This week's Sirotin Intelligence analysis reveals critical stress points in humanity's space ambitions as SpaceX's Starship Flight 10 experiences extreme thermal challenges that question the 2027 lunar landing timeline, while Russia's RSC Energia teeters on bankruptcy—marking the potential collapse of the nation that launched Sputnik. The U.S. Space Force witnesses unprecedented industrial base expansion with 150 companies competing for next-generation satellite contracts as China accelerates its Guowang constellation deployment, fragmenting global internet architecture along geopolitical lines. York Space Systems delivers 21 satellites for America's first proliferated military constellation while Europe scrambles for launch sovereignty through ESA's Flight Ticket Initiative. Revolutionary vLEO capabilities below 300 kilometers promise sub-meter intelligence resolution as NASA and ISRO deploy a 12-meter radar antenna capable of tracking Earth's surface changes with centimeter precision. Our upcoming guest, Major General Vladyslav Klochkov, reveals how Ukraine created the world's first digital-physical battlefield where TikTok became more strategically important than some physical fronts and why modern warfare is no longer about territory but narrative control in an existential struggle predicted to last generations.

🛡️ Defense Highlights

• GeoST Secures Critical Space Force Optical Payload Contract: GeoST has been selected to provide two advanced optical payloads for U.S. Space Force geostationary missions, marking a significant expansion of the company's role in national security space operations. The contract underscores Space Force's commitment to enhancing its space-based surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities through advanced optical systems positioned in geostationary orbit, where satellites maintain constant observation over specific regions of Earth. These payloads will provide persistent overhead coverage critical for missile warning, technical intelligence gathering, and space domain awareness missions.
• York Space Systems Delivers 21 Satellites for Historic Military Constellation Deployment: York Space Systems has delivered 21 satellites for the first deployment of a dedicated U.S. military communications network, marking a pivotal moment in the Pentagon's transition to proliferated low Earth orbit architectures for resilient space operations. The satellites will form the backbone of the Space Development Agency's Transport Layer, providing assured, low-latency data relay capabilities that can survive contested environments where traditional geostationary assets would be vulnerable. This delivery represents the materialization of the Pentagon's distributed architecture strategy, moving away from expensive, monolithic satellites toward cheaper, more numerous spacecraft that can be rapidly replaced if compromised. The satellites, scheduled for launch in the coming weeks, will demonstrate mesh networking capabilities essential for maintaining communications even when individual nodes are destroyed or jammed.
• Avio Secures Strategic U.S. Armed Forces Tactical Propulsion Agreement: Italian aerospace manufacturer Avio has signed a new tactical propulsion agreement with the U.S. Armed Forces, marking Europe's deepening integration into American defense supply chains for critical missile and space technologies. The agreement covers advanced solid rocket motor technology for tactical missiles and space launch vehicles, leveraging Avio's expertise in high-energy propellants while providing the Pentagon with additional production capacity outside traditional American suppliers. This transatlantic partnership reflects growing recognition that allied industrial cooperation is essential for scaling production to meet the demands of potential high-intensity conflicts where missile expenditure rates could exceed current stockpiles within weeks.
• Pentagon R&D Chief Calls for Urgent Defense Industrial Base Expansion: The Pentagon's research and development leadership has issued a stark warning about the need to dramatically expand the defense industrial base to meet emerging threats in the space domain and beyond. The call emphasizes that current production capabilities are insufficient for the scale of conflict anticipated in potential peer-state confrontations, particularly in space where attrition warfare could require rapid satellite replacement. This industrial base expansion must encompass not just prime contractors but the entire supply chain ecosystem, from component manufacturers to software developers specializing in autonomous systems and artificial intelligence.
• Spirit Electronics Partners with Kontron for Ruggedized Aerospace Systems: Spirit Electronics has added Kontron's ruggedized computing products to its portfolio, strengthening the supply chain for critical aerospace and defense systems required for space operations and satellite manufacturing. The partnership addresses growing demand for radiation-hardened, extreme-environment computing solutions essential for military satellites, launch vehicles, and ground control systems operating in contested electromagnetic environments. This collaboration reflects the increasing importance of resilient, military-grade components as space becomes a warfighting domain where electronic warfare and cyber attacks are expected.
• XTAR Targets U.S. Defense Market Expansion with Next-Generation X-Band Satellites: XTAR is positioning its next-generation X-band satellite fleet to capture expanded U.S. defense market share, offering dedicated military-frequency communications that avoid congestion in commercial bands while providing enhanced anti-jamming capabilities. The company's focus on X-band frequency allocations reserved for government use provides critical advantages in contested environments where adversaries target commercial satellite communications, offering the Pentagon assured access to protected bandwidth. This expansion comes as DoD seeks to diversify its satellite communications architecture beyond traditional military satellites, embracing commercial providers who can offer resilient, dedicated capacity at competitive prices.
• Space Force Graduates First Officer Training Course at Peterson SFB: The U.S. Space Force achieved a historic milestone with the graduation of its first Officer Training Course at Peterson Space Force Base, establishing an independent pathway for commissioning space warfare officers without reliance on Air Force Academy or ROTC programs. The inaugural class represents a fundamental shift in how America develops space professionals, with curriculum specifically designed for the unique demands of orbital warfare, satellite operations, and space domain awareness rather than adapted from terrestrial military training. This dedicated training pipeline reflects Space Force's maturation as an independent service branch capable of cultivating officers with space-first mindsets essential for maintaining superiority in the increasingly contested orbital environment.
• DeepSat Secures AFWERX Funding for Revolutionary vLEO Observation Platform: DeepSat has won AFWERX funding to develop observation capabilities from very Low Earth Orbit below 300 kilometers, promising unprecedented resolution for intelligence gathering and real-time battlefield awareness. Operating at altitudes where atmospheric drag traditionally made sustained operations impossible, DeepSat's technology could provide sub-meter resolution imagery with minimal latency, transforming tactical reconnaissance and enabling detection of previously invisible targets. The vLEO domain represents the new high ground for space-based intelligence, where satellites can observe with clarity approaching that of aerial reconnaissance while maintaining the global access advantages of orbital platforms.
• NuView Claims $5 Million NSIC Award for Space-Based LiDAR System: NuView has secured $5 million from the National Security Innovation Capital program to advance its satellite-based LiDAR instrument capable of creating precise 3D maps of Earth's surface through clouds and vegetation. The technology promises to revolutionize terrain mapping for military operations, disaster response, and critical infrastructure monitoring by providing centimeter-level elevation data regardless of weather conditions or forest canopy coverage. This capability addresses a critical intelligence gap where traditional optical and radar satellites cannot penetrate dense vegetation to reveal hidden facilities, equipment, or terrain features essential for military planning.

