Space Strategy

In this episode, Peter Garretson sits down with Ross Centers, CEO of Ethos Space explore his ambitious vision for creating large-scale space infrastructure. The conversation covers the Space Resources program at the Colorado School of Mines , the concept of a planetary sunshade, and Center’s work with the Planetary Sunshade Foundation —including how this ethical 'north star' shapes Ethos Space’s mission. They dive into critical infrastructure needs including landing pads (to avoid what Center’s refers to as 'hypersonic blunderbusses'), refueling stations, and Lunar Data centers. The discussion explores the national security implications of the Moon and the importance of securing the “Strategic Flank” in the Golden Dome framework. The converstion also examines space property rights and the necessity of establishing “facts on the ground,” drawing parallels between Billy Mitchell’s historical aviation vision and today’s Cislunar space challenges. Finally, they close by discussing the coming transformation of the U.S. Space Force from a “brownwater” force to a deep-space, “bluewater” force.

In this episode, Peter Garretson talks with Dr. Sanjay Vijendran, Director of Space Energy Insights , and former lead for the European Space Agency's (ESA) groundbreaking SOLARIS Space-based Solar Power R&D Initiative. After a brief aside to discuss Sanjay's Mars work, they explore the basics of Space Solar Power: why it is interesting, and why Elon Musk's efficiency-focused critique gets it wrong. They discuss the importance of capacity factors, and how ESA changed the game by getting the energy industry involved in cost-benefit studies , which catalyzed new startups and investment. The conversation covers the current state of play: who are the startups, who is receiving funding and how much, and the diversity of concepts being pursued—including Overview Energy , Aetherflux , Reflect Orbital , VirtusSolis , Solaren , the UK's Space Solar , Australia's Solar Space Technologies , Volta , Starcatcher , as well as synergies with orbital data centers, space logistics, and in-space assembly and manufacturing. They explore longer-term work Sanjay sponsored with AstroStrom on setting up an industrial base on the Moon to build solar power satellites ( see video ), and examine near-term environmental benefits and challenges. They discuss Space Solar's advantages in energy payback time, energy return on energy invested, carbon return on carbon investment, land use, water use, and thermal pollution—and the need for government and intergovernmental planning models to include space solar power. They discussion also covers geopolitical and geoeconomic implications of leading or following, national security implications (including energy sovereignty), and energy security opportunities for the developing world, as well as near-term demos by AFRL , JAXA , China , and commercial firms . They conclude by discussing the International Conference on Energy From Space happening later this year.

In this episode, Peter Garretson talks with Dr. Philip Lubin. Dr. Philip Lubin from the UCSB Experimental Cosmology Group . Dr. Lubin discusses his groundbreaking work in laser technology and planetary defense, emphasizing the critical importance of protecting Earth from asteroid and comet impacts through innovative methods like directed energy systems and fragmentation techniques. He introduces his unified planetary defense system concept called “Pulverize It”(PI), which utilizes existing launch vehicles, and explores the potential of large-scale laser arrays known as “DE-STAR” for various space applications, including power transmission and enabling faster space travel . The conversation focuses on developing a practical and affordable planetary defense system using current technology, with plans to present this concept to key decision-makers. Find Dr. Lubin’s book on Directed Energy here , his list of papers here , and various simulation videos of Terminal Planetary Defense on their YouTube channel .

In this episode, Peter Garretson hosts Dr. Fred Kennedy, CEO of Dark Fission . Fred discusses his career and vision for space exploration, emphasizing the importance of developing nuclear thermal propulsion technology to enable more ambitious missions beyond low Earth orbit. He explores the historical challenges and delays in nuclear thermal propulsion development, while advocating for investment in all forms of nuclear propulsion and power systems to maintain U.S. competitiveness in space. They conversation covers a number of advanced nuclear propulsion ideas and explores the story behind ROAR and DRACO at DARPA, including the unfortunate recent demise of DRACO . They also discuss the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) original ‘ deterrence layer ,’ including an Advanced Maneuvering Vehicle . The episode concludes with discussions about funding strategies, potential partnerships, the need to remove regulatory barriers to allow American ingenuity to drive space exploration forward, and a grand strategy discussion about humanity’s expansion into the solar system.

