Battle Lines
Who would win a war in space?
Apr 21, 2025
Juliana Suess, a space specialist at Germany's Institute for International and Security Affairs, and Namrata Goswami, an expert in space policy and professor at Arizona State University, delve into the strategic complexities of potential space warfare. They explore how nations like the U.S. and China are racing to establish lunar and Martian bases while examining the implications of satellite surveillance and cyber attacks. The duo highlights the need for better legal frameworks for space resource extraction and discusses the evolving dynamics of power and conflict in this new frontier.
32:05
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Quick takeaways
- The competition for space dominance is now driven by economic power and military strategy, significantly transforming modern warfare dynamics.
- As nations militarize space and establish bases, the potential for conflict escalates, raising concerns over future confrontations in orbit.
Deep dives
Emerging Space Powers and Their Ambitions
The current era of space exploration is characterized by a new race for dominance as countries like China, India, and Europe pursue ambitious projects. China aims to establish a research base on the moon by 2036, leveraging resources such as water ice and helium-3 for potential rocket fuel and nuclear fusion power. The United States, led by commercial initiatives like Elon Musk's SpaceX, is focused on the goal of colonizing Mars. Unlike the Cold War's prestige-focused race, today’s competition highlights the significant role of economic development and military power in enhancing national capabilities in space.
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