Sirotin Intelligence Briefing: May 4-10, 2025: China's Space Capabilities Take Center Stage, "Golden Age of Asteroid Exploration," NASA Budget Cuts, and SpaceX Profitability Milestone

This week's space highlights: China's expanding space capabilities dominate international discussions while budget battles intensify in Washington with NASA facing proposed 25% cuts. Scientists celebrate a "Golden Age of asteroid exploration" as NASA's Lucy spacecraft completes its Donaldjohanson flyby. SpaceX hits a major profitability milestone with Starlink revenue now exceeding its launch business, while India introduces new security regulations that create fresh challenges for satellite operators. Plus, Trevor Hehn joins us May 22nd to navigate the legal frontier where Cold War-era space treaties meet modern commercial ventures.

🛡️ Defense Highlights

• China's Space Capabilities Take Center Stage at Military SSA Event: Growing concern over Chinese space capabilities dominated the recent Military Space Situational Awareness Conference in London. Dr. Brendan Mulvaney, director of the China Aerospace Studies Institute, noted that China views all Western satellites—both government and commercial—as potential targets. "Xi Jinping has stated the goal of becoming a global superpower in space — to meet and exceed the scientific, technological, and military capabilities of the United States in orbit," Mulvaney said. Experts demonstrated real-time tracking of Chinese satellites shadowing their American counterparts, with presentations showing growing capabilities in satellite maneuvers, downlink and uplink jamming, and other areas where China has "already caught up with the democratic West."
• Russia and China Criticize Trump's "Golden Dome" Missile Defense Plans: Russia and China have issued a joint statement criticizing President Trump's proposed "Golden Dome" missile defense system, calling it "deeply destabilizing" and warning it could turn space into a "battlefield." The statement, released following talks between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in Moscow, specifically targets the initiative's space-based components, claiming it "explicitly provides for a significant strengthening of the arsenal for conducting combat operations in space." The Golden Dome initiative, which references Israel's Iron Dome system but for much larger threats like ballistic and hypersonic missiles, revives elements of the Reagan-era "Star Wars" missile defense project.
• Space Force Eyeing International Launch Sites to Increase Resilience: The U.S. Space Force is in discussions with allies and partner nations about using their facilities to expand options for national security launches. Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen, the Space Systems Command program executive officer for Assured Access to Space, said they are "looking at international partnerships as potential ways to get our satellites to orbit." While not imminent, these discussions include established space powers like Japan, New Zealand, and France, as well as emerging launch providers in Norway, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. This approach aims to enhance resilience by providing alternative launch options beyond U.S. ranges at Vandenberg Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral.
• Space-Based Missile Defense Could Cost Up to $542 Billion, CBO Says: The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that developing and launching a network of space-based interceptors for missile defense could cost between $161 billion and $542 billion over 20 years. This assessment, prepared for a Senate Armed Services Committee subcommittee, puts a price tag on a key component of President Trump's proposed "Golden Dome" defense system. The CBO noted that while launch costs have fallen by about 90% since earlier studies were conducted, the actual cost of an interceptor architecture designed to counter advanced threats would likely be much higher than previous estimates, regardless of launch prices.
• Pentagon's Hypersonic Milestone: Stratolaunch Vehicle Breaks Mach 5: The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that Stratolaunch's Talon-A2 hypersonic vehicle exceeded Mach 5 in two test flights conducted in December 2024 and March 2025. These tests mark the first time since the X-15 program ended in 1968 that the U.S. has conducted reusable hypersonic flight testing. The autonomous drone was launched from Stratolaunch's massive Roc carrier aircraft over the Pacific Ocean, reached hypersonic speeds, and successfully landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base, demonstrating a reusable capability that could significantly reduce testing costs and development time.
• Army Announces New Space Operations MOS: The U.S. Army is creating a new 40D Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) for space operations specialists, slated to become official by October 2026. According to Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, commander of Army Space and Missile Defense Command, this initiative will ensure enlisted soldiers gain expertise in space operations to meet rising space and missile threats. "Our Army space professionals support unique assets to interdict or disrupt adversaries' use of space capabilities," Gainey said during a media roundtable. Command Sgt. Maj. John Foley noted the MOS will help stabilize career progression and retention for soldiers supporting space operations, describing it as a "zero-growth effort" that will develop expertise previously concentrated in the officer corps.
• Space Force Chief Makes Case for Increased Funding Before House Panel: Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman warned lawmakers May 6 that the Space Force needs increased funding to fulfill an expanding roster of missions despite Pentagon budget constraints. Appearing before the House Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee, Saltzman highlighted concerns about flat budgets coupled with growing responsibilities, stating: "We're being asked to accept new responsibilities and missions, forcing tough choices between delayed readiness, reduced capacity or unaddressed vulnerabilities." The Space Force's newest responsibility involves supporting the Golden Dome next-generation missile defense system, which will heavily rely on space-based sensors, interceptors, and communication capabilities.
• Space Force Remains Skeptical on Satellite Refueling: Despite industry enthusiasm for in-orbit satellite servicing, Space Force officials remain unconvinced about the military value of satellite refueling. "I don't know that I see the clear military advantage of refueling," Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton, the Space Force's deputy chief of operations, said at the State of the Space Industrial Base Conference. Bratton noted that most spacecraft are retired due to technical failures rather than fuel depletion and questioned whether the cost of a refueling infrastructure would be justified by current needs. "Show me the military advantage, if I go to war with China, how does refueling help me beat them?" Bratton said, while acknowledging the Space Force is funding refueling experiments for 2026 and 2027 to gather more data.

