School of War Ep 147: Frank Ledwidge on War in Space
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Sep 27, 2024 Frank Ledwidge, a Senior Fellow in Air Power and International Security at the Royal Air Force College, dives into the future of warfare in space. He discusses the transformation of aerial tactics for this new domain, highlighting the competitive tension between nations, especially the U.S. and China. Ledwidge elaborates on the dangers of space debris, anti-satellite technology, and the ethical implications of advancements like Starlink. He emphasizes the necessity for international norms to mitigate risks as space becomes a critical battlefield.
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Early Space Thinking
- Early space thinkers focused on the technical aspects, like rocketry.
- Key figures include Tsiolkovsky, von Braun, and Oberth, but no overarching strategist like Mahan or Douhet has emerged yet.
Initial Uses of Space
- Initially, space served mainly as a medium for missiles and later for reconnaissance.
- The Corona satellites, launched in the early 60s, exemplify this early use, taking pictures of the Soviet Union.
Corona Satellites
- Early reconnaissance satellites like Corona used film cameras.
- Film canisters were ejected and retrieved mid-air, highlighting the challenge of data transmission.