The shift that saved American spaceflight

In this episode of Space Minds, former NASA commercial space division chief Phil McAlister sits down with host David Ariosto for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of human spaceflight, NASA’s internal culture, and the explosive growth of the commercial space sector.McAlister spent nearly 20 years inside NASA, helping spearhead programs like Commercial Crew and COTS, which paved the way for SpaceX, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, and a new era of public-private partnerships. He shares stories about internal resistance, political battles, and what it took to shift NASA away from cost-plus contracting after decades of inertia.We also dive into:• Whether the U.S. is really in a “space race” with China• Why the moon’s South Pole may not be first-come, first-served• The sustainability crisis facing SLS, Orion, and Artemis• The role of commercial companies in deep space—not just LEO• How Starship, New Glenn, and private human spaceflight change everything• Whether NASA is destined to become more like the FAA• What the next 50 years in space might actually look like