War in Space
39 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 7 ratingsSpace is becoming increasingly congested, contested and competed over. It has never been so easy – or so cheap – to launch a satellite into orbit. With space activity proliferating, its impact on national security has grown too: space assets are becoming vulnerable and space debris is becoming increasingly dangerous. War in Space is a series of interviews with experts in space and defence that will analyse the intersection of space and national security, unravelling the technical jargon that so often accompanies these discussions and explaining why space matters for our everyday lives and security.
The views or statements expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by RUSI employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of RUSI.
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Episodes
Episode 38: The Responsible Behaviours Report
February 29, 2024 11:41 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBMultilateral efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space have been going on for decades. The most recent efforts include a UN resolution that intended to solve existing gridlocks by getting states to discuss what responsible behaviours in space look like. The problem of dual use – using space assets for military purposes or as a weapon – will continue to make verification of the nature of assets difficult. However, responsible behaviours that promote transparency on how these assets are u...
Episode 37: No Wild West: An Introduction to Space Law
January 25, 2024 16:37 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBThere is a persistent perception that space is a lawless place. Professor Steven Freeland, Emeritus Professor of International Law at Western Sydney University and Professorial Fellow at Bond University, joins us to explain why that is not the case. We discuss the current multilateral rules that govern orbits, as well as where additions may come in in the future, why they might be necessary and what obstacles are currently preventing us from reaching multilateral consensus. As well as this, ...
Episode 36: Are We Running Out of Space?
December 21, 2023 08:44 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBOrbits are getting busier, frequencies are taken up, collisions are becoming likelier and the resulting space debris is endangering satellites ... are we really running out of space in space? John Janka, Chief Officer, Global Government Affairs and Regulatory at Viasat, discusses with us the various factors that make up space sustainability, including frequencies, physical space and effects on the atmosphere. We discuss what measures can be taken to avoid an overcrowding of the orbits and ...
Episode 35: Concepts of Warfare in Space
November 30, 2023 13:09 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBHow do concepts of warfare apply to space? Is there such a thing as irregular warfare, asymmetric tactics or hybrid warfare in space? Dr John 'Patsy' Klein, Senior Fellow and Strategist at Falcon Research, Inc. and Adjunct Professor at the George Washington University Space Policy Institute and Georgetown University's Strategic Studies Programme, helps us unravel these terms, discussing how they apply to space and why strategies on war do not need to be rewritten for the ‘final frontier’.
Episode 34: The Future of Skynet
October 26, 2023 11:41 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MBThe Skynet Satellite Communications Programme is the UK's biggest space project; having started in the 1960s, it is currently in its sixth generation. Dr Richard Davis, Programme Director of Skynet 6 at UK Strategic Command, joins us to discuss what makes the current generation different from its predecessors, what the future of the programme may look like, and the organisational structures it falls under.
Episode 33: Talking Through Space
September 28, 2023 13:50 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBSpace-enabled communications are vital to modern military operations. But it's not just the military that benefits from satellite communications; it's also governments, doctors and other emergency first responders. Rory Welch, Head of Global Government at IntelSat, discusses the various applications of satellite communications, as well as how the service is already woven into Multi-Domain Integration. We also consider the potential threats to satellite communications systems and ask what con...
Episode 32: NATO’s Air and Space Lessons from Ukraine
August 31, 2023 10:09 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBAre we back to counting tanks and trenches? Do the air and space domains matter in the context of the war in Ukraine? Air Marshal Johnny Stringer, Deputy Commander of NATO's Allied Air Command at Ramstein Air Base, explains why air superiority matters and why access to space and the capabilities it enables is so important. We discuss the lessons learnt from this war for peer-on-peer air and space operations, including the involvement of commercially available capabilities.
