The Space Policy Show

Nuclear power and propulsion for space has a long history yet there continue to be hurdles from lack of mission to perceived safety concerns. That could be changing as humans stretch to travel further in space and live on celestial bodies like the Moon and Mars. Should NPP be government or commercial? Is the right pursuit for Deep Space nuclear electric or thermal propulsion? What would a “warp speed roadmap” look like? Learn more in this episode featuring Dr Brian Weeden [https://csps.aerospace.org/experts/brian-weeden] from The Aerospace Corporation talking to Dr Bhavya Lal [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavya-lal-520b45b/], former NASA Associate Administrator for Technology, Policy, and Strategy and current professor at RAND School of Public Policy.  This episode is part of the Going Faster Series that discusses various facets of speed, agility, innovation, and rapid deployment in national security, civil, and commercial space.   Available by video or podcast. The Space Policy Show is produced by The Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy. It is a virtual series covering a broad set of topics that span across the space enterprise. CSPS brings together experts from within Aerospace, the government, academia, business, nonprofits, and the national labs. The show and their podcasts are an opportunity to learn about and to stay engaged with the larger space policy community. Subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuBpiMapQkzWFB5ZE64PPYw] to watch all episodes!

Rocket launches are exciting business, but there’s a LOT that goes on behind the scenes and before the rocket is rolled out to the pad. Learn more from this ‘How Stuff Works’ episode! From encapsulation to assembly and integration, launch processing typically takes two years, but the U.S. government is finding ways to meet the demand for increased cadence. For commercial launchers, government ranges provide infrastructure like roads and control centers, utilities like power and water, and shared commodities like security and weather data – all working toward public and environmental safety. Talking to host Colleen Stover from Aerospace’s Center for Space Policy & Strategy, are two experts from The Aerospace Corporation, Kim Goodwater, Systems Engineering and Integration, and Johanna Malaer, Launch Test Range Operations – located at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.  This episode is part of the Going Faster Series that discusses various facets of speed, agility, innovation, and rapid deployment in national security, civil, and commercial space.      The Space Policy Show is produced by The Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy. It is a virtual series covering a broad set of topics that span across the space enterprise. CSPS brings together experts from within Aerospace, the government, academia, business, nonprofits, and the national labs. The show and their podcasts are an opportunity to learn about and to stay engaged with the larger space policy community. Subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuBpiMapQkzWFB5ZE64PPYw] to watch all episodes!

Open-source intelligence has historically been used to augment government intelligence about our adversaries.  Government is relying more heavily on commercial data but how does that lend to resiliency, transparency, and deterrence? How should commercial data become more integrated and more trusted? What role does AI/ML have in the future of warfare? This episode features Colonel Lina Cashin (USAF, ret.) [https://csps.aerospace.org/experts/lina-cashin] from The Aerospace Corporation speaking to USSF Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence Chief Master Sergeant Ronald Lerch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-lerch-72912117/] and Clinton Clark, Vice President [https://www.linkedin.com/in/clintonclark/] at data supplier ExoAnalytic Solutions.   This episode is part of the Going Faster Series that discusses various facets of speed, agility, innovation, and rapid deployment in national security, civil, and commercial space.    The Space Policy Show is produced by The Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy. It is a virtual series covering a broad set of topics that span across the space enterprise. CSPS brings together experts from within Aerospace, the government, academia, business, nonprofits, and the national labs. The show and their podcasts are an opportunity to learn about and to stay engaged with the larger space policy community. Subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuBpiMapQkzWFB5ZE64PPYw] to watch all episodes!

The participation of private industry in science and exploration missions that are sponsored by government has increased while still asking and answering some of humanity’s hardest questions – and lower costs, build domestic industry, prove technology, and maintain leadership. What could government do differently to continue fostering private space successes, including full commercialization? This episode highlights the 62nd annual Goddard Space Science Symposium [https://astronautical.org/events/goddard/], 19-21 March, 2025.  Colleen Stover [https://csps.aerospace.org/experts/colleen-stover], Center for Space Policy & Strategy, talks to key commercial players about their recent lunar landings, and guests from Planetary Society and the American Astronautical Association about the right policies, messaging, and questions needed to maintain US leadership in space exploration.   Featured guests:  * Jordi Paredes Garcia [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordi-paredes-garcia/], Corporate Chief Engineer, Firefly Aerospace  * Trent Martin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/trentdmartin/], Senior VP of Space Systems, Intuitive Machines  * Casey Dreier [https://www.linkedin.com/in/casey-dreier-7371a054/], Chief Space Policy, The Planetary Society   * Jim Way, Executive Director [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimway/], and Ron Birk, President [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-birk-8b4b3b3/], representing the American Astronautical Association  Available by video or podcast.  The Space Policy Show is produced by The Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy. It is a virtual series covering a broad set of topics that span across the space enterprise. CSPS brings together experts from within Aerospace, the government, academia, business, nonprofits, and the national labs. The show and their podcasts are an opportunity to learn about and to stay engaged with the larger space policy community. Subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuBpiMapQkzWFB5ZE64PPYw] to watch all episodes!

How can we balance the growing number of satellites on orbit, and the services they provide, with the importance of astronomical science and protecting Dark and Quiet Skies?  Reflected light and spectrum interference from satellites have become more problematic for astronomers and Star Gazers alike, but there are mitigation techniques being developed and tested to protect our Night Sky. Understanding the approaches to timely de-orbiting and space traffic awareness play into protecting astronomical instruments and data, and maintaining the beauty of the Night Sky. Join The Aerospace Corporation’s Colleen Stover [https://csps.aerospace.org/experts/colleen-stover] and experts Dr. Lindsay DeMarchi [https://csps.aerospace.org/experts/lindsay-demarchi], a “stellar mortician”, and Dr. Samuel Factor, [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuelfactor/] Division of Signal & Image Processing, to discuss the issues and potential solutions around the resilience of our skies.  Read more at the American Astronomical Society [https://compasse.aas.org/].  This episode is part of the Center for Space Policy and Strategy's series on Resiliency. The series explores various perspectives of what resiliency means from across the space community.    The Space Policy Show is produced by The Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy. It is a virtual series covering a broad set of topics that span across the space enterprise. CSPS brings together experts from within Aerospace, the government, academia, business, nonprofits, and the national labs. The show and their podcasts are an opportunity to learn about and to stay engaged with the larger space policy community. Subscribe to our YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuBpiMapQkzWFB5ZE64PPYw] to watch all episodes!