacey SpaceAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | TwitterAnthony Colangelo (@[email protected]) - jawns.club 🐘Off-Nominal MerchandiseOff-Nominal Logo TeeWeMartians Shop | MECO Shop

Jake and Anthony talk about Blue Origin building the Mars Telecommunications Network, Stoke splashing the cash and talking up Nova Block 2, and Anthony has a weird theory about Jared Isaacman.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 256 - The Ellis Number - YouTubeNASA selects Blue Origin for Mars communications orbiter - SpaceNewsStoke Space Raises $1 Billion to Accelerate Fully Reusable Launch | Stoke SpaceNova Block 2 | Stoke SpaceWith another huge infusion of cash, Stoke Space goes even bigger - Ars TechnicaTrump White House just tossed a grenade into international space relations - Ars TechnicaGerman company becomes first in Europe to launch fully commercial orbital rocket - Ars TechnicaThe Exploration Company (TEC) secures $450 million in the largest-ever Series C by a European space companyEurope may finally have found a space entrepreneur who is meeting the moment - Ars TechnicaNASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on X: “@NASAWatch Few thoughts in response: 1) NASA has not given up on LEO. Within weeks of being on the job, I publicly addressed the Starliner situation and the role NASA played in it, and we have since taken a very active role with Boeing in implementing the investigation recommendations and…”Fetterman Has a Surprise Cameo at Trump’s Convention - The New York TimesNASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on X: “NASA is heading to the @NFL. @NASA operates a fleet of aircraft for astronaut training and cutting-edge high-speed and high-altitude research. In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, to showcase our technology and inspire the next generation, we are taking some of those…”Follow Off-NominalSubscribe to the show! - Off-NominalSupport the show, join the DiscordOff-Nominal (@offnom) / TwitterOff-Nominal (@[email protected]) - Spacey SpaceFollow JakeWeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to MarsWeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | TwitterJake Robins (@[email protected]) - Spacey SpaceFollow AnthonyMain Engine Cut OffMain Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | TwitterMain Engine Cut Off (@[email protected]) - Spacey SpaceAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | TwitterAnthony Colangelo (@[email protected]) - jawns.club 🐘Off-Nominal MerchandiseOff-Nominal Logo TeeWeMartians Shop | MECO Shop

Jake and Anthony are joined by Matt Gjertsen, Founder of BUILT, to talk about his book, Minimum Viable Manager: Three Essential Skills for Leading Technical Teams That Solve Big Problems, the recovery of Starship at Christmas Island, and Starbase Louisiana.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 255 - Sorry, Reno (with Matt Gjertsen) - YouTubeAmazon.com: Minimum Viable Manager: Three Essential Skills for Leading Technical Teams That Solve Big Problems: 9781774587270: Gjertsen, Matt: BooksAgainst all odds, SpaceX finally tugs Starship into port after 24 days at sea - Ars TechnicaPhotos by SpaceX (@SpaceX) / XSpaceX intends to invest up to $100 billion in massive Louisiana spaceport - Ars TechnicaUS12234039B2 - Repeating ground track orbits for a reusable launch vehicle - Google PatentsFollow MattBuilt LeadersEasily listen to Leadership Launchpad – Team Development, & Performance Improvement for Aerospace & Technology Managers in your podcast app of choiceEasily listen to A VC, a Headhunter, and a Trainer Walk into a Bar in your podcast app of choiceFollow Off-NominalSubscribe to the show! - Off-NominalSupport the show, join the DiscordOff-Nominal (@offnom) / TwitterOff-Nominal (@[email protected]) - Spacey SpaceFollow JakeWeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to MarsWeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | TwitterJake Robins (@[email protected]) - Spacey SpaceFollow AnthonyMain Engine Cut OffMain Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | TwitterMain Engine Cut Off (@[email protected]) - Spacey SpaceAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | TwitterAnthony Colangelo (@[email protected]) - jawns.club 🐘Off-Nominal MerchandiseOff-Nominal Logo TeeWeMartians Shop | MECO Shop

