In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews George Pullen, Chief Economist of Milky Way Economy, a Fifth Industrial Revolution think tank and boutique consultancy based in Washington, DC. They discuss alternate markets, the space industry, and the space economy—its size and how it is expected to grow to exceed $4T, and why it is important to US national security. They examine the coming 5th industrial revolution in space, including the expectation of 6-12 commercial space stations engaged in biotech and extreme high purity products, and eventually large-scale manufacturing and the use of space resources, including rare earths. They outline important roles for government to help create supporting infrastructure (including the 'guard rails' on transportation), ensure freedom of movement, establish international norms of behavior, and provide search and rescue functions. They put forward visions for settlement, and the increasing maturity of Space Solar Power. They discuss the Space Force and its need to balance its dual role to support the other terrestrial armed forces as well as to 'extend out. They consider the opportunity that a US-India partnership offers for the brightest future. Finally, they conclude discussing what is a space agenda worthy of the nation, and what it would take to get there.

George Pullen:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgepullen/

Milky Way Economy:

https://www.milkywayeconomy.com/

The Space Economy Podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR63DCdyLNLUYOlzbHoVxRA

Book: Blockchain & The Space Economy

https://www.milkywayeconomy.com/store

https://www.amazon.com/Blockchain-Space-Economy-George-Pullen/dp/B084QMCCP5

Book: The Space Economy

https://www.amazon.com/Space-Economy-Book-Zero/dp/1638778973