213 - This is Why We Playtest (with Adam Wuerl and Rob Davis)

Jake and Anthony are joined by Brendan Byrne, News Director at Central Florida Public Media and host of Are We There Yet?, to present the 2025 Off-Nominees: the most bizarre space news stories of the year.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 222 - Way to Gaureau (Presenting the 2025 Off-Nominees with Brendan Byrne) - YouTubeThe Off-Nominal Awards - Off-NominalEutelsat resolves OneWeb leap year software glitch after two-day outage - SpaceNewsJeff Foust on X: “NASA says there could be delays in the next Cygnus mission to the ISS after its shipping container sustained damage. NASA will alter the cargo manifest for the next cargo Dragon mission to put more consumables on it.”Isar Aerospace’s first Spectrum launch fails - SpaceNewsLivestream: First test flight of Isar Aerospace - YouTubeBOOM! ISAR Spectrum Rocket Launch Failure - YouTubeJeff Bezos Faceplants at Blue Origin Rocket Launch Capsule LandingUnpacking claims Jeff Bezos opening the Blue Origin capsule hatch was staged | Snopes.comAlpha FLTA006 "Message In A Booster" - YouTube[EXCLUSIVE] ERIS | Test Flight 1 SUCCESS | Gilmour Space Technologies - YouTubeAir Safety #OTD by Francisco Cunha on X: “Here´s an international mess... Today, a Zambian-registered light aircraft, carrying 400 pounds of drugs with "SpaceX" labels, inbound from Colombia, crashed in Brazil, killing the pilot, who was Australian.”Before a Soyuz launch Thursday someone forgot to secure a 20-ton service platform - Ars TechnicaKatya Pavlushchenko on X: “New photos of the damaged launch pad at Site 31 of Baikonur Kosmodrome were published in Telegram channels and on Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum. Sad to see it like this.”R-7 ICBM/Soyuz rocket launch facilities in BaikonurAlejandro Alcantarilla Romera (Alex) on X: “More than two and a half years after the last Proton launch, another one is out on the pad for launch in a few days.”Jake’s Original Falcon Heavy TakeBooster 18 suffers anomaly during proof testing - NASASpaceFlight.comRoscosmos replaces cosmonaut on next Crew Dragon mission to ISS - SpaceNewsSo how do Russian cosmonauts feel about Russia’s war on Ukraine? - Ars TechnicaNASA rebukes Russian use of space station for propaganda purposes [Updated] - Ars TechnicaFollow BrendanBrendan Byrne (@SpaceBrendan) / XBrendan ByrneAre We There Yet? : NPRFollow 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 Jeffrey Kluger to talk about his new book, Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, the Untold Story.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 221 - Ornithopter of Spacecraft (with Jeffrey Kluger) - YouTubeGemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, the Untold Story: Kluger, Jeffrey: 9781250323002: Amazon.com: BooksGeminiFollow JeffreyJeffrey Kluger (@jeffreykluger) / XJeffrey Kluger | TIMEFollow 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 Loren Grush of Bloomberg to talk about Jared Isaacman’s second nomination hearing and everything else going on around the industry, like maybe Sam Altman’s foray into rockets. Also, a little side quest into AI.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 220 - I Will Always Follow the Law, Senator (with Loren Grush) - YouTubeSpaceX Backer, Vying to Run NASA, Downplays Ties With Musk - BloombergSpaceX Pitches Accelerated Moon Landing Plan After NASA Pressure - BloombergBezos’ Blue Origin Lofts NASA Craft, Nails Booster Landing - BloombergExclusive | OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Has Explored Deal to Build Competitor to Elon Musk’s SpaceX - WSJRoscosmos replaces cosmonaut on next Crew Dragon mission to ISS - SpaceNewsTelegram: View @roscosmos_gkTelegram WidgetFollow LorenLoren Grush - BloombergLoren Grush (@grushcrush) - Instagram photos and videosLoren Grush (@lorengrush.bsky.social) — BlueskyFollow 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 Ed Ge, CEO and co-founder of Aethero, a space computing startup focused on building the best integrated hardware and software in space. Also we randomly go eBay shopping for old Russian space hardware.