Defense Contracts:

• Lockheed Martin Secures $890M for Trident II D5 Missile Production: Naval Sea Systems Command awarded Lockheed Martin Space a $890 million modification for Trident II D5 missile production and deployed systems support, sustaining America's sea-based nuclear deterrent through September 2029. Work will be performed across multiple facilities including Sunnyvale, California; Kings Bay, Georgia; and Bangor, Washington, ensuring continuous support for the Navy's Ohio-class and Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines.
• Booz Allen Hamilton Wins $621M Space Force Advisory Contract: Space Systems Command awarded Booz Allen Hamilton a $621 million contract for mission engineering and integration support across multiple Space Force programs. The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract runs through August 2030, providing critical engineering expertise for satellite communications, missile warning, and space domain awareness systems.
• Raytheon Technologies Awarded $192M for Missile Defense Radar: Missile Defense Agency awarded Raytheon a $192 million modification for Long Range Discrimination Radar operations and sustainment at Clear Space Force Station, Alaska. The contract ensures continuous operation of this critical sensor for homeland missile defense through December 2025, providing early warning and tracking of ballistic missile threats.
• General Dynamics Gets $94.7M for Submarine Strategic Weapons Systems: Naval Sea Systems Command awarded General Dynamics Mission Systems a $94.7 million contract for design agent and engineering support services for submarine strategic weapons systems. Work supports the Columbia-class submarine program through August 2026, ensuring integration of nuclear missile systems with next-generation ballistic missile submarines.
• L3Harris Technologies Wins $72M for Electronic Warfare Systems: Naval Sea Systems Command awarded L3Harris Technologies a $72 million contract for electronic warfare system upgrades and sustainment supporting surface combatants and submarines. The contract includes development of advanced jamming capabilities and signal processing improvements critical for contested electromagnetic environments through September 2027.
• 150 Companies Express Interest in Space Force RG-XX Program: An unprecedented 150 companies have signaled interest in the Space Force's next-generation RG-XX satellite program, demonstrating explosive growth in the space industrial base and intense competition for military space contracts. The RG-XX constellation will provide resilient global communications through proliferated low Earth orbit satellites, with Space Force officials noting the dramatic increase from previous programs that attracted only a handful of traditional defense contractors. This surge of interest reflects the democratization of space technology and the Pentagon's success in attracting non-traditional vendors who can deliver innovative solutions at commercial speeds and prices.