Episode 31: Indian Space Policy
July 27, 2023 10:07 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBCompared to the likes of the US, Russia and China, India's place among the preeminent space powers is often forgotten, despite its rich history in the domain dating back to the 1950s. Dr Namrata Goswami, Professor at the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, shares with us her research into India's space diplomacy, its capabilities and its new space policy, in which commercialisation plays a key role. We also discuss planned defence space capabilities and India...
Episode 30: Russia: First into Space, and the First Out?
June 29, 2023 11:54 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBRussia was the first nation to enter space with satellite 'Sputnik' in 1957. Now, however, the Russian space industry seems to struggle to even maintain its current constellations, let alone contribute to future growth. Further, Russian troops do not seem adequately trained to integrate with space capabilities. Anna Maria Wårlind from the Swedish Defence Research Agency shares with us insights from her open source report on Russian space capabilities. We discuss the state of Russia's PNT, IS...
Episode 29: Moving from Geopolitics to ‘Astropolitics’
May 25, 2023 10:58 - 25 minutes - 23 MBTim Marshall, author of the Prisoners of Geography series, joins us to discuss the geopolitics of space – ‘astropolitics’. But what is astropolitics exactly? And in the geography of space, what are the most contested areas? Marshall talks to us about why the South Pole of the Moon could be of future economic importance, and why commercial entities are now major players in this area.
Episode 28: To Own, or to Collaborate and Access? That is the Question
May 02, 2023 10:26 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBIs the UK taking the space threat seriously? How does one protect space assets from threats and balance reliance on commercial providers with the ’price point’ and broader financial burdens inherent in sovereign infrastructures? Nik Smith, Regional Director UK & Europe at Lockheed Martin Space, talks to us about space threats, lessons from Ukraine, and why the government delivering on space is important for both the public and industry.
Episode 27: Space During the Cold War: The Strategic Defense Initiative
March 30, 2023 11:44 - 26 minutes - 24 MBIn 1983, US President Ronald Reagan announced the Strategic Defense Initiative, which became known as the ‘Star Wars’ programme. But was it really all about space? Dr Aaron Bateman, Assistant Professor of History and International Affairs at George Washington University (GWU) and member of the Space Policy Institute within the Elliott School of International Affairs at GWU, explains how thinking about space-based missile defence evolved and how earth observation capabilities played a role in...
Episode 26: Making History: Helen Sharman's Spaceflight
February 23, 2023 09:27 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBWith her eight-day mission in 1991, Helen Sharman became the first British person in space. She also became the first woman aboard the Mir Space Station. In this episode, Helen reflects on her training in Star City, and ponders what value human spaceflight brings to us and the evolution of safety in space missions. Looking ahead, what will happen to the International Space Station? And what might UK involvement in future crewed missions look like?
Episode 25: Tech vs Strategy? The Beginnings of the US Space Force
January 26, 2023 11:41 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBWhat is the main driver of change - technology or strategy? Which one should it be? Kim Crider, former US Space Force Chief Technology and Innovation Officer and current Managing Director, AI Innovation for National Security and Defence at Deloitte, talks to us about the early days of the US Space Force and how one integrates tech, science and military strategy. The discussion then evolves into examining how these strategies filter down into tactical military planning, and the obstacles ...
Episode 24: Ukraine: The First Commercial Space War?
December 22, 2022 09:59 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBWith private space tech companies such as Starlink and Maxar making headlines during the Ukraine war, how have they affected the battlefield? And to what extent is the involvement of private companies new? Professor Jeremy Grunert, Assistant Professor of Law at the US Air Force Academy, answers these questions and more in the context of international space laws. This includes the question of whether an attack against a commercial asset could trigger NATO's Article 5.
Episode 23: ‘From Cornwall with Launch’: The UK’s First Sovereign Space Launch
November 24, 2022 08:33 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBIt takes a village to get to space. Melissa Thorpe, the CEO of spaceport Cornwall, talks to us about the UK's first sovereign launch, the stakeholders involved and what the future holds for the UK county of Cornwall regarding space. Why is a sovereign launch capability so important? What are the implications for the UK space sector? And how does one become a spaceport?
