The Space Policy Show

The US Space Force, established in 2019, has become more important than ever as we face growing numbers of stakeholders, new capabilities, and geopolitical tensions involving the space domain.  How has the nation’s newest service evolved to meet those challenges? What defines a military service and what makes for a good Guardian? New acquisition models, bigger budgets, and allied partners all play a role in how the Space...

Humans living and working on the Moon is within reach, but how are we preparing to thrive? What humanity learned by long stays in low Earth orbit does not directly carry over to settlements on the Moon. The environment is different in terms of human health, culture, and governance.  More radiation and more gravity. Longer stays and further away from home. Commercialization of activities across competing nations.  Join Aer...

Fundamental and applied scientific research is not only for academics and space exploration; it is also foundational to the future of national security space and how the US government will protect and defend. Road-maps are being laid out today by the Air Force and Space Force in partnerships across government and academia to inform the advanced technologies needed in the future of space security. Find out more in this episode with ...

Enabling a future in-space economy that involves a robust market of companies and customers must be architected by the right mix of private innovation and government support.  In this show we talk to CEOs of two private space companies about what they want to see from government, and we talk to government about the framework to move us forward.  

Join Dr. Brian Weeden and Dr. Jen Stein from the Center for Space Policy and ...

Dynamic space operations (DSO) is a future forward concept that will keep US and allied space assets safer from adversarial threats, and provide more agility to the way wars are fought in the future. But there are different approaches to consider such as refuel or replenish, material and architectural solutions, peacetime versus conflict, and prepositioning or rapid launch. It’s time for the foundational thinking on DSO to tr...

From big rockets to small businesses and maintaining the orbital environment, the Space Policy Show goes to Washington DC’s SATShow 2026, an event that has matured from a communications expo to one including government and military decision-making as well as the 10th annual pitch contest for start-ups. Watch this episode with host Colleen Stover, featuring: 

• Satellite maneuverability and sustaining the orbital environ...

Beyond technology and discovery, there are aspects of the future space sector that hinge on partnerships and people. The Space Policy Show’s Colleen Stover talks to the CEO of Space Foundation Maj Gen Heather Pringle, USAF (Ret) about what her organization is doing to push forward international partnerships and a future space workforce, so the US maintains its leadership, and we continue convening for meaningful connections. ...

Commercial space activities require permissions from several government agencies – FAA and FCC to name two. Applications for flight safety and spectrum usage can be complex, duplicative, and uncertain. In response to Executive Order 14335 the Department of Commerce’s Office of Space Commerce (DOC/OSC) has released a proposed solution that hopes to fast track mission authorization across agencies and foster industry grow...

We already know the space supply chain is vulnerable but increasing capacity, adding resilience, and enabling scalability can seem elusive. How do regulations and government signals affect the commercial industry and its investors? What are the most fragile segments of the industrial base and which resources are being stressed? More importantly what are the actions the nation can take to shore up the industrial base? In this episod...

The European space sector is shifting. The rise of sovereign capabilities and proposed rules, like the European Union Space Act, are working to promote the region’s leadership. However, the region’s space governance structure is complex, and questions remain as to how budgeting and responsibilities will play out. And what is the relationship between the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) and the European Space Ag...

How is artificial intelligence being integrated into space systems today and into the future? What benefits and risks have yet to come? Human operators and decisionmakers, or humans-on-the-loop, will continue to be a cultural sticking point in the adoption of AI and there are technology questions that must be explored to create more trust. In this episode host, Colleen Stover, talks to advance autonomy expert Pamela Wood (Aerospace...

The journey to Mars is a long one so when humans arrive, we will need to maximize the science in order to understand the environment for a future there – and to learn more about how the universe formed. What are those big science questions we should seek to answer and how should the journey(s) be scheduled? After two years the National Academy of Sciences has published a report (Dec 2025) called “A Science Strategy for ...

What is the role of government when it comes to enabling and protecting the business of space? 

How do regulations keep up (or not) with innovation? To what degree is Space Situational Awareness (SSA) inherently a government function like highway or maritime safety, and which agency should take responsibility? In this episode we talk to former Directors of the US Office of Space Commerce (OSC) about their experience across mult...

Commercial space is a growing industry, and the U.S. government is looking for ways to build capabilities, support private industry, and increase competition. Organizations like Satellite Industry Association (SIA) and Commercial Space Federation (CSF) are working to ensure their members have a voice when it comes to government policy making and strategies for maintaining U.S. leadership in space.  Join Audrey Allison, Sr Poli...

What needs to happen to improve government acquisition processes so we can go faster to defend and protect our nation and our allies? There are “pockets of innovation” that could be scaled, but how is that balanced with risk? Join CSPS senior policy analyst Andrew Berglund as he talks to former Assistant Secretary of Defense and former staffer on the House Armed Services Committee, Stephen Kitay, now Senior Vice Preside...

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?...

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 infras...

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.) from The Aerospace Cor...

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...