🌐 Policy, Geopolitical & Legal Developments

• White House Initiates Elimination of NASA Labor Unions: The Trump administration has moved to eliminate labor unions at NASA, continuing the aggressive restructuring of the space agency under Acting Administrator Sean Duffy. This unprecedented action affects thousands of civil servants and represents a dramatic escalation in the administration's efforts to reshape NASA's workforce and operational structure. The move aligns with broader efforts to reduce the agency's workforce from 17,391 to 11,853 employees by October 1, while shifting focus entirely toward exploration missions and away from Earth science and climate research programs.
• New Economic Strategy Unveiled for American Space Supremacy: A comprehensive economic strategy for maintaining American dominance in space has been proposed, emphasizing the critical intersection of commercial innovation, national security imperatives, and economic competitiveness. The strategy recognizes space as the next decisive economic frontier where leadership will determine global power dynamics for generations, calling for aggressive public-private partnerships, streamlined regulations, and strategic investments to counter China's state-directed space economy. The framework positions space supremacy not merely as a military objective but as an economic imperative essential for American prosperity and security in the 21st century.
• China Accelerates Guowang Constellation with 10th Satellite Deployment: China successfully launched its tenth batch of Guowang broadband satellites using the Long March 8A rocket, rapidly advancing its answer to SpaceX's Starlink constellation with implications for global internet sovereignty and space-based information control. The deployment demonstrates China's industrial capacity to mass-produce and launch satellites at scale, with the Guowang constellation planned to reach 13,000 satellites to provide state-controlled internet access across the Belt and Road Initiative nations. This aggressive deployment schedule reflects Beijing's determination to establish information dominance in orbit before Western constellations can achieve global coverage, potentially fragmenting the internet into competing space-based networks aligned with geopolitical blocs.
• European Space Sovereignty Advances with ESA Flight Ticket Initiative Success: The European Space Agency's Flight Ticket Initiative has secured its first five missions through agreements with Avio and Isar Aerospace, establishing a new model for European institutional launch procurement that mirrors NASA's successful commercial partnerships. Avio will provide three launches using its upgraded Vega-C rocket while Isar Aerospace commits two launches on its upcoming Spectrum vehicle, with missions beginning in 2026 to deploy Earth observation and technology demonstration satellites. This initiative represents Europe's strategic pivot from traditional cost-plus contracts toward fixed-price commercial services, acknowledging that competition and commercial incentives drive innovation more effectively than government-directed development. The program's rapid implementation contrasts sharply with the decade-long delays typical of European space programs, signaling newfound urgency in establishing sovereign launch capabilities as geopolitical tensions make reliance on foreign launchers increasingly untenable.
• Russian Space Program Faces Existential Crisis as Energia Nears Bankruptcy: Russia's state-run human spaceflight company RSC Energia teeters on the edge of bankruptcy, marking a catastrophic decline for the nation that pioneered space exploration with Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin. The financial collapse reflects deeper systemic failures including brain drain of technical talent, Western sanctions cutting access to critical components, and the loss of international commercial launch customers to SpaceX and other competitors. This potential bankruptcy of Russia's premier space manufacturer signals the effective end of Moscow's independent human spaceflight capabilities, forcing increased dependence on China for future space ambitions while undermining Russia's strategic deterrent credibility.
• Space Policy Week Highlights Growing Civil-Military Integration: The week of August 24-30 saw unprecedented coordination between NASA's civil space programs and military space operations, with policy discussions focusing on dual-use technologies that serve both scientific and defense objectives. Key developments included framework agreements for sharing space situational awareness data between NASA and Space Force, joint technology development programs for cislunar operations, and coordinated approaches to orbital debris mitigation. This convergence reflects recognition that the traditional separation between civil and military space activities is becoming untenable as all space assets face common threats from debris, anti-satellite weapons, and orbital congestion.

