In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Tyler Bates, a Captain in the USSF about his article in The Space Force Journal about Cislunar Mission Concepts for the Department of Defense.  They discuss the strategic importance of the Moon, China's activities, and potential U.S. Space Force roles in enabling and securing commerce.  They delve into specific mission concepts of satellite communication, precision navigation and timing, space domain awareness, Lunar surface awareness, as well as deep space search and rescue and planetary defense. They also cover how Tyler got interested in Cislunar, what made him join the Space Force, what it is like to be a guardian, and how the Space Force's culture is evolving. Tyler Bates: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-bates-9770b21b6/  Tyler's Article: https://thespaceforcejournal.com/issue-2-7-cislunar The Space Force Journal:  https://thespaceforcejournal.com/ Space Capstone Publication: Spacepower: https://www.spaceforce.mil/Portals/1/Space%20Capstone%20Publication_10%20Aug%202020.pdf The Guardian Ideal https://media.defense.gov/2021/Sep/21/2002858512/-1/-1/1/GUARDIAN%20IDEAL%20-%20FINAL.PDF A Primer on Cislunar Space: https://www.afrl.af.mil/Portals/90/Documents/RV/A%20Primer%20on%20Cislunar%20Space_Dist%20A_PA2021-1271.pdf?ver=vs6e0sE4PuJ51QC-15DEfg%3D%3D   Artemis Accords:  https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis-accords/index.html Artemis Program:  https://www.nasa.gov/specials/artemis/ China in Space: A Strategic Competition?:  https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/Namrata%20Goswami%20USCC%2025%20April.pdf  Gray Zone Project:  https://www.csis.org/grayzone Planetary Defense White Paper: https://assets.pubpub.org/ylzrdc5n/41617915537633.pdf China International Lunar Research Station: http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/n6465652/n6465653/c6812150/content.html NASA-USSF MOU:  https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/nasa_ussf_mou_21_sep_20.pdf NASA Nuclear Thermal: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-nuclear-thermal-propulsion-reactor-concept-awards DARPA DRACO: https://www.darpa.mil/program/demonstration-rocket-for-agile-cislunar-operations