Guest: Dr. Clay Moltz. Topics: U.S. Space Policy and Strategy, international space cooperation and competition. Please note that you are invited to comment, ask questions, and discuss the Space Show program/guest(s) on the Space Show blog, http://thespaceshow.wordpress.com. Comments, questions, and any discussion must be relevant and applicable to Space Show programming. We welcomed back Dr. Clay Moltz to the program to discuss national space policy, international space development, competing national space programs, the impact of commercial space on policy here and abroad, and much more. We started our first segment with an overview of space strategy and policy as of today, talking about the need for a clear vision and a clear set of goals. Dr. Moltz examined our current space policy, looking at both the positive attributes of our current policy and what the administration is striving for as well as some of the challenges created by the same administration space policy. Dr. Moltz talked about the fact that we now have a much needed National Security Space Strategy and a new National Space Policy. In talking about commercial space and going forward, we looked at the possibility of emerging opportunities including energy, exploration, and returning to the Moon, possibly all with international partners. Toward the end of the first segment, our guest suggested that some research exploration missions might be suitable for private corporations in that not everything may unfold through the government side of space development. In our second long segment, we talked about human spaceflight and connecting it to the interests of the public. Part of this discussion focused on how we do such short term funding of projects which are very long term in nature. A listener asked Dr. Moltz about the deterioration of our national space infrastructure per comments being reported in the press. Dr. Moltz addressed this issue as part of a very challenging and difficult transitional period that we are now experiencing and that it will cause pain as we move forward. We talked about the loss of existing space jobs as compared to the kind of commercial space jobs that will be created by the emerging private sector in space. We talked about disruption, winners, and losers. Later in this segment, we turned our attention to China and their space program. Our guest had much to say about the Chinese program and what our policy should strive to do with China regarding space. We talked about the ISS, China and the European Draft Code of Conduct, the old test ban treaty as a predictor of present day Chinese behavior, and the existence of U.S. fear concerning the Chinese program. Perry asked about the Iranian and North Korean space programs which our guest said were largely missile driven. As our discussion ended, we talked about the need for space leadership to come from the top down, from the Administration, not usually from Congress. As we concluded, Dr. Moltz listed a few priorities he would act upon were he making U.S. space policy. For your questions and comments, post them on the blog URL above. If you have a question or comment for Dr. Moltz, forward it to me at drspace@thespaceshow.com and I will send it to our guest.
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