🛰️ Technology & Commercial Developments

• SpaceX Starship Flight 10 Achieves Critical Test Milestones: SpaceX successfully launched Starship Flight Test 10 on August 27, demonstrating crucial capabilities needed for NASA's Artemis III mission despite experiencing extreme heating during atmospheric reentry. The test flight showcased the vehicle's ability to withstand the punishing thermal environment of orbital velocity returns, with dramatic footage capturing the intense plasma field surrounding the spacecraft during its fiery descent. While the mission achieved key objectives for validating heat shield performance and flight control systems, the extreme thermal stress observed raises questions about the timeline for human-rating the vehicle for the planned 2027 lunar landing mission.
• Rocket Lab Inaugurates Neutron Launch Pad Infrastructure: Rocket Lab has officially inaugurated its Neutron launch pad, marking a major milestone in the company's evolution from small satellite launcher to medium-lift launch provider capable of competing directly with SpaceX's Falcon 9. The new facility represents a critical step in diversifying America's launch capabilities and reducing dependence on a single provider for national security and commercial missions. Neutron's 13,000 kg payload capacity to low Earth orbit and planned reusability will position Rocket Lab to capture significant market share in the rapidly growing mega-constellation deployment and cargo resupply markets.
• Satellite Software Firm Wins San Jose's Inaugural AI Startup Program: A satellite software company has secured funding through San Jose's first AI startup incentive program, signaling Silicon Valley's growing recognition of space technology as a critical frontier for artificial intelligence applications. The award highlights the convergence of terrestrial AI innovation with space operations, where machine learning algorithms are becoming essential for satellite constellation management, orbital debris tracking, and autonomous spacecraft operations. This investment represents a broader trend of traditional tech hubs recognizing space as the next platform for software innovation, particularly as proliferated constellations require sophisticated AI-driven orchestration.
• Viridian Aerospace Secures $1.25M AFWERX Award for vLEO Propulsion Breakthrough: Viridian has won a $1.25 million AFWERX award to advance its very Low Earth Orbit (vLEO) propulsion technology, addressing the critical challenge of maintaining satellites below 400 kilometers where atmospheric drag rapidly degrades orbits. The technology promises to unlock the strategic advantages of vLEO operations including enhanced Earth observation resolution, reduced communication latency, and improved space domain awareness while solving the fundamental physics problem of continuous orbital maintenance. This development aligns with growing military interest in vLEO as a new operational domain offering tactical advantages for real-time surveillance and rapid response capabilities.
• Microgravity Manufacturing Poised to Transform Pharmaceutical Industry: New research reveals how microgravity environments could revolutionize pharmaceutical production, enabling the creation of protein crystals and drug formulations impossible to manufacture on Earth. The absence of gravity-driven convection and sedimentation allows for unprecedented purity and structural perfection in crystallization processes, potentially yielding breakthrough treatments for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and rare genetic disorders. Multiple commercial space stations under development are prioritizing pharmaceutical research facilities, with industry analysts projecting the space-based drug manufacturing market could exceed $10 billion annually by 2035 as return capsule technology matures and production scales.
• Solar Power Bottleneck Threatens Satellite Manufacturing Scale-Up: The satellite industry faces a critical supply chain constraint as solar panel production capacity fails to keep pace with explosive demand from proliferated constellation deployments, threatening to become the limiting factor in space industrialization. Traditional solar array manufacturers optimized for small production runs of high-reliability space-grade panels cannot scale to meet demands for thousands of satellites annually, creating a strategic vulnerability as nations race to populate low Earth orbit. Industry leaders are calling for radical modernization of solar cell production infrastructure, including adoption of automotive-style manufacturing techniques and development of standardized modular designs that can be mass-produced while maintaining space qualification standards.
• Moog Opens Advanced Operations Training Center for Space Manufacturing Workforce: Moog celebrated the grand opening of its operations training center dedicated to developing specialized skills for space systems manufacturing, addressing the critical workforce shortage threatening America's space industrial base expansion. The facility combines hands-on training for precision manufacturing techniques with advanced simulation capabilities for satellite component assembly, recognizing that workforce development has become as strategically important as technology advancement. This investment reflects growing industry recognition that the bottleneck for space industrialization is shifting from technology to trained personnel capable of executing complex manufacturing processes at unprecedented scale.
• Aerospacelab Raises €110 Million to Lead IRIS² Constellation Manufacturing: Belgian space manufacturer Aerospacelab secured €110 million in funding to position itself as the primary manufacturing partner for Europe's sovereign IRIS² satellite constellation, challenging American dominance in large-scale satellite production. The investment will expand production capacity to manufacture hundreds of satellites annually, establishing Europe's first high-volume satellite factory capable of competing with SpaceX's Starlink production rates. This funding represents a strategic bet on European space sovereignty, with IRIS² intended to provide secure government communications and commercial broadband services independent of American or Chinese constellations by 2027.
• NASA-ISRO Deploy Largest Radar Antenna Ever Assembled in Space: NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation successfully deployed the massive 12-meter radar antenna for the NISAR mission, creating the most powerful Earth observation radar system ever placed in orbit with incredible precision tracking capabilities. The joint mission will monitor Earth's surface changes with centimeter-level accuracy, tracking everything from glacier movements and earthquake deformations to infrastructure subsidence and forest biomass changes on a global scale every 12 days. This unprecedented collaboration between American and Indian space agencies demonstrates how international partnerships can achieve technical capabilities neither nation could accomplish alone, while establishing a new standard for precision Earth monitoring essential for climate science and disaster response.