In this episode Peter Garretson speaks with Senior Master Sergeant Benjamin Johnis , a Personnel Recovery Program Manager and former Air Force veteran, about rescue and personnel recovery in space. The discussion focused on space rescue capabilities and requirements. Benjamin presents his research on space rescue operations and discusses the challenges of developing a dedicated space rescue program, including his AFIT study on Lunar Search and Rescue (see related discussion ). The conversation covered technical aspects of space rescue vehicles, including the Dream Chaser and various existing systems, while addressing the geopolitical implications of space rescue capabilities and the need for international cooperation, particularly regarding China's advanced space programs. Benjamin emphasized the importance of establishing a Space Rescue Professional capability and outlined a 10-year plan for developing search and rescue capabilities in Cislunar space, while advocating for a Presidential Policy Directive to guide and coordinate government efforts in space rescue operations. Related reading: Read his Constellation Design Evaluation for Lunar Surface Navigation , and examination of Commercial Space Rescue Vehicle Reentry Concepts . Look for his forthcoming publications in Air & Space Operations Review on developing USSF Space Rescue Professionals, and his AFIT PhD dissertation “The Space Rescue Blueprint: An Engineering Guide for In-Space Contingencies.”

American Foreign Policy Council Space Policy Initiative co-directors Richard M. Harrison and Peter A. Garretson are taking a break from their original interview series to bring listeners something special—a free audio version of their co-authored book, The Next Space Race: A Blueprint for American Primacy . In this series, they’ll take you chapter-by-chapter through the book, exploring the critical strategies America must adopt to maintain its leadership in space. In this final chapter, the authors present a comprehensive agenda for ensuring American primacy in space, detailing specific recommendations for NASA, the Department of Defense, Congress, and the National Space Council to foster space development and security. The chapter emphasizes the urgent need for a unified American space vision to counter China's ambitions, advocating for public-private partnerships, space infrastructure investment, and a restructured Space Force to extend "the blessings of liberty" beyond Earth and secure America's economic and strategic advantages in the space domain.

American Foreign Policy Council Space Policy Initiative co-directors Richard M. Harrison and Peter A. Garretson are taking a break from their original interview series to bring listeners something special—a free audio version of their co-authored book, The Next Space Race: A Blueprint for American Primacy . In this series, they’ll take you chapter-by-chapter through the book, exploring the critical strategies America must adopt to maintain its leadership in space. In this episode, they shift to an international focus in Chapter 6 – Shaping the Global Rules-Based Order of Space. As more nations and private companies expand into space, setting clear rules and norms becomes critical. They explore the role the U.S. can play in establishing a rules-based order that promotes peace, security, and responsible behavior in orbit and beyond. Next, in Chapter 7 – Charting the Dimensions of Space Competition , they review the full spectrum of space competition—from military capabilities and economic opportunities to soft power and diplomatic influence. They discuss how the U.S. can leverage its strengths to outpace rivals and secure its leadership role in the space domain.

American Foreign Policy Council Space Policy Initiative co-directors Richard M. Harrison and Peter A. Garretson are taking a break from their original interview series to bring listeners something special—a free audio version of their co-authored book, The Next Space Race: A Blueprint for American Primacy . In this series, they’ll take you chapter-by-chapter through the book, exploring the critical strategies America must adopt to maintain its leadership in space. In this episode, they’re exploring a critical question: Is American space primacy slipping away? Chapter 4 takes a hard look at the warning signs—from lagging investments to bureaucratic inertia—that threaten to erode U.S. leadership in space. They discuss the policies and investments required to reverse this trend and ensure that America remains the dominant power in orbit and beyond. Next, in Chapter 5 – The Future of the U.S. Space Force , they unpack the mission and challenges of America’s newest military branch, examining its role in defending space assets and deterring adversaries. They also examine the reforms and resources needed to make the Space Force a capable guardian of U.S. interests in space.