Jake and Anthony are joined by Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, Former Associate Administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and leader of ETH Zurich Space, to talk about the state of science missions at NASA. Topics Off-Nominal - YouTube Episode 254 - An Advocate of Crazy (with Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen) - YouTube QuantumScape Co-Founder and CTO Sells His Trust's Entire Stake in the Company for $76,465 | The Motley Fool NASA Awards More Moon Base Science, Previews New Opportunities - NASA The Cost of a PROMISE | The Planetary Society Has NASA already found life on Mars? | Scientific American Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope - NASA Science Follow Thomas Thomas Zurbuchen Thomas Zurbuchen (@Dr_ThomasZ) / X Follow Off-Nominal Subscribe to the show! - Off-Nominal Support the show, join the Discord Off-Nominal (@offnom) / Twitter Off-Nominal (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Follow Jake WeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to Mars WeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | Twitter Jake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | Twitter Jake Robins (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Follow Anthony Main Engine Cut Off Main Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | Twitter Main Engine Cut Off (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Anthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | Twitter Anthony Colangelo (@[email protected]) - jawns.club 🐘 Off-Nominal Merchandise Off-Nominal Logo Tee WeMartians Shop | MECO Shop

It’s time for actual stock tips. Jake and Anthony draft competing $100,000 space portfolios and lock them in for a year. Topics Off-Nominal - YouTube 253 - Dome is Your Strategy - YouTube Follow Off-Nominal Subscribe to the show! - Off-Nominal Support the show, join the Discord Off-Nominal (@offnom) / Twitter Off-Nominal (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Follow Jake WeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to Mars WeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | Twitter Jake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | Twitter Jake Robins (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Follow Anthony Main Engine Cut Off Main Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | Twitter Main Engine Cut Off (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Anthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | Twitter Anthony Colangelo (@[email protected]) - jawns.club 🐘 Off-Nominal Merchandise Off-Nominal Logo Tee WeMartians Shop | MECO Shop

Anthony is joined by Eric Berger, Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica, and Joe Barnard to talk about crewed spaceflight in the 2030s, what options exist if and when Dragon stops flying, and what we should do about it. Topics Off-Nominal - YouTube Episode 252 - Paying Now and Later (with Eric Berger and Joe Barnard) - YouTube A "disaster waiting to happen"? Industry officials worry about Crew Dragon availability. - Ars Technica Actually, Starliner might fly into space this year - Ars Technica SpaceX eyes tower catch for next Starship after auspicious end to 13th flight - Ars Technica SpaceX on X: “View of Starship in space from a Starlink V3 satellite on Flight 13. This composite is made of imagery from four separate cameras on a single satellite. Six of the satellites were equipped with cameras to scan Starship’s heat shield and transmit imagery down to operators…” I Built a Gyroscope Stabilized Rocket Camera with GPS - YouTube Follow Eric Author: Eric Berger - Ars Technica Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) / X Reentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age | West Houston's Neighborhood Bookshop Follow Joe BPS.space - YouTube Joe Barnard (@joebarnard) / Twitter BPS.Space I made my rocket nosecone too pointy - YouTube Follow Off-Nominal Subscribe to the show! - Off-Nominal Support the show, join the Discord Off-Nominal (@offnom) / Twitter Off-Nominal (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Follow Jake WeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to Mars WeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | Twitter Jake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | Twitter Jake Robins (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Follow Anthony Main Engine Cut Off Main Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | Twitter Main Engine Cut Off (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Anthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | Twitter Anthony Colangelo (@[email protected]) - jawns.club 🐘 Off-Nominal Merchandise Off-Nominal Logo Tee WeMartians Shop | MECO Shop

