The Space Force and NASA's New Space Directives | A Thought Experiment - a podcast by Alex G. Orphanos, Science Communicator

from 2018-06-22T04:12:16

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Recently, there has been a lot of talk about a 'Space Force'. But there are also new Space Policy Directives for NASA moving forward. In order to talk about these issues, given the state of US politics and news, we turned to science for a way to share the facts and help you come to your own conclusion.

We set up a thought experiment where we asked what effect a Space Force and the new Space Policy Directives for NASA would have on the space industry? To be scientific, first Alex shares his biases, then goes over the facts (links below), a brief history of NASA politics for context, and then we lay out some possible pros and cons.

Then, the thought experiment begins - what do you think about the new NASA Space Policy Directives? What do you honestly think about a Space Force?

With some facts, some history, and some pros and cons - you'll be equipped to have your own opinion, and we hope you do in the comments! By using a thought experiment, we're trying to discuss politics and science in a smarter way. We'll see what happens! Let us know what you think.

Source Links:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-memorandum-reinvigorating-americas-human-space-exploration-program/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/space-policy-directive-2-streamlining-regulations-commercial-use-space/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/space-policy-directive-3-national-space-traffic-management-policy/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-meeting-national-space-council-signing-space-policy-directive-3/

https://history.nasa.gov/stsnixon.htm

http://www.planetary.org/blogs/casey-dreier/2017/1228-what-changed-in-space-directive-1.html

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/06/20/air-force-issues-first-guidance-troops-about-space-force.html

https://history.nasa.gov/factsheet.htm

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