The Peter Zeihan Podcast Series Uh Oh for Space || Peter Zeihan
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Dec 15, 2025 A mishap at Russia's main space launch site could cripple their heavy-lift capabilities, raising alarms about the future of the International Space Station. The damage threatens ISS operations and leaves NASA without a backup plan, increasing risks for private sector projects. With global isolation post-Ukraine invasion, Russia's strategy includes potential hostile acts in space, raising the specter of Kessler syndrome and making low Earth orbit perilous. The stakes are higher than ever as the future of space collaboration hangs in the balance.
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Launch Pad Explosion At Baikonur
- Peter Zeihan describes a launch-pad explosion at the Russian-run Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan during Thanksgiving.
- He warns repairs will take months or years and this damage may herald the end of the ISS program.
ISS Retirement Now In Doubt
- The ISS is aging and was slated for retirement within five years, but the Baikonur damage accelerates its jeopardy.
- NASA lacks a funded replacement and private plans depend on ISS support before going independent.
Private Space Plans Depend On ISS
- Private companies planned to spin off from the ISS but most need the station as a launch/commissioning hub first.
- If the ISS disappears, many commercial space initiatives may stall or fail to launch as planned.