🌐 Policy, Geopolitical & Legal Developments

• China to Launch New Modules to Tiangong Space Station: China is preparing to expand its Tiangong space station with additional modules to meet growing experimental demands and potentially boost international cooperation. Wang Jue, an official with China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, confirmed that China's powerful Long March 5B rocket will carry out future launches of modules to expand the T-shaped, three-module orbital outpost constructed in 2021-2022. While no official timeline has been announced, the expansion would likely begin with a multi-functional module featuring six docking ports. China has already announced plans to train Pakistani astronauts to fly to Tiangong, in what would be the first international crew to visit the station, and is in discussions with other countries about sending their astronauts as well.
• China Achieves First Daytime Laser-Ranging Measurement to the Moon: Chinese scientists have marked a significant milestone in lunar science by completing the first-ever laser ranging measurement from Earth to the moon during daylight hours. Researchers at Yunnan Observatories used an infrared lunar laser ranging system to successfully ping a small retroreflector on the Tiandu 1 satellite orbiting the moon. This achievement overcomes the substantial technical challenge of detecting the returning laser signal amid the massive background "noise" from sunlight. The capability could have applications for China's deep-space exploration efforts, including the China-led International Lunar Research Station project, while expanding the window for precise lunar distance measurements.
• Elon Musk Explains Drive to Colonize Mars: SpaceX founder Elon Musk reiterated his view of Mars colonization as an existential necessity during a recent Fox News interview, stating, "Eventually, all life on Earth will be destroyed by the sun." Musk, who also leads the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, emphasized that Earth faces inevitable destruction as the sun gradually expands. "We do at some point need to be a multiplanet civilization, because Earth will be incinerated," he explained, estimating approximately 450 million years "before it gets so hot that life is impossible." These comments reinforce the long-term vision behind SpaceX's development of the Starship megarocket, which Musk believes will make Mars settlement economically feasible.
• NASA Budget Proposal Draws Strong Criticism: The White House's proposal to cut NASA's budget by nearly 25% has drawn sharp criticism from industry and lawmakers. The "skinny" budget released on May 2 proposes $18.8 billion for NASA in fiscal year 2026, a $6 billion reduction from 2025's $24.9 billion. The plan calls for cancellation of the lunar Gateway, ending the Space Launch System and Orion programs after Artemis 3, and terminating science missions like Mars Sample Return. Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee's commerce, justice and science subcommittee, called the cuts "shocking" and warned they would "decimate NASA's research & education efforts." International partners, including the European Space Agency, are assessing potential impacts, with ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher stating they are evaluating "potential actions and alternative scenarios for impacted ESA programs."
• ESA Reacts to Proposed NASA Budget Cuts: The European Space Agency is exploring alternative scenarios in response to the Trump Administration's proposed cuts to NASA programs. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said that while ESA "remains open to cooperation with NASA on the programmes earmarked for a reduction or termination," it is assessing the impact with member states in preparation for a June Council meeting. The proposed cuts would significantly affect long-standing NASA-ESA collaborations, including the International Space Station, the Artemis lunar program, the Mars Sample Return mission, and ESA's Rosalind Franklin/ExoMars rover. Aschbacher emphasized that "space exploration is an endeavor in which the collective can reach much further than the individual," suggesting that European space autonomy might gain greater priority if the proposed NASA changes are enacted.
