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 'theories of success' and 'theories of victory.' Gen Saltzman discusses "Competitive Endurance" 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 'denying first mover advantage' 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 'Protect the interests of the United States in Space" 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's Bio About Space Force    THREAT & 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 & TENANTS 2023 AFA Warfare Keynote "Guardians in the Fight" (TRANSCRIPT) 2023 AFA Warfare Keynote "Guardians in the Fight" (VIDEO) CSIS Theory of Success: A Conversation with General Saltzman   CSO C-Notes and Priorities: LOE #1 Field Combat-ready Forces (C-Note 1) LOE #2, Amplify the Guardian Spirit (C-Note 2) LOE #3 Partnering to Win (C-Note 5) All 3 LOE's together   SPACE FORCE DOCTRINE USSF STARCOM Doctrine Page & Digital Library (more up to date) Space Capstone Publication: Spacepower: Doctrine for Space Forces SDP 5.0 Planning (discusses competition continuum) SDP 3.0 Operations (discussed competition continuum) SDP 2.0 Intelligence SDP 4.0 Sustainment   USSF Recruiting / Joint USSF:  How to Join Space Force Space Force via USAF Academy Space Force ROTC Enlist in Space Force

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, earth observation for climate change. They examine the plethora of policy documents and the 'nuts and bolts' of what is involved in originating and coordinating such documents, including aligning with presidential intent, 'reading the room,' 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 'settlement' 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 & Action Plan for Near-Earth Object Hazards and Planetary Defense—"what's cooler than planetary defense." Along the way they discuss Space-Based Solar Power, Exoplanets, Settlement, Space Weather, regulating novel space activities. They review Ezinne'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 & 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'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 "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 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 'robust Cislunar economy' and an explicit NASA goal to enable 'Commerce and Space Development' by deliberately fostering 'the expansion of the economic sphere beyond Earth orbit to support U.S. industry and innovation.'