💭 A Word From Christophe Bosquillon

The Flight Ticket Initiative is a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission (EC) for European companies and institutions to test and prove new products and applications in space. It subsidizes the use of new European launchers and just awarded contracts to Avio and Isar Aerospace. Meanwhile, a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched the NAOS Earth Observation (EO) satellite for Luxembourg, along with satellites for rideshare customers Dhruva Space, Planet, Capella Space, and Pixxel. 

Back in June 2025, the EC had introduced the EU Space Act legislative initiative. This harmonised framework for space activities across the Union aims to ensure safety, resilience, and environmental sustainability, while boosting the competitiveness of the EU space sector. But Kevin O'Connell and Clayton Swope argue in an Op-Ed that this EU Space Act will stifle innovation and hurt U.S. space companies. The EU Space Act reflects Europe’s ambition to shape global space governance but risks repeating GDPR’s mistakes by imposing sweeping, extraterritorial rules that primarily burden foreign firms. This approach may deter investment, slow innovation, and fragment international cooperation in space. It also signals the growing use of regulatory power as a form of geoeconomic lawfare. 

The Act functions as a non-tariff trade barrier. Since it applies extraterritorially, the Act impacts U.S. companies with even minor links to Europe, including requirements for technical standards, cybersecurity compliance, supply chain risk management, docking plate mandates, and environmental impact assessments. The EC estimates authorization fees of €100K+ per satellite, €200K–€1.5M per launcher, not including increased IT (+10%) and satellite manufacturing (+3–10%) costs.   

The innate contradiction in strategy is that the EU Space Act conflicts with EU own competitiveness studies that emphasize cutting red tape, attracting talent, and private investment. But consistent with the recent Executive Order on Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry, the authors argue the Trump administration should try and dissuade the EU from enacting the Act. Or else, should consider proportional retaliation within the framework of the recently concluded U.S.-E.U. trade deal.  

This unilateral EU Space Act risks turning into a show-stopper: Brussels should negotiate better deals. 

Have a great space week ahead!

🎤 Our Next Guest: Major General Vladyslav Klochkov PhD

Thursday, September 4th – Major General Vladyslav Klochkov on Creating the World's First Digital-Physical Front Against Nihilistic Imperialism

From commanding the legendary 93rd Mechanized Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar" during Bakhmut to architecting Ukraine's revolutionary psychological warfare infrastructure as Chief of Moral-Psychological Support (2021-2024), Major General Klochkov reveals how Ukraine transformed military psychology from passive treatment to active battlefield capability, why TikTok became more important than some physical fronts, and how to maintain fighting spirit against an enemy seeking not victory but complete erasure of existence.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• How peer-to-peer battlefield therapy returns fighters to combat within hours—a paradigm shift from "wait until after battle" approaches
• Why viewing military units as "psychological organisms" rather than collections of individuals revolutionized combat resilience
• The fusion of cyber and psychological operations: why a cyberattack without psychological accompaniment proves less effective
• Evidence that Russia operates as China's vassal in a coordinated "axis of evil" with North Korea and Iran
• How Ukraine neutralized Moscow Patriarchate's religious weaponization while preserving genuine faith among troops
• The "endless front effect": when every smartphone becomes a chronicler and combat footage reaches millions in seconds
• Why truth delivered faster than disinformation became Ukraine's most effective psychological weapon
• Creating meaning from micro-victories: how holding one position in Bakhmut became an act of civilizational defiance
• The strategic implications of his prediction that this confrontation will last "many generations and centuries"
• How technological mythology replaced scientific rationalism as the organizing principle of modern warfare

