Late For Changeover

Chinese Air Taxi, Blue Origin, SpaceX and ULA contracts, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, Ronin the mine detector rat

Today the Late Crew discusses the first Chinese Air Taxi (09:25),  the U.S. Space Force awards $13.7 billion to Blue Origin, SpaceX and ULA (13:15), Amazon’s Project Kuiper set to challenge SpaceX’s Starlink (22:19), a Hero rat sets Guinness World Record for detecting landmines (33:45), and Gen Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox on 9 April 1865 (46:25).

Air Force CMSgt (Ret) Michelle "Taz" Zayatz

My guest today is Air Force Chief Master Sergeant (Retired) Michelle “Taz” Zayatz.  Michelle grew up in Pittsfield, MA and graduated from Taconic High School.  In 1982 she joined the Air Force with an Air Force Specialty Code of 276 Aerospace Control and Warning System.  Her first assignment was to the 667th Air Control and Warning Squadron at Hofn Air Station, Iceland in 1982.  After completing that remote tour she was assigned to the 2nd Communications Squadron at Buckley Air National Guard base in Colorado.  During this assignment, she met and married her husband, Allen.  In 1986, Michelle separated from Active Duty and accompanied her husband as he finished his Active Duty career in the Air Force.  Throughout their subsequent PCS moves, she continued her career by joining the Air National Guard in MS, NY and CO.  In 1998, she transferred from the COANG to the Air Force Reserves and became a founding member of the 8th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley AFB.  In 2006, Michelle moved to the 310th Space Group at Schriever AFB.  In 2007, she requested to be reassigned to stand up the new 310th Mission Support Group in Denver.  Chief Zayatz retired in 2011.

Boeing's Starliner may fly again, BAH "Brilliant Swarms", "Hegseth bodyguards", Ranger school new fit test, creation of the Air Force Academy

Today the Late Crew discusses how Boeing's Starliner may fly again (04:47), Booz Allen unveils ‘Brilliant Swarms’ satellite concept for missile defense (12:05), those ‘Hegseth bodyguards’ are actually there for the ‘Doomsday’ plane (22:52), how Ranger School is scrapping traditional pushups and situps for functional fitness test (29:05), a proposal to tie soldiers’ promotions more to job proficiency (38:44), and the creation of the Air Force Academy on 1 April 1954 (50:59).

Astronaut Paychecks, Beamed Power, and the $20B Jet Deal

Today the Late Crew talks about how much the returning astronauts will get paid (03:50), Star Catcher sends electricity across an NFL football field in key space power-beaming test (16:23),  Boeing awarded $20B to build the F-47 (26:20), the Army wants to make it easier to call Lyft and Uber on base (38:09), and the end of the Battle of Iwo Jima on 25 Mar 1945 (58:43).

SpaceX Splashdown, Cemetery Scrubs, and Miss USA Reports for Duty

In this week’s slightly-later-than-scheduled formation, the Late Crew breaks down the SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon’s return to Earth—and yes, we’re still calling it one of the coolest ways to clock out (03:54). We dive into the latest drama in Space Force news as Congress dusts off the idea of a Space National Guard, proving that bipartisanship is still possible—at least in orbit (14:39).

Then, we get into the bizarre decision to strip race and gender references from Arlington’s cemetery website—because apparently, whitewashing history is still a thing in 2025 (28:31). Miss USA and Army 1st Lt. Alma Cooper gives us some actual hope, after inspiring 4,000+ California students with a blend of pageantry, purpose, and boots-on-the-ground badassery (47:38). And finally, we rewind to the dark origin of the War Relocation Authority, created on March 18, 1942—because not all history deserves a “like” (54:27).

Whether you're here for space podcasts, news for vets, or just vibing with one of the best space podcasts led by actual Air Force and Space Force veterans, this one checks all the boxes.

Sideways Moon Landings & Side-Eye from a Chief

This week, the crew is joined by retired Air Force CMSgt Michelle Zayatz, who immediately upgrades the brainpower and sarcasm levels in the room. First up, Butch and Suni return from the ISS like the seasoned astronauts they are—unflinching, underslept, and probably annoyed at Houston’s playlist (27:04). Then we cover the Intuitive Machines moon lander, which decided the best place to nap was sideways on the lunar south pole—SpaceX, take notes? (36:53)

Things get spicy when two active-duty soldiers and an Army vet are indicted for allegedly passing secrets to China (43:21)—not exactly the space force podcast content we wanted, but definitely the News for Vets you need. We also break down why the Army is losing nearly a quarter of its Soldiers in the first two years, and no, it’s not because they forgot where they parked (54:39). Finally, we salute CMSgt Richard Etchberger—who turned a classified mission into a Medal of Honor moment on March 11, 1968 (1:08:38). This guy was the real deal.

