Rick Sterling was the guest for this Space Show program. He came in at the last minute as a standby when the regularly scheduled guest was unavailable and The Space Show thanks Rick for standing in and for a job well done. We spent a good portion of the program talking about the alternative hardware program for returning to the Moon, Direct 2. Rick explained Direct 2, answered listener questions about this program, including some engineering questions about first and second stages, engines, fuel, the political and budget realities of the program for returning to the Moon and more. He also talked about his political process which is to get Direct 2 in the hands of members of Congress who control NASA funding given the cold ear Direct 2 has received within NASA. Along with listener questions, Rick explained why returning to the Moon is so crucial for America and humanity and why Direct 2 makes it possible to fulfill the mission when the NASA ESAS and EELV programs do not. Rick also spoke about the Russian space program, what's happening in China and elsewhere regarding space. He addressed the subject of NASA cultural issues and problems and strongly advocated going to Congress to fix the problems within NASA. To be clear, Rick is not a NASA basher and this program was not about bashing NASA. Rick, myself, and the listeners were clear in wanting to see great success from NASA in its programming. Rick said that the problems, however they developed within NASA, probably require an external fix and that is why he advocates taking space programs like Direct 2 directly to members of Congress that have a say in NASA funding. Rick is happy to answer your questions and respond to your comments. Please send them through me at drspace@thespaceshow.com.