War in Space

Space has been a popular domain for power projection ever since the launch of Russia's Sputnik in 1957. But how is soft power relevant in this domain? Dr Malcolm Davis, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), joins us to take a closer look at how China is utilising soft power in the space domain. This includes Tiangong, its space station; space situational awareness (SS...

Are space regulations doomed to lag behind the newest emerging technology in the sector? Anuradha Damale-Day, Policy Fellow and Programme Manager at BASIC, talks to us about how the development of space tech is having an impact on legal frameworks. Given her recent experience at the Open-Ended Working Group session on threats, held in Geneva, she ponders on the progress recorded in the internation...

A bite-size explanation of the Chinese space programme, its ambitions and its underlying motivations. Dr Malcolm Davis, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), talks to us about the future plans for space and the blurry boundaries between civil and military, private and state-owned. Finally, we talk about the concerns surrounding China's strides in active debris removal...

The space industry is a multibillion-dollar sector that is growing each year and becoming increasingly commercialised – the phenomenon of new space. But how exactly does it work? Who is funding the bulk of space activities? And does one need insurance as a space operator? Professor Akhil Rao, Assistant Professor at Middlebury College in the US, talks to us about the space economy and how we should...

What did the beginnings of the US space programme look like? Who was the strategist who decided to invest in it? And was the starting point President Kennedy's reach-the-moon promise, or President Reagan's 'Star Wars' programme? Dr Mark Shanahan, Associate Professor of Politics at the University of Surrey, unveils his research on the often-unappreciated influence of an earlier US leader: President...

Paul Taylor, Senior Fellow for Peace, Security and Defence at Friends of Europe and Contributing Editor at Politico, talks to us about his newest report, 'Running out of Space: European Security in Space'. We discuss how countries seek to influence or shape space law by establishing unilateral facts which other states are then expected to follow, and what a European contribution to a legal framewo...

With the cost of launch into lower earth orbit (LEO) decreasing, many satellite companies are choosing this orbit for their operations. But what are the disadvantages? And how do we keep satellites safe? Chris Moore is the Vice President of International Government and Trade Engagement at OneWeb, a satellite constellation aiming to provide global internet services. He talks to us about safekeeping...

The history of spaceflight has always been closely linked to the development of missile technology. But does that mean that advances in a country's missile programme also spell success for its space ambitions? And is there a difference between a rocket and a missile? Melissa Hanham, an affiliate with the Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation, explains why missile developments...

How do you track a satellite? How reliable is its re-entry into the atmosphere? And how do we know what is happening in space? Dr Jonathan McDowell, astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, talks to us about orbital profiles, space debris, and just how crowded LEO (lower Earth orbit) is getting these days. We discuss re-entry into the atmosphere, how mega-constellations might...

Richard Franklin, Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space UK, explains why satellites are essentially flying computers, and how their inner workings determine their function and lifespan. In this episode of War in Space, Richard talks to us about how satellites manoeuvre and how they can be protected from everyday interference, as well as deliberate jamming and cyber attacks. With space play...

In a rapidly growing sector such as space, tracking and predicting trends is a necessary, if challenging, task. We speak with Taskeen Ali, Head of Horizon Scanning at the Space Directorate within the UK's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. She talks to us about emerging trends, how horizon scanning works and how to avoid blind spots in an industry that is growing more and mor...

The US was the first state to conduct an anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons test, as far back as 1959. Since then, several countries have conducted similar tests, generating dangerous orbital debris. Now, the US has also become the first state to declare – unilaterally – that it will not conduct direct-ascent ASAT tests that create debris. But why conduct such tests in the first place? Are they useful...

The concept of 'New Space' refers to the increasing commercialisation of the domain to smaller companies, at the expense of the previous dominance of state actors. But how have decreasing costs and greater accessibility changed the industry? Do we need new rules for space, now that it is hosting an increasingly large pool of actors? And who should be responsible for making and implementing such ru...

SpaceX has become a household name, and its success has shaped the modern space industry. But what about its tenuous beginnings? We analyse the failed launches and the difficult financial straits the company went through in discussion with Eric Berger, Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica and author of Liftoff: Elon Musk and the Desperate Early Days That Launched SpaceX. In addition to analysing wh...

How essential are satellite communications to defence? What is the difference between a military and a commercial satellite? And what are the UK's SATCOM capabilities right now? Neil Fraser, Director of Defence and Space Programmes at NSSL Global, talks to us about his extensive SATCOM experience, both in and out of uniform. We discuss the recently published UK Defence Space Strategy, Skynet 6 and...

How does one become a space operator? And what does a space mission look like? Wing Commander Cliff Fletcher-Jones is a senior officer in the Royal Air Force and currently serves as Assistant Chief of Staff at UK Space Command. He explains the nature of military space operations and outlines his doctorate research into humanity's relationship with space. We further discuss the Orwellian-sounding t...

Space sustainability has become a buzzword for the space industry. But what does the term mean? Dr Timiebi Aganaba, Assistant Professor of Space and Society at Arizona State University, outlines the ecological roots of the term and why today's discussions often revolve around global security. We talk about 'the space club' (were we not supposed to?), transparency in the behaviour of countries and...

Laura Winter explains the intricacies of the US National Defence Authorisation Act and the impact that the continuing resolution has had on the defence space industry and the US Space Force. What are the repercussions for wider industry, and how does this affect the biggest spender on space – the military? Listen in to find out!

This is going to be a big year for space, with several moon missions, a test of our planetary defence, mega-constellations and JUICE! (That's 'Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer.) Makena Young, Associate Fellow at the Aerospace Security Project (CSIS), explains why reusability is a growing trend, why the Webb telescope launch was so exciting, and why the dinosaurs might be jealous.

Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander of UK Space Command, joins us to discuss the future of his responsibilities. He talks about his move from being a 'space user' to taking charge of Space Command, why integration is so important, and why we need to acquire further knowledge to make full use of space and its capabilities.

Space Physics 101: What's a solar storm? Are orbits just space highways? And how dangerous is space debris? Ali Stickings, RUSI Associate Fellow and Space Strategy Lead at Frazer Nash Consultancy, breaks down the physical hazards to space assets and explains why space debris is the next big environmental problem.

The intersection of national security and space is not new, but more actors are becoming involved in the domain, in a race with increasing stakes. In the first episode in this new series of podcasts, Dr Bleddyn Bowen, Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Leicester, explains why space features in all the new national strategy documents and why that does not mean that terrestrial...

Everybody is talking about space. But why does it matter? What are we doing there? And is war in space a remote possibility, or an inevitable risk? In this trailer for a new podcast from RUSI, we discuss why space is important for national security.