The DownLink Podcast

*2024 Defense Media Award Finalist for Best Cyber Security Submission*

*2024 Defense Media Award Finalist for The John Morrocco Award for Best In-depth Defence Reporting*

Space Money: When Nation States Target The Commercial Space Sector

This month, two years ago, Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine started with a cyber attack that changed everything and yet nothing for the U.S. commercial space sector. This is the first in a series of episodes examining cyber attacks and space systems. Laura Winter speaks with Nick Saunders, Viasat’s Chief Cybersecurity and Data Officer for Government Systems, in his first sit-down interview since the satellite communications company weathered a notorious cyberattack on February 24, 2022; Erin Miller, the Space Information Sharing and analysis Center’s Executive Director; and Frank Backes, CEO of Capella Space, a company providing earth observation products to government commercial customers.

Space Tech: A U.S. Space Force Bet That Could Truly Monetize Space Junk… For Real

This week’s episode is about a cunning plan the Space Force has invested in that aims to monetize space junk and large pieces of orbital debris by recycling it in space, for use as thruster fuel and structural beams. Laura Winter speaks with CisLunar Industries’ Co-founders CEO Gary Calnan and CTO Joe Pawelski; and Neumann Space’s CEO Herve Astier and Chief Scientist Paddy Neumann.

Space Power: What the Space Force Needs Now For Cislunar Operations

This week, just after one failed commercial moon mission came back to earth and burned up in the atmosphere, Japan became the fifth nation to successfully reach the lunar surface. As launches to and landings on the Moon become more regular, it is expected that competition and possibly friction between national interests may intensify in Cislunar space. While the U.S. Space Force has the remit to secure U.S. interests in the Cislunar region, it is not truly equipped to do the job. Laura Winter speaks with Charles Galbreath, a Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies at the Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence.

SPACE TECH: Is NASA Surrendering The Promise of Space-Based Solar Power to China, ESA, Britain And Japan?

Jeers and scorn greeted NASA’s “Space-Based Solar Power” report, which if taken at face value, experts argue, could strategically disadvantage U.S. efforts to deliver cheap renewable energy, while competitors in the sector move forward. While the document confirms that Space-Based Solar Power is technologically attainable and would deliver electricity at a fraction of the cost to consumers, this episode’s guests say NASA’s assumptions are wildly out of date, do not take into account the current state of space technology, and ignore commonly-held industrial economic principles. Laura Winter speaks with John Mankins, a former NASA physicist, now President of Artemis Innovation Management Solutions, who designed the Solar Power Satellite concept, Alpha – Mark 3; Peter Garretson, an American Foreign Policy Council Senior Fellow, coauthor of the book “Scramble for the Skies The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space”; and Ed Tate, Co-Founder and CTO of Virtus Solis, a U.S Space-Based Solar Power company.

Space Money: Has Investor Passion Left The Building?

This episode on Space Money is the 2024 year opener. It examines just what business and investment trends and events from 2023 are carrying over into the new year, and what to expect for space business and the space economy in 2024. Laura Winter speaks with Chris Quilty, founder of Quilty Space; George Pullen, Chief Economist at Milky Way Economy; and Jesse Klempner, a McKinsey & Company Partner.

"It's been Quite A Banner Year For China Militarily, Commercially, Scientifically In Space"

This episode looks at China’s effective year in space, in the civil, commercial, and military space sectors. Laura Winter covers the most important technology and policy developments and what to look out for in 2024 with Namrata Goswami, an independent scholar on space policy and great power politics and co-author of the book “Scramble for the Skies”; and Brendan Mulvaney, Director of the Air University’s China Aerospace Studies Institute.

Chief Master Sergeant Bentivegna: “Why The Identity Portion Is So Important To Us.”

This episode is coming from Orlando, Florida, from the sold-out Space Power Conference, the first solely dedicated to United States Space Force Guardians. To understand why this is a Space Force milestone Laura Winter speaks with Chief Master Sgt. John “B-9” Bentivegna and Space Force Association President and CEO Air Force Col. (Ret.) Bill “Hippie” Woolf.

U.S. Space Force Commercial Space Office: Bankruptcies And Consolidation Are Expected

Our coverage of the chilly space investment climate continues, but from the perspective of the U.S. Space Force’s Commercial Space Office, which has the responsibility to find and foster some of the new commercial space technologies the Department of Defense needs. Laura Winter speaks with U.S. Space Force Col. Richard Kniseley, who is the Senior Materiel Leader leading the COMSO, about what the office does, the current venture capital environment, and what COMSO tools space entrepreneurs can leverage to find capital investment.

Accenture's Anti-Trend Space Investment Strategy

It’s chilly and not just outside. Investment in space companies is down by almost a third compared to this time last year, with investor sentiment for space applications companies being downright icy. But Accenture, the publicly traded international technology consulting company is not just saying it’s bullish on the future, it’s actively making deals in space applications. Laura Winter speaks with Paul Thomas, Accenture’s Managing Director and Space Innovation and Technology Lead; and Accenture’s Aerospace and Defense Practice Lead, Craig Gottlieb.

Starship's Second Flight Test and China's Reaction

Happy Thanksgiving! SpaceX just attempted a second flight test of its 28-stories-tall Starship space launch system. If Starship, an American-made rocket and spaceship, becomes operational, experts believe it will open up the space domain to travel and commerce, much like the railroad did for the American West. China is not standing idly by. Laura Winter speaks with the authors of the book “Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space”, Namrata Goswami and Peter Garretson.