American Foreign Policy Council Space Policy Initiative co-directors Richard M. Harrison and Peter A. Garretson are taking a break from their original interview series to bring listeners something special—a free audio version of their co-authored book, The Next Space Race: A Blueprint for American Primacy . In this series, they’ll take you chapter-by-chapter through the book, exploring the critical strategies America must adopt to maintain its leadership in space. In this episode, they dive into Chapter 2: Competing with the Chinese Space Vision . As China accelerates its ambitions in space—from Lunar bases to space-based solar power—the United States faces a strategic challenge like never before. We’ll explore how China's space vision is not just about exploration, but a calculated effort to reshape the global balance of power. Next, in Chapter 3: Challenges to U.S. Space Security , they examine the growing threats from anti-satellite weapons, cyber vulnerabilities, and the potential for a new kind of arms race in orbit. As rivals like China and Russia develop capabilities to disrupt or destroy U.S. assets in space, maintaining American security requires a bold and forward-thinking strategy. We’ll break down these threats and discuss the measures needed to safeguard America's interests in the final frontier.

American Foreign Policy Council Space Policy Initiative co-directors Richard M. Harrison and Peter A. Garretson are taking a break from their original interview series to bring listeners something special—a free audio version of their co-authored book, The Next Space Race: A Blueprint for American Primacy . In this series, they’ll take you chapter-by-chapter through the book, exploring the critical strategies America must adopt to maintain its leadership in space. In this episode, they start with the introduction, laying out why space is not just a new frontier of exploration but a crucial domain for U.S. national security, economic growth, and global influence. The discussion emphasizes how the stakes are higher than ever, with China rapidly advancing its capabilities and challenging American leadership in space. Then, they dive into Chapter 1: Space Is an Untapped Resource . The chapter explores the immense potential of space-based resources—from energy and minerals to manufacturing—and what that means for America's economic future. The chapter addresses the strategic importance of tapping into these resources before rivals like China can capitalize on them, and why failing to act now could have long-term consequences for U.S. dominance on the global stage.

In this episode, Peter Garretson speaks with Christopher Stone , Senior Fellow for Space Deterrence at the National Institute for Deterrence Studies, and former Special Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy. Stone, author of Reversing the Tao: A Framework for Credible Space Deterrence and host of the host of Real Space Strategy Podcast joins Garretson for a wide-ranging discussion on space policy and defense. The conversation begins with an analysis of the new administration’s space-focused appointees and their potential impact, before diving into 'Space Warfare 101.' This comprehensive overview covers Earth-to-space weapons, space-to-space weapons (including the rationale and strategic importance of co-orbital counterspace and maneuver capabilities), and space-to-Earth weapons. The discussion then explores arms control, deterrence strategy, and the implications of the President's " Iron Dome for America " executive order, including its impact on space-based missile defense, potential bureaucratic 'failure modes,' and potential challenges for the Space Force. The episode concludes with an examination of strategic objectives and threats in Cislunar space area of responsibility (AOR).

In this episode Peter Garretson talks with Christopher Mason , a Professor of Genomics, Physiology, Biophysics, and Neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medicine and Director of the WorldQuant Initiative for Quantitative Prediction, and principal investigator for the NASA Twins Study . The conversation explores the ideas in his book, The Next 500 Years: Engineering Life to Reach New Worlds . The episode opens with Chris' thought experiment for long-term thinking, and the realization that the span of life on Earth is finite and its implications. The discussion delves into key concepts from his book such as his "deontogenic ethics," the human purpose as shepherds of life, the duty to engineer, the 'metaspecies,' engineering astronauts, settlers, and their companion microbes, terraforming, and the nuts and bolts of his 500 year plan to engineer ourselves, the biospheres of planets in our solar system and settling new Earths, setting sail for second Suns. Mason shares insights from the NASA Twins Study, and highlights work in his lab such as creating radiation resistant cells by transplanting tardigrade DNA into human cells. The conversation covers planetary protection, longevity, synthetic biology, functional genomics, reproduction in space, AI & biological digital twins, and science fiction. Together, they explore what it means to codify such purpose in national policy, and how to encourage US leadership in the new space race in science and technology policy. Chris ends on a note of high optimism for the future of humanity.