Jake and Anthony are joined by Dan Rasky, Charles Miller, and Charlie Camarda—the sources of the heat shield discourse!—to talk about Starship Flight 13 and thermal protection systems overall. Topics Off-Nominal - YouTube Episode 251 - Yada Yada Yada (with Dan Rasky, Charles Miller, and Charlie Camarda) - YouTube Some Thoughts on Starship V13 Flight — Starship’s Current TPS is a “Dead-end” to Full-and-Rapid-Reusability Experts warn current Starship heat shield tech is a "dead end" for rapid reuse - Ars Technica Is Orion’s heat shield really safe? New NASA chief conducts final review on eve of flight. - Ars Technica Follow Off-Nominal Subscribe to the show! - Off-Nominal Support the show, join the Discord Off-Nominal (@offnom) / Twitter Off-Nominal (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Follow Jake WeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to Mars WeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | Twitter Jake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | Twitter Jake Robins (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Follow Anthony Main Engine Cut Off Main Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | Twitter Main Engine Cut Off (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Anthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | Twitter Anthony Colangelo (@[email protected]) - jawns.club 🐘 Off-Nominal Merchandise Off-Nominal Logo Tee WeMartians Shop | MECO Shop

Jake and Anthony talk about Starship Flight 13, the heat shield discourse, Dragon beyond 2030, and shockingly, Jake was the one to say “Let’s talk about the National Security Space Launch program.” Topics Off-Nominal - YouTube Episode 250 - Tile Enthusiast - YouTube SpaceX on X: “The Starship Recovery team has continued gathering imagery of the vehicle, which is still afloat in the Indian Ocean” Experts warn current Starship heat shield tech is a "dead end" for rapid reuse - Ars Technica Some Thoughts on Starship V13 Flight — Starship’s Current TPS is a “Dead-end” to Full-and-Rapid-Reusability | LinkedIn Actually, Starliner might fly into space this year - Ars Technica A "disaster waiting to happen"? Industry officials worry about Crew Dragon availability. - Ars Technica SpaceX wins $1.6 billion in launch orders for military satellite networks - SpaceNews Follow Off-Nominal Subscribe to the show! - Off-Nominal Support the show, join the Discord Off-Nominal (@offnom) / Twitter Off-Nominal (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Follow Jake WeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to Mars WeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | Twitter Jake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | Twitter Jake Robins (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Follow Anthony Main Engine Cut Off Main Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | Twitter Main Engine Cut Off (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Anthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | Twitter Anthony Colangelo (@[email protected]) - jawns.club 🐘 Off-Nominal Merchandise Off-Nominal Logo Tee WeMartians Shop | MECO Shop

Jake and Anthony are joined by Ethan Barajas and Jamie Palmer, co-founders of Icarus Robotics, to talk about—what else?—robots in space! Topics Off-Nominal - YouTube Episode 249 - Peeing Out Your Bones (with Ethan Barajas and Jamie Palmer) - YouTube Icarus Robotics Icarus raises $6.1M to take on space’s 'warehouse work' with embodied-AI robots | TechCrunch Voyager and Icarus Team Up on ISS Robotics Demo Astrobee - NASA Orbital hopping maneuvers with Astrobee on-board the International Space Station - ScienceDirect NASA: Let’s Ketchup on International Space Station Tomato Research - NASA The Case of the Missing Space Tomatoes - YouTube Follow Ethan and Jamie Ethan Barajas | LinkedIn Jamie Palmer | LinkedIn Follow Off-Nominal Subscribe to the show! - Off-Nominal Support the show, join the Discord Off-Nominal (@offnom) / Twitter Off-Nominal (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Follow Jake WeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to Mars WeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | Twitter Jake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | Twitter Jake Robins (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Follow Anthony Main Engine Cut Off Main Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | Twitter Main Engine Cut Off (@[email protected]) - Spacey Space Anthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | Twitter Anthony Colangelo (@[email protected]) - jawns.club 🐘 Off-Nominal Merchandise Off-Nominal Logo Tee WeMartians Shop | MECO Shop