• Trump Nominates CACI's Matt Anderson as NASA Deputy Administrator: President Trump has nominated Matt Anderson, a retired Air Force pilot currently working for CACI International, to be NASA Deputy Administrator. Anderson, who spent 24 years in the Air Force before retiring in October 2021, would replace Pam Melroy if confirmed by the Senate. Though Anderson lacks direct NASA experience, he has connections to the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, and serves as Chief Growth Officer of the Space Force Association. In his current role at CACI, Anderson works as vice president and Space Force & Air Force client executive for the professional services and information technology company, which supports DOD, the Intelligence Community, and other government agencies. Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro praised the nomination, noting that Anderson "brings extensive knowledge of space operations, aeronautics expertise, and industry experience."
• NASA Still Looking for a Way to Get VIPER to the Moon: NASA has withdrawn its solicitation for industry ideas on how to deliver the VIPER lunar rover to the Moon after evaluating 11 proposals and finding none acceptable. The Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, built at a cost of $450 million and already completed, was originally scheduled to be delivered to the lunar surface by Astrobotic's Griffin lander. However, NASA canceled those plans last July due to cost growth and concerns following Astrobotic's failed Peregrine mission in January 2024. Science Mission Directorate head Nicky Fox stated the agency is now "continuing to explore alternative approaches" to get VIPER to the Moon. The rover is a key element in NASA's quest to map water ice at the lunar South Pole to support future Artemis missions and long-term lunar presence.
• India Delays First Gaganyaan Astronaut Launch to 2027: India has pushed back its first human spaceflight mission to the first quarter of 2027, according to Indian space minister Jitendra Singh. The Gaganyaan program, which aims to make India only the fourth country to independently launch people into orbit, has faced multiple delays since its original target of 2022. The postponement is part of a methodical approach to ensure safety before putting astronauts at risk. "We have to accomplish three uncrewed missions before targeting the actual crewed mission because there is life involved," Singh explained. The first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission is still scheduled for late 2025, with a half-humanoid robot named Vyomitra aboard to collect flight data. Two additional uncrewed missions will follow in 2026 before the crewed launch.
• India's Satellite Crackdown Brings Fresh Challenges for Starlink and OneWeb: India is tightening security and data compliance rules for satellite connectivity, creating new hurdles for SpaceX's Starlink and other broadband constellations aiming to enter the world's most populous country. The Department of Telecommunications announced 29 additional regulations on May 5, citing national security interests, which also apply to companies that already hold licenses for providing space-based communication services. The rules include requirements for call logs and user data to be stored in India, and new obligations for interception and monitoring under national law. For Starlink, which has penetrated many other markets, India promises substantial growth potential once regulatory hurdles are cleared.
• Laurie Leshin Stepping Down as JPL Director: Laurie Leshin announced on May 7 that she will step down from her role as director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on June 1, after three years in charge. She will be replaced by David Gallagher, JPL's current associate director for strategic integration. Under Leshin's leadership, JPL launched several NASA missions including EMIT, SWOT, Psyche, PREFIRE, Europa Clipper, and SPHEREx, with the NASA-Indian Earth satellite NISAR set for a June launch. Leshin, who also served as Caltech vice president, is stepping down for personal reasons and will remain a Bren Professor of Geochemistry and Planetary Science at Caltech, focusing on restarting her research program and helping her family recover from the Eaton fire.
• Soviet Venus Probe Re-Entry Imminent: After 53 years in Earth orbit, the Soviet Union's failed Kosmos 482 Venus probe is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere around May 10, presenting an unusual space junk situation. Originally launched in 1972 as part of the Soviet Venera program, the mission failed when a timer anomaly stranded the spacecraft in Earth's orbit. Unlike typical space debris, the Venus lander module was designed to withstand the extreme heat and pressure of Venus's atmosphere, making it probable that the 1,091-pound (495-kilogram) titanium-shelled capsule could survive re-entry and impact Earth's surface intact. Scientists estimate it will come crashing in at about 150 mph (240 kph), with a risk level similar to that of a meteorite impact.