In this episode Peter Garretson talks with Jim Keravala , co-founder and CEO of OffWorld, inc . The conversation opens with the truly grand scale of ambition in space, beginning with interstellar migration before working back to Cislunar development. This leads into an exploration of political and environmental pressures, highlighting the need to double or quadruple our energy inputs through Space Solar Power. Jim shares his past efforts with Shacketon energy to create an $18B sovereign wealth fund for developing Lunar infrastructure and building solar power Satellites. The conversation shifts to examining the genesis of OffWorld, its success in terrestrial mining, and plans for swarm mining of end-of-life mines. The dialogue emphasizes the criticality of Cislunar space, establishing how U.S. economic prosperity is absolutely tied to our Cislunar competence. This opens up a broader conversation about why Cislunar development is urgent today and how to catalyze it in alignment with the Oil & Gas industry. The focus then turns to Cislunar's importance for national security and the future roles of the Space Force. As the conversation progresses, attention shifts to the opportunity of building and leading the foundation of expansion into Cislunar space during this era of unprecedented technological advancement—comparable to the discovery of fire and the invention of the wheel. The discussion expands to cover starship, self-replication, synbio, AI, AI ethics, and the incredible opportunity facing the new administration. The episode concludes with a compelling scenario of what we're likely to see unfold if we make the right decisions.

In this episode Peter Garretson talks with Mike Snead and Jess Sponable about why America doesn't yet have true spaceplanes and their promise and importance. They cover nuances of what counts as a spaceplane, what sorts of things a spaceplane can do, the major categories of spaceplanes (TSTO, SSTO, VTOL, HOTOL, VTHL, rocket/airbreathing, air collection , hot & cold structures). The guests review the history of US efforts from X-20 DynaSoar , TAV ( Boeing ) to Cooper Canyon to X-30 NASP , Have Region , DC-X , X-33/Venture Star , XS-1/XSP and more). They explain that for decades the U.S. industrial base could have built rocket-powered spaceplanes and discuss the geo-strategic and political regions it has not. The conversation explores the reasons for failure, the sad demise of X-planes, and some of the positive trends in industry. They discuss policies that might advance spaceplanes as well as their military implications. Toward the end, Mike and Peter also discuss the interactions between spaceplanes, space solar power, and the implications of China's spaceplane , Lunar and Space Solar Power programs. The consider how a mature ' astroelectricity' and ' astrologistics ' infrastructure would fundamentally change the game for the U.S. Space Force and military power.

In this episode, AFPC Senior Vice President, and host of the Disinformation Wars podcast, speaks with Col. Peter Garretson, AFPC Senior Fellow in Defense Studies and former chief futurist for the U.S. Air Force, regarding China’s recent strides forward in space internet, and what it might mean for the unfolding “great power competition” between Washington and Beijing. MATERIALS REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE: — Ilan Berman, “The Fight for Informational Freedom Is Moving to Space,” Newsweek , September 4, 2024, https://www.newsweek.com/fight-informational-freedom-moving-space-opinion-1948104 — Richard M. Harrison and Peter Garretson, The Next Space Race: A Blueprint for American Primacy (Praeger Security International, 2023), https://www.amazon.com/Next-Space-Race-Blueprint-International/dp/1440880808 — Peter Garretson and Richard M. Harrison, “Reacting to Major Space Events at or Below Geostationary Orbit - After Action Report 1,” AFPC Special Report , July 5, 2024, https://www.afpc.org/publications/special-reports/reacting-to-major-space-events-at-or-below-geostationary-obit-after-action-report-1 . — Peter Garretson and Richard M. Harrison, “Reacting to Major Space Events on the Moon and in Cislunar Space - After Action Report 2,” AFPC Special Report , September 24, 2024, https://www.afpc.org/uploads/documents/Workshop_2_-_After_Action_Report_-_9.16.24.pdf .