Episode 22: Chinese Power Projection to Lower-Earth Orbit and Beyond
October 20, 2022 10:25 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBSpace 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 (SSA) ground stations all over the world; and BeiDou, China’s GPS equivalent. Are these measures ...
Episode 21: Space Tech Innovation and Regulations – A Game of Catch-Up?
October 03, 2022 10:20 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBAre 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 international forum. What would be the impact of UN General Assembly Resolution 75/36 on reducing space thr...
Episode 20: Space Dominance Now?
September 15, 2022 10:15 - 27 minutes - 37.9 MBA 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 technology, which has a dual-use nature. Are the worries legitimate or should we focus on other...
Episode 19: Space Economics 101
September 01, 2022 07:37 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MBThe 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 understand it. We discuss how the rules of the road are shaping the industry, and how new ideas...
Episode 18: Space Age Beginnings
August 18, 2022 09:23 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MBWhat 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 Eisenhower and his two-term administration between 1953 and 1961. The discussion highlights les...
Episode 17: Finders Keepers: Europe in Space
August 04, 2022 09:00 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MBPaul 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 framework might look like. We also look at the security dimension, especially whether European prioriti...
Episode 16: Protecting the ‘Ones and Noughts’ to Keep Satellites Safe
July 22, 2022 14:03 - 27 minutes - 25 MBWith 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 procedures for satellites in LEO and how we can defend against cyber attacks.
Episode 15: Rocket Beginnings: What Links Missile Development and Spaceflight?
July 07, 2022 09:00 - 31 minutes - 28.6 MBThe 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 matter for space, why diplomatic language around this wording can be important, and how space in...
Episode 14: How to Track Your Satellite and Other Astronomy Lessons
June 23, 2022 09:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBHow 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 challenge our previous assumptions about the atmosphere, and how X-ray telescopes are helping...
Episode 13: Back to the Basics: What's in a Satellite?
June 10, 2022 10:18 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MBRichard 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 playing an increasingly important role in defence, we ask: what are the remaining obstacles to ach...
Episode 12: Beyond the Horizon
May 26, 2022 09:10 - 22 minutes - 21 MBIn 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 more connected as it evolves.
Episode 11: No Such Thing As A Responsible Anti-Satellite Test
May 12, 2022 13:15 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBThe 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 from a military perspective? How destructive are they exactly? And what kind of policy would be m...
Episode 10: New Space, New Rules?
April 28, 2022 08:57 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MBThe 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 rules? We discuss this and more with Luca del Monte, Head of the Commercialisation Department at t...
Episode 9: It Actually Is Rocket Science
April 14, 2022 09:17 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MBSpaceX 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 why building and launching rockets is so hard, we trace the implications the war in Ukraine has al...
Episode 8: Why Comms is Key
March 17, 2022 12:21 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBHow 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 why a mix of systems comes with greater resilience.
Episode 7: Top Gun for Space
March 03, 2022 12:28 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBHow 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 theory by pondering whether all parts of space are equally strategic.
Episode 6: Space Club
February 17, 2022 10:29 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBSpace 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 space agencies and what they launch into space, and why Africa will be a game-changer for space ...
Episode 5: Money Talks: The US National Defence Authorisation Act
February 03, 2022 14:09 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBLaura 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!
Episode 4: Big Hopes for Big Rockets – The 2022 Space Forecast
January 21, 2022 09:54 - 25 minutes - 23.8 MBThis 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.
Episode 3: It's Not About Star Wars, It's About Integration
December 10, 2021 10:25 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBAir 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.
Episode 2: Space Weather, Orbital Velocities and Sputnik's Nose Cone
November 26, 2021 11:51 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBSpace 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.
Episode 1: War in Space? That’s So Mainstream
November 12, 2021 11:00 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBThe 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 aspects should be neglected.
What is War in Space?
October 29, 2021 11:04 - 13 minutes - 12.1 MBEverybody 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.