Space Strategy

• 48. Christopher Stone: Space Warfare 101—Counterspace & Iron Dome: Dominance and victory on our terms

  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).

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• 47. Christopher Mason: Engineering Life to Reach New Worlds and the Embryogenesis of Humanity

  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.

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• 46. Jim Keravala: The Fastest Era of Economic growth in Human History; 25% of Global GDP by 2050

  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.

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• 45. Mike Snead and Jess Sponable: SpacePlanes! America's Unrealized Dream

  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.

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• 44. Ilan Berman: Our Digital Competition with China Heats Up

  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. 

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