In this episode Peter Garretson talks with Dr. Greg Autry, Associate Provost for Space Commercialization and Strategy at the University of Central Florida, and former member of the 2016 NASA Agency Review Team and White House Liaison to NASA in 2017. They discuss a number of ideas in Dr. Autry's new book Red Moon RISING: How America Will Beat China on the Final Frontier . They touch on how Dr. Autry moved from being a software entrepreneur into the New Space movement, including his early work in China on human rights, the impact of his earlier book Death By China , and what are the stakes of Space Race 2.0. They also delve into Dr. Autry's recent testimony on the stakes of the in-space mineral supply chain , including relegating the U.S. to an economic backwater, and potentially existential threat to the US. They explore the big idea of Space Settlement, Millions of people living and working in space on new space stations , the surface Moon and Mars, and w hy we should populate Mars , and how China's decision to turn inward multiplied rather than solved their problems. They talk about the contribution of space toward our understanding of climate and the environment, and toward offering solutions, and Autry's contention that America can afford to have a future in space . They assess communism, authoritarianism, capitalism, billionaires, nuclear power, and the remarkable bipartisanship in space. They discuss how cooperation is boring and has resulted in very little comparative progress. They converse about NASA's tragic plans to trash the ISS , and alternatives for this tremendous piece of human heritage. They evaluate the progress of NASA's Artemis vs the tasking in the National Space Policy , and the historical reasons for its complexity and schedule delay, and concerns of a lack of urgency, and that the US may be losing in the race with China . Bridging on Dr. Autry's recent review of the Republican Platform space strategy , Greg discusses what is a vision worthy of our nation and what must be done to move forward. They conclude by discussing ways for individuals to get in involved in the Space Movement, including the National Space Society (NSS), Mars Society , Moon Village Association , and the open & welcoming nature of the Space Movement and ways to seek the education to become a space leader, such as University of Arizona's Thunderbird Executive Master of Global Management: Space Leadership Business and Policy . More of Dr. Autry's thinking can be found in his regular Forbes Science Column and Foreign Policy, and New Space Articles.

In this episode Peter Garretson has a discussion with former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. They delve into the strategic importance of space to our economy and security and counter-space threats. They review how Bridenstine got into space via the Rocket Racing League , how his interests in promoting commercial space resulted in his introducing the Space Renaissance Act while in Congress. The two discuss the big ideas for Cislunar contained in his 2016 policy speech, This is Our Sputnik Moment . They cover how he moved ideas from the Google Lunar XPrize to create the NASA CLPS program . They address the creation of Artemis Program goals for a sustainable presence on the Moon and on the progress of Planetary Defense. They discuss the DIME (Diplomatic Informational Military Economic) theory of national power, and the roles that NASA, the commercial sector, and the Space Force play, including the creation of an economic and industrial base to win economic and strategic competition in the space domain. Additionally, they assess the naval-like role for the United States Space Force. They conclude talking about the informational and public diplomacy aspect of spacepower, how PRC initiatives in Lunar infrastructure , space nuclear power , and space solar power satellites and demos , and the need for the US to continue to reach for big audacious projects which impress the world.

In this episode Peter Garretson speaks with Simon “Pete” Worden (Brig Gen, USAF, Ret, PhD), Chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation . They discuss the purpose of spacefaring, the importance of Cislunar , the Moon, Clementine , the Near-Earth and Main-Belt Asteroids, NASA's Artemis mission, Moon-to-Mars Objectives and Artemis Accords , DARPA (and it's NOM4D , DRACO , B-SURE and LunA-10 effort), "Bluewater Spacepower," movement & maneuver in deep space , the need to protect commerce , and the U.S. Space Force, ' War Prevention ' vs Warfighting'. They explore dissuasion, deterrence, the recent Fractional Orbital Bombardment Test , SDI and Space-Based Missile defense. They delve into how Breakthrough is going after the big questions of is there life, is there intelligent life, and can we reach other star systems through Breakthrough Watch , Breakthrough Listen , Breakthrough Starshot (including its StarChips , Solar Sails and Gigawatt Lasers). They assess the importance of asteroids to science, as a resource, and as a threat, discussing his role in starting Luxembourg Space Agency 's Space Resources program for Asteroid Mining , his long-standing role in planetary defense , what became DART. They close discussing Boyd's OODA Loop and philosophy of officership , and the attitude it takes to do innovation.