If you're here for space podcasts, weird moon landings, and Air Force veterans roasting both Congress and the cosmos, you’ve found the best podcast about space (according to our moms and a few retired colonels).

Boots, Bismarck, and Blazing Blunts with Rogan (Mar 5 2025)

Strap in, butterbars and space nerds—this week’s Late For Changeover is your rocket-fueled ride through the week’s weirdest, wildest, and most WTF headlines. The crew dissects Elon Musk’s latest philosophical smoke session on the Joe Rogan Experience, then launches into how the Blue Ghost moon lander pulled off a lunar touchdown worthy of a slow clap from Neil Armstrong’s ghost.

But wait—there’s more! The Air Force Academy gets caught red-handed (again) in a cheating scandal that would make your squadron commander cry. Meanwhile, West Point’s favorite repeat offender is back in hot water (for the third time), and the Supreme Court continues its streak of ghosting military malpractice cases. To top it all off, we get into the Blue Origin all-woman space flight—aka, the future of space travel finally arriving in boots and eyeliner—and a look back at the brutal brilliance of the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. It’s a full stack of orbital chaos, legal limbo, and historic dogfights—with just the right amount of snark.

Chairman Cain and the Case of the Soggy Kentucky 296 (Feb 26 25)

Buckle up, buttercup—this week the Late Crew takes a sarcastic stroll through the Pentagon's most recent "great ideas" and military headlines you won’t hear on your average space podcast or NPR snoozefest. First up: meet Lt Gen Dan "No Relation to Dean" Cain, a top contender for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, whose name sounds like he was born to kick doors in. Then it’s a quick dip into the soggy heroics of the Kentucky National Guard, who airlifted nearly 300 folks out of a flood with the calm of seasoned pros and the urgency of a Friday liberty call.

The gang also unpacks why troops bringing families to South Korea are getting a longer stay (guess who’s not thrilled?), plus why Trump’s still beefing with Boeing over Air Force One like it’s a particularly petty divorce. Finally, we rewind to the USS Monitor’s Civil War commissioning—because nothing says “military innovation” like an ironclad that looked like a floating hatbox. It's all here: leadership drama, heroic lift-offs (sadly, not SpaceX), and enough insider banter to qualify as unofficial News for Vets.

Artemis, Alaska, and the Army’s Missing Lunch Money (Feb 19 25)

This week on Late For Changeover, we break down why the current Artemis 3 moon landing plan is starting to look like a NASA-powered gamble with a lunar jackpot—or a cosmic faceplant. From moon boots to frostbite, we then head to Alaska where military rescue teams spent January in full chaos mode, proving once again that “no-fail mission” is code for “hope your snowmobile starts.”

Meanwhile, the Army swipes $151 million in BAS funds from soldiers and doesn’t even use it for food. (That’s right—less chow, same PT standards.) Over in the Navy, SEALs continue training in some of the worst water this side of a Taco Bell bathroom, and we finish strong with a deep dive into the start of the Battle of Iwo Jima—because no episode’s complete without a nod to gritty, boots-on-the-ground history. Whether you’re into space risk, rescue ops, or just military bureaucracy gone wild, this one’s for you. It’s a space podcast, a News for Vets roundup, and your favorite irreverent briefing all rolled into one.

Super Bowl, Super Meds, and the Return of Fort Bragg (Feb 12 25)

This week on Late For Changeover, the crew asks the hard-hitting question: can an Army First Sergeant throw a Super Bowl party in a war zone and still make formation the next morning? (Spoiler: probably, but you’ll regret asking.) We then pivot to Trump’s take on the Iron Dome—because nothing says “strategic defense” like naming it after a Marvel sequel—and dig into the VA’s ongoing love affair with handing out pills like it's a post-deployment candy buffet.

The episode takes a darker turn as we look at the real cost of overmedication for veterans, with a disturbing deep dive into the VA’s prescription of opioids and benzos—and the higher mortality rates that come with it. On a brighter note (kinda), Fort Bragg is back in the headlines, and we revisit Operation Homecoming, the 1973 POW return that had more feels than a reunion episode of Band of Brothers. If you're into News for Vets, military chaos, and darkly funny takes on defense policy, consider this your weekly dose of unfiltered truth (hold the benzos).