Don't miss this essential conversation with the military psychologist who proved that in wars of existence, psychological infrastructure is as vital as air defense, and narrative control determines not just victory but survival itself.

📚 Essential Intel from Our Archives

Missed a beat? These groundbreaking conversations are must-reads:

"The Universe Isn't a Machine—It's an Information Processing System" 

Theoretical physicist Davide Cadelano presents his Codex Alpha framework where spacetime emerges from quantum information networks, unifying relativity and quantum mechanics through a radical new understanding that treats the universe as a vast computational system rather than mechanical clockwork.

"How Nation-States Could Blind U.S. Intelligence Without Firing a Shot" 

Robi Sen reveals how "kindergarten children could take over" most satellite networks, why adversarial ML can make satellites gradually shift their perception of reality, and how the convergence of biological, RF, and space warfare creates nightmares current defense frameworks can't even conceptualize.

"We Can Hit Our Target in Space and Return for Rapid Reuse" 

Dr. Robert Statica on building hypersonic aircraft, space-based defense systems, and the race to sub-100 kg space access—revealing how reusable hypersonic platforms could revolutionize both space access and global strike capabilities.

"They Don't Call for Their Parents. They Say 'Long Live the Great Leader'" 

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) In-Bum Chun exposes North Korea's transformation into a cyber superpower, why cognitive warfare is the real threat, and the chilling reality of a society where dying children praise their dictator instead of calling for their mothers.

"Space Wars Are Over in 24 Hours—Most People Don't Even Know They're Happening" 

Space warfare doctrine pioneer Paul Szymanski reveals mathematical proof that the U.S. lost its first space war to Russia in 2014, exposing how temporal pattern analysis unmasks satellite attacks hidden behind "solar flare" cover stories and why hypervelocity weapons from orbit could render the U.S. Navy obsolete overnight.

"The Grid Is Already a Living System—We Just Don't Recognize It"

Power systems veteran Mike Swearingen explains why treating the power grid as a living, autonomous system isn't science fiction—it's an engineering reality we refuse to acknowledge, and how space-domain tactics can secure the grid of tomorrow.

"The Hidden Power Struggle Reshaping China: Xi Jinping's Dramatic Fall From Grace"

An investigation into China's internal power dynamics reveals how Xi Jinping's grip on power is weakening amid economic turmoil, military purges, and rising opposition within the Communist Party.

"I Patented a Space Airlock That Uses 6,000 Times Less Air"

NASA veteran Marc Cohen reveals his revolutionary Suitport design and four decades of challenging engineering orthodoxy, advocating for space habitats that prioritize human experience over forcing astronauts to adapt to machines.

"I Created a Language That Lets AI Think in 128 Dimensions"

Former corporate sales executive Chris McGinty reveals how his McGinty Equation unifies quantum mechanics with relativity through fractal geometry, creating Hyperfluid AI and revolutionary space-folding technologies now being adopted by NATO defense strategists.

"I'm on a Crusade to Expand the Domain of Life"

Space pioneer Rick Tumlinson reveals how he created the NewSpace movement, his work with Dr. Gerard K. O'Neill, and his 40-year mission to expand humanity beyond Earth through commercial space ventures.

"Space Law Is The First Domain Where Nations Agreed On Rules Before Having Practice" 

Military JAG-turned-attorney Trevor Hehn explains how Cold War-era space treaties meet modern commercial ventures, highlighting the challenges of resource utilization, dual-use technologies, and regulatory navigation for companies expanding beyond Earth's atmosphere.

"The Unprotected Power Grid Will Be Our Civilization's Death Warrant If We Don't Act"

Doug Ellsworth, Co-Director of the Secure the Grid Coalition, warns about America's vulnerability to electromagnetic pulse attacks and advocates for urgent power grid protection to prevent catastrophic infrastructure collapse.