In this episode, Peter Garretson meets with General Chance Saltzman , Chief of Space Operations (CSO) for the United States Space Force. They discuss the role of CSO within the broader space ecosystem, and the opportunities and threats that occupy his thoughts. They examine the changes in the space domain, and how to respond to a contested domain . They touch on &#39;theories of success&#39; and &#39;theories of victory.&#39; Gen Saltzman discusses &quot; Competitive Endurance &quot; and its tenets of: 1) avoiding operational surprise; 2) denying first-mover advantage; and 3) responsible counterspace campaigning. They go in-depth on counterspace campaigning and its relationship to deterrence, integrated campaigning, and implications for the security dilemma. They delve into how adversary space systems now have the capability to enable targeting of U.S. forces. Followed by a discussion on offense and defense, its meaning, how technology has shifted the balance in military history, and in the space domain. They converse about what the concept of &#39;denying first mover advantage&#39; means and what it does not, and its relationship to deterrence and stability. They go over the USSF mission statement and just what it means to &#39; Protect the interests of the United States in Space &quot; as enshrined in US Code Title X. They discuss requirement to access, control and exploit space his three lines of effort (LOEs): 1) Fielding Combat Ready Forces ; 2) Amplifying the Guardian Spirit ; and 3) Partnering to Win . Gen Saltzman ends with a message to junior Guardians and a powerful recruiting message to join the Space Force. Gen Saltzman&#39;s Bio About Space Force THREAT &amp; TRENDS NASIC Competing in Space DIA Challenges to Security in Space Space Futures Workshop: The Future of Space 2060 Space Futures Workshop: Commercial Planning Assumptions THEORY OF SUCCESS, COMPETITIVE ENDURANCE &amp; TENANTS <a href="https://www.afa.org/sites/default/files/2023-03/Keynote-Gen.%20Saltzman%20on%20Guardians%20in%20the%20Fight%20%28Transcript%29.pdf" target="_bl

In this episode Peter Garretson meets with Dr. Ezinne Uzo-Okoro of the White House&#39;s Office of Science and Technology Policy ( OSTP ). They discuss the White House space policies in the context of the Administration Priorities , including climate, economy and jobs, restoring US global leadership, COVID and infrastructure, and the intention to lead by example. They delve into the broad context of the White House Space Priorities Framework and its emphasis on sustainability, norms and behaviors, earth observation for climate change. They examine the plethora of policy documents and the &#39;nuts and bolts&#39; of what is involved in originating and coordinating such documents, including aligning with presidential intent, &#39;reading the room,&#39; bringing together and educating stakeholders, and soliciting feedback including from industry and academia, making a case for guidance, always with the intent to maintain US preeminence at least 10-20 years down the road. They address how such documents are used by federal agencies, allies, and industry, and the relationship of OSTP to the National Space Council (NSpC), National Security Council (NSC), and Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and sometimes the National Economic Council (NEC) and Climate office...as well as the need for patience and grace throughout the 6-12 month coordination process. They explore the historic nature of the National Cislunar Science and Technology Strategy and the deliberate choice of the language of &#39;settlement&#39; in the new National Low Earth Orbit Research and Development Strategy , and the consistent industry-friendly themes across documents of new products and scalable infrastructure, and economic growth. They touch on In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing National Strategy and National In-Space Servicing Assembly, and Manufacturing Implementation Plan , as well as the National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing and Interagency Roadmap to Support Space-Related STEM Education and Workforce . They also cover the James Webb Telescope and exciting DART mission, the recently updated National Preparedness Strategy &amp; Action Plan for Near-Earth Object Hazards and Planetary Defense —&quot;what&#39;s cooler than planetary defense.&quot; Along the way they discuss Space-Based Solar Power, Exoplanets, Settlement, Space Weather, regulating novel space activities. They review Ezinne&#39;s own career and journey , and her reasons for optimism and philosophy of hard work. They conclude talking about how easy it is to become involved in space, because it is a small community where anyone can play, and secrets of success such as: if you want to go far, go together; that success comes from putting one foot in front of the other; the utility of patience and grace, and that there is plenty of work, so grab an oar!