🛰️ Technology & Commercial Developments

• SpaceX Launches More Starlink Satellites from Florida Coast: SpaceX successfully launched its latest batch of 28 Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early Saturday morning. The 2:28 a.m. launch marked the 11th flight for the first stage booster, which previously supported several important missions including Crew-8, Polaris Dawn, and CRS-31. This mission continues SpaceX's rapid deployment cadence for the Starlink constellation, which has become the company's primary revenue driver as it pushes toward covering more global territories with its satellite internet service. The reusability of boosters remains central to SpaceX's business model, enabling frequent launch opportunities while maintaining cost efficiency.
• Former Space Force Chief Warns of China's "Space-Enabled Military": Retired General John Raymond, the first chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force, warned that China is rapidly catching up in integrating space capabilities with the rest of its military. Speaking at an Atlantic Council event, Raymond cautioned that "if you look at what China has built, they now have a very capable space-enabled military that can threaten our traditional joint warfighting partners." He noted that while the U.S. is still "the best of the world in space, especially with our allies and partners at our side," China's pace of advancement should be concerning. Raymond emphasized the need for an integrated deterrence strategy in space to prevent conflicts from extending to other domains.
• "Golden Age of Asteroid Exploration" as Lucy Flies by Donaldjohanson: NASA's Lucy spacecraft has completed its flyby of asteroid Donaldjohanson, a test run for its primary mission to explore the never-before-visited Trojan asteroids in the Jupiter system. Hal Levison, principal investigator for the Lucy mission at Southwest Research Institute, described the asteroid's unusual shape as "two ice cream cones put together," and suggested it could teach scientists something fundamental about how asteroids form through collisions. NASA's Thomas Statler, Lucy program scientist, celebrated the achievement, saying, "Right now, we are in what has to be a Golden Age of asteroid exploration." Lucy is on a 4-billion-mile, 12-year journey to explore 11 asteroids, with Trojan asteroid encounters scheduled from 2027 to 2033.
• SpaceX Reaches Profitability Milestone as Starlink Outpaces Launch Business: According to a new analysis from Novaspace, SpaceX has reached a pivotal financial milestone with Starlink satellite internet revenue surpassing its space transportation division for the first time. The company generated an estimated $11.8 billion in revenue in 2024, with Starlink's growth being driven by expansion across consumer broadband, government services, maritime, and aviation markets. This shift marks a strategic evolution for SpaceX "from space transportation builder to multi-market operator," according to Lucas Pleney, Senior Consultant at Novaspace. The transportation business has transitioned to a fleet management model, with only 6% of 2024 Falcon 9 flights using new boosters, some rockets flying as many as 24 times in a single year.
• InspeCity Raises $5.6M for In-Orbit Satellite Servicing: Mumbai-based space tech startup InspeCity has secured $5.6 million in seed funding led by investor Ashish Kacholia, with participation from Speciale Invest, Shastra VC, Antler India, and others. Founded in 2022 by IIT Bombay alumni, the company is developing technologies for satellite life extension and in-orbit servicing, with the goal of reducing orbital debris. InspeCity's proprietary platform integrates propulsion, robotics, and Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPOD) technologies. CEO Arindrajit Chowdhury stated: "Our mission is to redefine the economics and sustainability of satellite operations." The funding will be used to space-qualify technologies within 12 months, expand the engineering team, and accelerate global deployment of satellite life-extension platforms.
• Japan's Axelspace Eyes June IPO: Tokyo-based satellite maker Axelspace plans to list its shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange as early as June, according to sources familiar with the matter. If successful, it would become the fifth Japanese spacecraft venture to go public in the last two years. Founded by University of Tokyo aerospace researcher Yuya Nakamura in 2008, Axelspace has launched five optical Earth observation satellites and plans seven more launches next year. The company's valuation could be comparable to other Japanese satellite firms like Synspective (valued at 121 billion yen) and iQPS (72.5 billion yen). This listing comes amid growing government support for Japan's space industry, estimated at 4 trillion yen ($27.8 billion), as part of the country's largest postwar defense buildup.
• StratEdge to Showcase High-Frequency Semiconductor Packages at Space Tech Expo: StratEdge Corporation, a manufacturer of high-frequency and high-power semiconductor packages, will display its Leaded Power Amplifier (LPA) series at the upcoming Space Tech Expo USA in June. These packages are designed for transmitting signals from commercial and government satellites and other long-range communications equipment. Engineered for compound semiconductor devices like GaN and GaAs, the LPA-series provides ultra-low electrical loss while efficiently managing heat for enhanced reliability in demanding RF and microwave systems. "Our LPA-series gives designers a proven path to higher reliability and better signal integrity when the margins are extremely thin," said Casey Krawiec, VP of Sales at StratEdge, noting their importance for both space-based and terrestrial applications.
• Rocket Lab Sets May Launch for Latest iQPS Satellite Mission: Rocket Lab has announced its next Electron mission, titled "The Sea God Sees," is set to lift off from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand starting May 17, 2025. The mission will carry a single synthetic aperture radar satellite, QPS-SAR-10 (also known as "WADATSUMI-I"), into a 575-kilometer circular Earth orbit for Japanese company iQPS. This will be the third Rocket Lab Electron mission for iQPS and the second in a series of eight planned launches through 2026 aimed at deploying the company's satellite network. Upon completion, the mission will mark Rocket Lab's sixth launch of 2025 and its 64th Electron launch overall, bringing the total number of satellites deployed by the company to 225.
• NASA's Chandra Releases New 3D-Printable Models of Cosmic Objects: NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has released new three-dimensional models that allow people to explore and 3D-print examples of stars in the early and end stages of their lives. The four new 3D-printable models include the Cassiopeia A (Cas A), G292.0+1.8 (G292), and Cygnus Loop supernova remnants, as well as the star known as BP Tau. These models are based on state-of-the-art theoretical models, computational algorithms, and observations from space-based telescopes, allowing anyone to hold replicas of these cosmic objects and examine them from all angles. The models provide scientists with new avenues to investigate scientific questions and gain insights about the objects they represent.

