Spaceport SARABHAI

Space for Diplomacy

Society EN ↓ 6 episodes

Space for Diplomacy™ is a podcast hosted by Dr. Susmita Mohanty, the trailblazing Director General of Spaceport SARABHAI, India’s foremost space policy think tank. Each episode features in-depth conversations with former heads of space agencies, senior diplomats who have shaped international treaties, eminent legal minds advising governments, and leading technologists at the forefront of innovation — exploring complex, ever-evolving themes such as geopolitics, technology diplomacy, international cooperation, and all things space. The podcast tracks the rise of eastern space powers, fractures i...

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Spaceport SARABHAI

Episodes

06. Space for Diplomacy: Susmita Mohanty with Juan Francisco Salazar 28.03.2026 1:02:12

Dr. Susmita Mohanty in conversation with Juan Francisco Salazar, joining from Sydney, about socio-technical imaginaries, media anthropology, cultural responses, social studies, ethics, ecology in the context of Outer Space, and analogue extreme environments here on Earth - such as Antarctica and Atacama. ### Biography: Juan Francisco Salazar Juan Francisco Salazar is Director (Interim) of the Inst...

05. Space for Diplomacy: Susmita Mohanty with Victoria Samson 28.02.2026 1:02:10

A conversation with Victoria Samson, joining from Washington DC, about Space Security and Sustainability, US Golden Dome missile defence, Nuclear weapons and arms control, Counterspace tech and the future of space warfare. Biography: Victoria Samson Victoria Samson is the Chief Director, Space Security and Stability for Secure World Foundation and has over twenty-five years of experience in milita...

04. Space for Diplomacy: Susmita Mohanty with Arup R. Dasgupta 07.01.2026 1:03:48

A conversation with Dr. Arup R. Dasgupta about the impact of US sanctions and ITAR on India’s space program, India’s focus on socio-economic development, India’s policy of non-alignment and strategic autonomy, ISRO’s cooperation with NASA, CNES, DLR, ESA and JAXA. Biography: Dr. Arup R. Dasgupta Mr. Dasgupta, retired from Indian Space Research Organisation as a Deputy Director, Satellite Communic...

03. Space for Diplomacy: Susmita Mohanty with Steven Freeland 07.10.2025 58:08

A conversation with Prof. Steven Freeland about the relevance/obsolescence of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the 1979 Moon Agreement, space resources, competing legal regimes, rules-based governance, geopolitical rivalry and lunar futures. Biography: Steven Freeland Steven Freeland is Emeritus Professor of International Law at Western Sydney University, and Professorial Fellow at Bond University. H...

02. Space for Diplomacy: Susmita Mohanty with Arun K. Singh 08.09.2025 43:59

A conversation with Ambassador Arun K. Singh about technology as a currency for diplomacy, the evolving contours of the Indo-US partnership and Indo-French tech cooperation. Biography: Arun K. Singh Indian Ambassador to the United States (2015-2016) Indian Ambassador to France (2013-2015) Indian Ambassador to Israel (2005-2008) Ambassador Arun Singh has extensive experience across the globe, incl...

01. Space for Diplomacy: Susmita Mohanty with Rakesh Sood 03.08.2025 1:03:04

A conversation with Ambassador Rakesh Sood about nuclear technology, non-proliferation, disarmament, export controls and the evolving global threat portfolio. Biography: Rakesh Sood Rakesh Sood joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1976, serving initially in Brussels, Dakar, Geneva, and Islamabad in different capacities, and as Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington, DC. Ambassador Sood set up the...