In this episode Peter Garretson talks with science fiction author Daniel Suarez about his latest novel Critical Mass , which depicts humanity’s transition from a climate-imperiled, Earthbound civilization to one that utilizes the resources and energy from deep space to secure a promising, sustainable future. They discuss what it means to be a spacefaring civilization, what is the value proposition for developing Cislunar, the new Space Race, what will be the determinants of spacepower both soft &amp; hard, and what ought to be our national priorities. Daniel is clear that, “They [China] have basically declared that they want to have a space race with us. I say we take them up on it” and that “We need to get busy, and we really need to be focused on outcomes,” that “We Need an Apollo Level of Urgency,” and “And if that space race can inspire us to get busy and get moving well, then good. Then it and it&#39;s going to have a good catalyzing effect.” They analyze what the Space Force should assume about Cislunar, space resources, humans in space, and requirements for guardians in space. They delve into what the new capabilities mean for competitive endurance and a theory of success, and the opportunities afforded by space mobility and logistics. They explore the concept of space infrastructure, and the criticality of on-orbit mass for spacepower advantage. They assess how the scenario in his latest book ought to give the USSF pause, “And if this scenario gives them [USSF] nightmares…then, hopefully, that will urge some action.” They touch on cryptocurrency in space, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), and the space commodities exchange. They cover Asteroid Mining, Solar Power Satellites to Mass Drivers, to Lunar Cyclers, Spin-Gravity Space Stations—and enabling U.S. policy. They discuss the utility of Science Fiction as ‘cost-effective prototyping the future’, the utility of narrative, and the constraint that ‘you can’t build something until you can imagine it.’ They close by examining the future roles and missions for the Space Force in a developing Cislunar economy in the context of the technology in his novels DeltaV and Critical Mass .

In this episode Peter Garretson talks with Dr. Kurt &quot;Spuds&quot; Vogel , NASA Director of Space Architectures, about NASA&#39;s Moon to Mars Objectives and NASA&#39;s just-released Blueprint for Sustained Human Presence and exploration throughout the Solar System. They discuss the NASA organization, the difference between an objective vs capabilities based approach, what it means to &#39;architect from the right and execute from the left, the significance of the objectives, and the collaborative process to get there. They outline how the plan seeks to be robust across administrations and alternate budget futures. They close by focusing on the significance of objectives for science, applied science, science enabling, and infrastructure objectives, and in particular the step-change of including a &#39;robust Cislunar economy&#39; and an explicit NASA goal to enable &#39;Commerce and Space Development&#39; by deliberately fostering &#39;the expansion of the economic sphere beyond Earth orbit to support U.S. industry and innovation.&#39;

In this episode, Peter Garretson hosts Dr. Avi Loeb , Director of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics’ Institute for Theory and Computation, head of the Galileo Project , and Chair of the Breakthrough Starshot Initiative Advisory Committee. They discuss recent discoveries of extraterrestrial objects ( Oumuamua , Comet Borisov , and 2 meteors). Avi provides insights into the big ideas in his book Extraterrestrial , including the hypothesis that Oumuamua might be a lightsail from an alien civilization. Interestingly, Avi’s team is trying to create one via the Breakthrough Starshot Initiative–Avi hopes to achieve 10% the speed of light with a laser-lightsail carrying a Starchip to get to our closest neighbor star Proxima Centauri. They address the story of the 2014 meteor, journal rejection , as well as, the story behind the USSPACECOM release of the data on the extraterrestrial meteor, and Avi’s plans to recover it . They cover Avi’s recent paper, ‘ PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS ON UNIDENTIFIED AERIAL PHENOMENA ’ for the Pentagon’s AARO , the controversial headline it created (‘ Pentagon UFO chief says alien mothership in our solar system possible ’), and why the subject of UAP’s or extraterrestrial civilization is a puzzlingly taboo subject in the science community despite significant public and government interests. They consider UAP’s, and the efforts of Project Galileo to capture anomalous signatures, and what sort of funding would be required to deploy at scale. They review the White House tasking to DoD for Planetary Defense , and the utility of looking for extraterrestrial signatures as part of an in-space Space Domain Awareness (SDA) sensor architecture. Finally, they question what potential discoveries might arise from attempting to test the extraterrestrial hypothesis, a long-term vision for the preservation of humanity and its values and seeding the galaxy with life and intelligence, as well as short-term opportunities for policy to align government (and perhaps even USSF) funding on extraterrestrial objects, SETI, and UAP with public interests.