"When AI Designs Components, They Sometimes Defy Textbook Engineering"

Space Force Lt. Colonel Thomas Nix reveals how 3D printing and AI are creating revolutionary spacecraft designs, with parts that are stronger and lighter than what human engineers could develop using traditional methods.

"The Gaps in Our Lunar Knowledge Are Enormous"

Extraterrestrial Mining Company Chief Scientist Dr. Ruby Patterson describes the urgent need for more lunar geological data before making commercial decisions, while offering a balanced view on helium-3 mining and advocating for inclusive international cooperation in cislunar space.

"We're Building the Railroads of the Space Gold Rush"

Space Phoenix Systems CEO Andrew Parlock positions his company as "FedEx for space," creating an infrastructure that helps businesses launch and return payloads from orbit with minimal friction.

"Our Nuclear Shield Was Killed For Political, Not Technological Reasons"

Reagan's SDI Director Ambassador Henry Cooper argues that effective missile defense technology developed during the Reagan-Bush years was abandoned for political reasons when the Clinton administration "took the stars out of Star Wars."

"Every Country Has a Border with Space"

UK Space Agency CEO Dr. Paul Bate is developing Britain's space industry through initiatives like spaceports in Scotland's Shetland Islands to establish the UK as Europe's premier satellite launch destination.

"We're Treating Satellites Like They're Still In The 1990s" 

Niha Agarwalla, Director of Commercial Space, explains why traditional satellites are obsolete and how resilient constellations will transform space economics.

"When People See Space Guardians in Uniform, They Ask If They're Real" 

Colonel Bill Woolf, 25-year space defense veteran, reveals his mission to build public support for the newest military branch defending America's orbital assets.

"One Kilogram of Helium-3 Is Worth $50 Million" 

Jeffrey Max, Magna Petra CEO, explains how lunar resource extraction could revolutionize Earth's energy production and fuel humanity's expansion across the solar system.

"I'm Building a Rocket Engine That Could Reach Alpha Centauri" 

Michael Paluszek, Princeton Satellite Systems President, reveals how fusion propulsion could reduce travel times throughout our solar system and enable humanity's first interstellar missions.

"Space Has a Scottish Accent"

Chris Newlands, CEO of Space Aye, discusses how his company's satellite technology is revolutionizing wildlife conservation and helping to combat illegal fishing and poaching.

"I Learned From the Last Generation of Manhattan Project Veterans”

Patrick McClure, former Kilopower Project Lead at Los Alamos National Laboratory, explains how small nuclear reactors could power future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

"We're Being Attacked Every Day" 

Christopher Stone, Former Pentagon Space Advisor, warns about America's vulnerabilities in orbit and explains why China's "attack to deter" doctrine makes space conflict more likely than many realize.

"I Helped SpaceX Secure Their First Commercial Contracts" 

Serial entrepreneur Robert Feierbach discusses building billion-dollar space ventures across four continents and developing North America's newest spaceport.

"We Can Fly 8,000 Miles In 2 Hours" 

Jess Sponable, Ex-DARPA PM & President of NFA, explains how rocket-powered aircraft will revolutionize global travel through simplified hypersonic technology.​​ 

"This Could Be Our Biggest Economy"

Kevin O'Connell, Former Space Commerce Director, reveals how space is transforming from a government domain to a $1.8 trillion market.

​​"How Do You Win a War in Space?" 

Ram Riojas, Ex-Nuclear Commander and Space Defense Expert, explains why the next war will start in space and how nations are preparing their defenses.

"First Day on the Job, Hubble Was Broken" 

Mike Kaplan, James Webb Space Telescope Pioneer, reveals how early setbacks with Hubble shaped NASA's approach to complex space missions and discusses the commercial revolution transforming space exploration.

The Future of Human Space Habitation 

Jules Ross reveals how her journey from artist to space visionary is reshaping human adaptation to space through Earth's first artificial gravity station.

Space Law's New Frontier 

Attorney Michael J. Listner unpacks the complex legal challenges facing modern space activities. From resource rights to orbital debris management

Making Oceans Transparent From Space

Navy Legend Guy Thomas, inventor of S-AIS, shares how his invention transformed global maritime surveillance and security.