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 framework might look like. We also look at the security dimension, especially whether European priorities c...
Aug 04, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 16
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 procedures for satellites in LEO and how we can defend against cyber attacks.
Jul 22, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 16
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 matter for space, why diplomatic language around this wording can be important, and how space in tur...
Jul 07, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 15
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 challenge our previous assumptions about the atmosphere, and how X-ray telescopes are helping us ex...
Jun 23, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 14
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 playing an increasingly important role in defence, we ask: what are the remaining obstacles to achieving...
Jun 10, 2022•22 min•Season 1Ep. 13
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 more connected as it evolves.
May 26, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 12
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 from a military perspective? How destructive are they exactly? And what kind of policy would be most...
May 12, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 11
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 rules? We discuss this and more with Luca del Monte, Head of the Commercialisation Department at the E...
Apr 28, 2022•24 min•Season 1Ep. 10
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 why building and launching rockets is so hard, we trace the implications the war in Ukraine has alread...
Apr 14, 2022•27 min•Season 1Ep. 9
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 why a mix of systems comes with greater resilience.
Mar 17, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 8
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 theory by pondering whether all parts of space are equally strategic.
Mar 03, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 7
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 space agencies and what they launch into space, and why Africa will be a game-changer for space expl...
Feb 17, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 6
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!
Feb 03, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 5
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.
Jan 21, 2022•26 min•Season 1Ep. 4
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.
Dec 10, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 3
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.
Nov 26, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 2
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 aspects should be neglected.
Nov 12, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 1
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.
Oct 29, 2021•13 min