In this episode, Senior Fellow Peter Garretson interviews Lieutenant&nbsp;General John E. Shaw, Deputy Commander of United States Space Command (USSPACECOM).&nbsp;They begin by explaining the role and responsibilities of USSPACECOM.&nbsp;They examine Gen. Shaw's new&nbsp;article,&nbsp; Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Space as a Military Area of Responsibilities (AOR) , including its key propositions: the importance of Earth; the insufficiency of the term "global"; the need to re-imagine strategic&nbsp;terrain (upwell, downwell, cislunar); and the importance of the AOR&nbsp;to&nbsp;everyone.&nbsp;They detail the role of a COCOM in peace and in war. Next, they discuss the utility of a naval / maritime analogy for Spacepower, and the potential new&nbsp;missions.&nbsp;They touch on Gen. Shaw's book,&nbsp; Whither Space Power , and where it&nbsp;has proved&nbsp;prescient.&nbsp;They outline interagency challenges ahead such&nbsp;as rescue of space tourists and deflecting asteroids—including a recent NASA-FEMA-USSF-USSPACEOM&nbsp;tabletop exercise (TTX).&nbsp;Finally, they conclude with a vision of humanity's future in space if we play our cards right, and an invitation to young people to join the adventure through service in the United States Space Force. About Gen. John Shaw: https://www.spacecom.mil/Leaders/Bio/Article/2433977/lt-gen-john-e-shaw/ USSPACECOM: https://www.spacecom.mil/ Article: Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/AEtherJournal/Journals/Volume-1_Issue-1/06-Shaw.pdf Book: Whither Space Power https://media.defense.gov/2017/May/05/2001742912/-1/-1/0/FP_0008_WORDEN_SHAW_WHITHER_SPACE_POWER.PDF USSPACECOM Posture Statement https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/USSPACECOM%20FY23%20Posture%20Statement%20SASC%20FINAL.pdf https://www.spacecom.mil/Testimony/ Planetary Defense TTX: https://www.jhuapl.edu/NewsStory/220310c-planetary-defense-exercise https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/pd/cs/ttx22/ Gen. Shaw Presenting on Planetary Defense at Space Symposium: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7137185/usspacecom-deputy-presents-planetary-defense-37th-annual-space-symposium Gen. Shaw Wired Interview https://www.wired.com/story/space-commands-lt-gen-john-shaw-on-the-future-of-space-security/ Gen. Shaw OpEd&nbsp; https://spacenews.com/op-ed-the-u-s-space-force-must-be-independent-but-not-insular/

In this episode, Senior Fellow Peter Garretson interviews best-selling author Howard Bloom and founder of the Space Development Steering Committee.&nbsp;They discuss fundamental motivations for developing and settling space—humanity's destiny—and the roles that NASA and the Space Force are called to play to support that purpose. They focus on how to balance near-term threats and priorities vs. the power of Cislunar to determine the future. Howard discusses the opportunity cost of the current expandable architecture, and the possibilities suggested by reusable systems like a SpaceX’s Starship.&nbsp;He ends with an urgent plea to the Administration to get Starship flying without delay. About Howard: https://www.howardbloom.net/about-howard-bloom/ Screw Sustainability https://lifeboat.com/ex/screw.sustainability China Silk Road vs America's Platinum Highway in the Sky https://theentrepreneurmagazine.com/2021/03/19/chinas-new-silk-road-vs-americas-platinum-highway-in-the-sky-by-howard-bloom/ https://othjournal.com/2018/09/24/chinas-new-silk-road-vs-americas-platinum-highway-in-the-sky/ Garden the Solar System - Green the Galaxy https://kiss.caltech.edu/workshops/adaptive/presentations/Garden%20the%20solar%20system-Green%20the%20Galaxy%204-23-2014.pdf https://vimeo.com/67413529 Humanity's Destiny https://pjmedia.com/culture/david-swindle/2013/06/17/humanitys-destiny-howard-bloom-garden-the-solar-system-green-the-galaxy-n145825 Howard's Books and Articles https://www.howardbloom.net/ The Space Development Steering Committee http://spacedevelopmentsteeringcommittee.org/ The 2 billion dollar Moon Prize https://www.newsweek.com/one-small-step-toward-2-billion-moon-prize-opinion-1476945 https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/19/newt-gingrich-michael-jackson-moon-1466853 The Howard Bloom Institute https://howardbloom.institute/