In this episode of Understandable Insights, Sue and Eric discuss the future of space. Low Earth orbit is becoming a “house of cards,” where mega-constellations and frequent close passes shrink the margin for error and raise the risk of a cascading debris event. Space is shifting from a domain to a dependency, and we’re lagging on the policies, norms, and accountability needed to keep pace with capability. They also dig into what this means for NASA’s next chapter—less about a list of initiatives and more about defining “what lane NASA is in,” clarifying outcomes, and aligning the civil/commercial/national-security ecosystem around a coherent role. 

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction to Understandable Insights

01:24 Space Traffic Management

06:14 New NASA Administrator: Jared Isaacman

14:34 US Space Policy Executive Order

19:42 Rocket Labs, New Player in Space Defense

23:17 Dogfighting in Space: A New Era of Satellite Maneuvering

 About the show:

Understandable Insights: Information to Intelligence with Sue Gordon is the national security podcast that provides you an elemental understanding of the world as it is, not how you prefer it to be.

Each week, Eric Koepp — a former Marine, father, and entrepreneur — sits down with the Honorable Sue Gordon, the nation’s former top career intelligence officer. Together, they break down the headlines shaping our world and ask what they really mean for citizens, leaders, and institutions.

From armed conflict to emerging tech, foreign interference to the resilience of democracy — this is where raw information becomes real intelligence. Unfiltered. Candid. Unapologetically clear.

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