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...

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,...

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 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...

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...

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 'theories of success' and 'theories of victory.' Gen Saltzman discusses "Competitive Endurance" and its tenets of: 1) avoiding...

In this episode Peter Garretson meets with Dr. Ezinne Uzo-Okoro of the White House'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,...

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...

In this episode Peter Garretson talks with Dr. Kurt "Spuds" Vogel, NASA Director of Space Architectures, about NASA's Moon to Mars Objectives and NASA'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 'architect from the right and execute from the left, the significance of the objectives, and the collaborative process to get...

In this episode, Senior Fellow Peter Garretson interviews Lieutenant General John E. Shaw, Deputy Commander of United States Space Command (USSPACECOM). They begin by explaining the role and responsibilities of USSPACECOM. They examine Gen. Shaw's new article, 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 terrain (upwell, downwell,...

In this episode, Senior Fellow Peter Garretson interviews best-selling author Howard Bloom and founder of the Space Development Steering Committee. 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...

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Dennis Wingo, CEO of SkyCorp, Inc. and author of Moonrush. They discuss the strategic rationale for space development and industrialization, the strategic importance of the Moon, the grand strategy consequences of failure, and the proper division of labor between government and the private sector. Dennis lays out a vision for Lunar development, and concrete policy steps to mobilize private capital and accelerate...

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Henry Sokolski, Executive Director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, about their recent China-U.S. wargame. They discuss the impetus for the game, who was involved, the force structure, how the game unfolded, the surprises, and the key takeaways. Key takeaways included the need for bodyguard satellites, 'self-executing' norms that allow self-defense, the emerging importance of orbits above GEO and in...

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Jean-Jacques Tortora, Director of the European Space Policy Institute in Vienna.  They talk about European space policy, the organization and roles of the European Space Agency (ESA), European Commission (EC), NATO, and member states. They discuss changes in how Europe is thinking about the security dimension of space. They also cover European perspectives on natural and man-made threats (Near Earth Objects, Solar...

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Wayne White, author of the Space Pioneer Act. They discuss the utility of real property rights in space, consistence with the Outer Space Treaty, and how national legislation can help set norms and enable U.S. leadership. They outline the contents of the Space Pioneer act and the next steps for the draft legislation. Wayne...

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Dean Cheng, a Senior Research Fellow with the Heritage Foundation on Chinese political and security affairs. They discuss modern China, whether it is a peer or near-peer, whether it is totalitarian or a dictatorship, what are its national interests, and how the regime thinks about space. They examine China's global and space ambitions, the reasons for its behavior and adversarial stand, its Lunar, Mars, Space station...

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Kevin O'Connell, Founder and CEO of Space Economy Rising, and former Director of the Office of Space Commerce. They discuss the Kevin's time at Commerce, including the three types of entrepreneurs: the disruptors, the inventors, and the infrastructure builders. Kevin details the history and future of the Office of Space Commerce, and the appropriate roles for government within markets. They outline work to improve...

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Todd Harrison, Director of Defense Budget Analysis, Director of the Aerospace Security Project, and Senior Fellow with the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS). They discuss the role of thinking tanks in helping policymakers ask the right questions, and what Todd sees as the most important question at present: How to improve protection of our critical space...

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews General Steve "Bucky" Butow, Director of the Space Portfolio at the Defense Innovation Unit.  They discuss the recently released State of the Space Industrial Base Report 2021 and its findings, with particular emphasis on the commercial sector, its importance and needs. Gen. Steve Butow: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-butow-32724a27/ https://www.diu.mil/team/Steven-Butow State of the Space Industrial Base...

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews George Pullen, Chief Economist of Milky Way Economy, a Fifth Industrial Revolution think tank and boutique consultancy based in Washington, DC. They discuss alternate markets, the space industry, and the space economy—its size and how it is expected to grow to exceed $4T, and why it is important to US national security. They examine the coming 5th industrial revolution in space, including the expectation of 6-12...

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews General John Olson from Headquarters Space Force. They discuss the new 2021 State of the Space Industrial Base Report and its findings and recommendations, including the hybrid space architecture, JADC2, space mobility and logistics, and the space super highway, and the need to build a Cislunar Econosphere and ensure its ecurity. They also cover the strong sense of urgency felt by the participants at this inflection...

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Tim Chrisman, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation for the Future (F4F). They discuss the need for space infrastructure and logistics and associated financing. Tim describes the Foundation for the Future's Space Corporation concept, efforts by the Foundation to create a broader conversation about space infrastructure, as well as several big infrastructure ideas. They outline the challenge the US faces...

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Theresa Hitchens, space pundit, NATO and nuclear war expert, former UN diplomat, and now space reporter for Breaking Defense. They discuss her essay, "How ‘The Expanse’ Is A Cautionary Tale For Real World Space Commercialization," exploring its parallels to current commercial space development and regulation, and parallels to history. Next, they address the utility of science fiction to strategy, and why strategists...