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 219 - ITAR-Certified Auction Houses (with Ed Ge) - YouTubeAethero - Space Data, Re-ImaginedCosmic Shielding works with Aethero to protect Nvidia Jetson Orin NX GPU - SpaceNewsROSCOSMOS COSMONAUT SERGEY RYZHIKOV SPARE WINTER JACKET SOYUZ MS-27 ISS EXP. 73 | eBayPREFLIGHT THE CHALLENGE MOVIE COSMONAUT A. SHKAPLEROV JACKET SOYUZ MS-19 | eBayCosmonaut Oleg Novitsky Jersey T-shirt Soyuz MS-18 ISS Expedition 65 Gagarin :) | eBayLOK Lunar Lander LK Salyut Space Station Periscope Extremely Rare Artifact | eBayActual Console Panel Soyuz TM/Mir Space Station Extremely Rare | eBayFollow EdEdward (@somefoundersalt) / XFollow 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 watch the ESCAPADE launch on New Glenn, and catch up on some other news.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 218 - How Many Boeing 737s Tall - YouTubeReplay: New Glenn Mission NG-2 Webcast - YouTubeNew Glenn launches NASA’s ESCAPADE Mars mission, lands booster - SpaceNewsWhat would a “simplified” Starship plan for the Moon actually look like? - Ars TechnicaIn a stunning comeback, Jared Isaacman is renominated to lead NASA - Ars TechnicaNASA is kind of a mess: Here are the top priorities for a new administrator - Ars TechnicaChina continues assessment of Shenzhou-20 crew return after suspected debris strike - SpaceNewsFollow 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 space artist and illustrator Paul Fjeld to review their rocket tier list, adjust some rankings, and add some new contenders to the mix.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 217 - Buran DMCA Takedown (with Paul Fjeld) - YouTubeEpisode 217 OuttakesRocket Tier List Rebuttal ※ veridical.netOff-Nominal Official Rocket - TierMaker (First Take)Off-Nominal Rocket Tiers Mark 2 - TierMaker (Spoilers)Follow PaulSpace Art by Paul FjeldFollow 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 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 🚀🚀🚀 - YouTubeFollow EricAuthor: Eric Berger - Ars TechnicaEric Berger (@SciGuySpace) / XReentry: SpaceX, Elon Musk, and the Reusable Rockets that Launched a Second Space Age | West Houston's Neighborhood BookshopFollow 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 Craig Baerwaldt and Sarah Freese to talk about Space Happy Hour and the upcoming Sally’s Night event, honoring Sally Ride and celebrating women in aerospace.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 215 - Gainesville-on-Ocala (with Craig Baerwaldt and Sarah Freese) - YouTubeSally's Night | Space Happy Hour Global Women's Night November 13, 2025Space Happy Hour | Space Industry Networking EventsSpace Happy Hour: Overview | 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 do a good ol’ news roundup—Jared Isaacman may be back as NASA Administrator, Stoke Space raises a ton of money, New Glenn gets ready for its next launch, and we have thoughts about the communication of phasing orbits.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 214 - Blasting Through the Pork Chop - YouTubeTrump, Billionaire Isaacman Said to Meet About Top NASA Job - BloombergStoke Space gives us another reason to take it very seriously - Ars TechnicaPentagon contract figures show ULA’s Vulcan rocket is getting more expensive - Ars TechnicaActually, we are going to tell you the odds of recovering New Glenn’s second launch - Ars TechnicaESCAPADE trajectory design creates new options for Mars smallsat missions - SpaceNewsHow America fell behind China in the lunar space race—and how it can catch back up - Ars TechnicaWe’re about to find many more interstellar interlopers—here’s how to visit one - Ars TechnicaFollow 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 Adam Wuerl and Rob Davis, creators of Apogee Board Games (and longtime anomalies!), to talk about their new game, Scoundrels and Pirates Affiliated with Criminal Enterprises.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 213 - This is Why We Playtest (with Adam Wuerl and Rob Davis) - YouTubeS.P.A.C.E. - Scoundrels and Pirates Affiliated with Criminal Enterprises by Apogee Board GamesRocket Tier List Rebuttal ※ veridical.netFollow AdamAdam Wuerl (@[email protected]) - Mastodon※ veridical.netFollow RobThoughts of RobFollow 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