💭 A Word From Christophe Bosquillon

The United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space Legal Subcommittee which takes place in Vienna during 05-16 May 2025 is reaching a fork in the road (see daily recaps of this UN COPUOS LSC first week). The tension is palpable between idealists with aspirational views and realists with operational stances, between regulatory flexibility advocates and binding rules demands.

Dysfunctional processes risk systemic failure in building of international rules for space activities: lack of dispute resolution mechanisms; legacy treaties failing to address new commercial and tech paradigms; proliferation of ultimately ineffective soft law instruments, with limited enforceability and accountability; fragmented governance, shaped by isolated agreements rather than shared regulations. 

As space governance shapes up through practice rather than new treaties, the LSC could become a place of legal entrepreneurship: beyond established discussions (debris, space resource utilisation), new drivers emerge: benefit sharing, and an Action Team for Lunar Activities Consultation, stirred by foundational principles of peaceful use, non-appropriation, and global cooperation in outer space. 

As space diplomacy must acknowledge that dominant space powers make space a war-fighting domain, space security considerations will loom larger over time. During the LSC, increasingly security-driven considerations argued in favor of the creation of new working groups focused on space situational and domain awareness, and space traffic management, with orbit as a priority.Cislunar space and the Moon loom large as well. There can't be massive investment in cis-lunar infrastructure for resource utilisation without space forces securing material, cyber, and human assets. While the need for SSA/SDA/STM, through orbital and cis-lunar layers, has made it to the Overton Window, the inevitable militarization and weaponisation of space isn't being squarely tackled yet.

Half-way around the world, NASA was the missing participant at the Global Conference on Space Exploration (GLEX) 2025, held in New Delhi by the International Astronautical Federation. The Indian space agency ISRO discussed the Artemis programme uncertainties with Canada, Japan, UAE, and Europe, whose cooperations are upended by a cancellation of Orion and Gateway post-Artemis 3. 

China insisted at GLEX that its Taikonauts would land on the Moon before 2030. Time will tell. 

Have a great space week ahead!

🎤 Our Next Guest

Thursday, May 15th – Trevor Hehn on Navigating the Legal Frontier of Commercial Space

Trevor Hehn, founder of Hehn Law PLLC and former military JAG officer, joins us to discuss the evolving legal landscape where Cold War-era space treaties meet modern commercial ventures pushing beyond Earth's atmosphere.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• How space became the first domain where nations agreed on rules before having practical experience
• Why the Artemis Accords provide a crucial framework for companies seeking to mine lunar resources
• The complex legal distinctions between commercial and military uses of identical space technologies
• How companies can structure operations to navigate dual-use technology regulations
• Strategies for engaging with regulators when emerging technologies don't fit existing frameworks
• The legal challenges of space debris remediation and the geopolitical risks involved
• Why nuclear propulsion represents the next frontier in space law and regulatory navigation
• How startups can find paths forward when regulations haven't caught up with technological capabilities
• The critical balance between enabling innovation and ensuring responsible development in space

Don't miss this insightful conversation with a uniquely qualified expert who combines military operational law experience with entrepreneurial space sector knowledge. Hehn brings his interdisciplinary background in philosophy, law, and technology to illuminate the critical legal challenges facing the new space economy.

📚 Essential Intel from Our Archives

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

"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. 

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.