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The DownLink Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by The Defense & Aerospace Report
From the Defense & Aerospace Report... This is The DownLink Podcast, hosted by Laura Winter. From the intersection of space, business, and defense... Not just what's over the horizon, but what's happening above it. The DownLink Podcast is 2023 and 2024 Defense Media Award-winner.
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- 3 days ago38 min
Orbital Space Weapons — Meh, Pivotal, or Both?
Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink reveals that the United States has placed weapons in orbit, and the new Space Force Chief of Space Operations, Gen. Douglas Schiess, lays out his priorities. Laura Winter speaks with Col. Charles Galbreath, USSF (Ret.), Director, Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence; and Col. Jennifer Reeves, USAF (Ret.), Senior Fellow at the same institution.
- 1 weeks ago37 min
U.S. Space Academy: "Doesn't It Make Sense?"
States are already vying to become the home of the White House's proposed Space Academy, but what critical problem set should it solve? Do we really need it? This episode — Part 2 of this two-part series and following last week's episode on the National Space Transportation Policy — focuses on the "Establishing the United States Space Academy" proclamation. Laura Winter speaks with retired Space Force Gen. David "DT" Thompson, the first Vice Chief of Space Operations; retired Space Force Lt. Gen. John Shaw, former Deputy Commander of U.S. Space Command; and Joel Mozer, first Chief Scientist of the U.S. Space Force.
- 2 weeks ago38 min
What’s the Payload the President’s 1,000-Launch Memo Should Deliver?
Gen. Douglas Schiess just became the Space Force's third Chief of Space Operations, but in the days before the transfer of responsibility, President Donald Trump signed two new pieces of space policy that, if leveraged correctly, could have strategic effects. In this Part 1 episode, three of the nation's most experienced space professionals focus on the National Space Transportation Policy, best known for its goal of 1,000 launches a year by 2030. Laura Winter speaks with retired Space Force Gen. David "DT" Thompson, the first Vice Chief of Space Operations; retired Space Force Lt. Gen. John Shaw, former Deputy Commander of U.S. Space Command; and Joel Mozer, first Chief Scientist of the U.S. Space Force.
- Aug 21, 202635 min
Space Force: Targeted Growth In a Time of Budgetary Uncertainty
While operating on the brink of a government shutdown has become the not-so-new normal, a fresh take on the Space Force's FY 2027 budget request shows the service branch's plan to normalize real growth through dramatic, yet targeted, programmatic increases. Laura Winter speaks with Sam Wilson, Director of Strategy and National Security, Center for Space Policy and Strategy, The Aerospace Corporation.
- Aug 14, 202647 min
Satellites, War, and Humanitarian Law: The ICRC Explains
Companies rarely know how a military is using their satellites — and that blind spot could quietly turn commercial infrastructure into a legitimate target, putting the civilians and humanitarian workers who depend on that same infrastructure at risk. The International Committee of the Red Cross calls it a "knowledge gap." Laura Winter speaks with two representatives from the ICRC Regional Delegation for the U.S. and Canada — Jonathan Horowitz, Deputy Head of the Legal Department; and Laura Walker McDonald, Senior Advisor for New Technologies and Conflict.
- Aug 7, 202657 min
SpaceX's Q2: A Neo Cloud With a Rocket Side Hustle
SpaceX posted its first earnings report as a public company this week, the same week its first share unlock hit the market, more than doubling the float. Elon Musk says revenue will top $1 trillion by 2030, but the plan is murky. Laura Winter speaks with Chris Quilty, Founder and CEO of Quilty Space, George Pullen, Chief Economist at MilkyWayEconomy, and Lou Whiteman, stock analyst at The Motley Fool.
- Jul 31, 202643 min
Space Competition: China 1H 2026: Rockets, Vassals, and Purges
Space Competition: China 1H 2026: Rockets, Vassals, and Purges by The DownLink
- Jul 24, 202649 min
Space Power: Should the Space Force Station Guardians on the Moon?
The fact that the Chinese Coast Guard attacked Philippines vessels in three separate confrontations this week, may illustrate why the Space Force needs Guardians trained and equipped under Title 10 authorities to secure U.S. interests in orbit and on the Moon. Laura Winter speaks with retired Lt. Gen. Joseph "Gus" Guastella, former commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command, now Executive Vice President of National Security, at Voyager Technologies; and retired Space Force Col. Charles Galbreath, Director of the Mitchell Institute's Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence.
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About The DownLink Podcast
From the Defense & Aerospace Report... This is The DownLink Podcast, hosted by Laura Winter. From the intersection of space, business, and defense... Not just what's over the horizon, but what's happening above it. The DownLink Podcast is 2023 and 2024 Defense Media Award-winner.
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