Guest: Lt. General Steven Kwast, USAF (RET); Topics: US Space Force, space and the election, China economic domination plans, Chinese space policy, China's control methodology, Communist Chinese Party (CCP), lunar plans, and more.
Please direct all comments and questions regarding specific Space Show programs & guest(s) to the Space Show blog which is part of archived program on our website, www.thespaceshow.com. Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm.
We welcomed Lt. General Steven Kwast, USAF (RET) back to the show for a detailed 99 minute discussion about the importance of space to our future and prosperity along with the major threat to this prosperity, China. I started our discussion by asking General Kwast about a question that came up with Tory Bruno concerning ULA finding out that their supply chain had been hacked, influence, or taken over by CCP companies using American companies as a front. General Kwast confirmed what Tory said but then told us the problem was far more complex, more extensive than just applying to the supply chain, and why it was so important for us to contest, not allow, and certainly not enable the behavior by those supporting China's long term goals.
Our guest elaborated on what Tory Bruno told us a few weeks ago. He went into detail to explain how the Chinese military carries out its plan of economic and technical domination, not just for space but for industrialization across the board. He also explained how all of these actions were CCP policies and supported by CCP actions, financing, science, technology, and education. Our guest talked at length about intellectual property theft and how the Chinese capitalize on it, plus he put space at the top of the list as he said many times over that the Chinese recognize the role of space development in their future. He talked about the US space awareness level, concerns that we are not seeing space as the Chines do and not even realizing we are in an economic world war at with China. These were overriding program themes mentioned and discussed at various times during our program.
Steve addressed many national security space concerns both from the US and the Chinese perspectives. Listen to how our guest explained the differences. Note how China plans on using and developing space over their published timeline. What about the US and other western countries? Do we see space the same way and assign a similar value and importance to it and our conduct in space? As part of this discussion, I asked our guest about our new Space Force and if it was ready to play a role to defend space for us and support us in our development and use of space. Steve had much to say as a response to my question so don't miss a word of it.
Our presidential election came up and I asked Steve what he thought the impact of a new administration might be on the new Space Force. Listen to Steve's reply and tell us what you think might unfold with the Space Force and a new administration? Please do post on our blog for this show.
Risk was a subject we talked about more than once during our interview. Our guest suggested that most of us don't know about many of the economic and other risks we are facing, especially with China and with space. Steve expanded the topics to include AI, Big Data, technology development, communications including 5G, and quantum development. He suggested that we need to understand, appreciate, value and better develop the information highway for the future, especially as it goes through space. Here he talked about the internet, 5G including its history with China, and he cited examples going back decades with the Motorola story. Don't miss what our guest had to say on these subjects.
Listeners asked several questions via email during our program. Sharon from Denver asked Steve if the Space Force was meant to be an agent of change for the purposes our guest had been talking about regarding space, our future, our security economic strength. Steve had much to say to Sharon, including commentary on Artemis and China's behavior in the South China Sea as another clear example of what to expect from China. This led Steve to talk about the grand China strategy which included controlling energy through solar power development, including weaponization, something the US barely pursues but not to the degree China pursues it. He elaborated on the potential for energy weapons from space that could enable China to disable parts or all of our economy. Many times during the program he advocated space solar power development for energy beyond fossil fuels and nuclear, not just for the US but on a global basis. He said if we don't step up and do it, China will and they will control energy for the entire planet. Listen carefully to our guest on the energy subject.
Later in the discussion as we were moving toward the end of the program, Steve addressed the issue of our losing our culture and why this was so important. He talked about the need for an educated public, a strong culture with strong values. Part of this discussion focused on the imperative of a free market with incentives to have and maintain that free market. He said many times over that our culture and values give us the tools, leadership, and technology to go forward, again stating that space was the key to the roadmap forward. To this end, listener Ben in Dallas asked if the space industry in general was a good model, a good example.\ as it is presently constructed. The simple answer was yes but Steve went back into history to detail his answer, even referring to stories from Teddy Roosevelt's leadership. He went on to say that today, China has the value and leadership energy, we don't. As you will hear, this turned into a mini complex discussion, also involving space solar power. Note that this discussion took us to the next big topic, leadership.
Steve had much to say about leadership, risk taking leadership, and the role of the big vision with leaders. Also, what happens when there is a lack of vision among leaders. One great example dealt with the UK and Word War 1. You definitely want to hear this story and understand why he told it as an example of great leadership without vision and the consequences of such leadership. Listener Matt then asked if we should be pursuing international space consortiums and projects. Steve supported them but as long as we were not slowed down by such relationships. Listen for explanation on what he meant by slowing us down. Staying with leadership, Steve was asked about leadership training in the US. Note what he said about protecting the status quo, leadership training in the military and the consequences of being a risk averse leader. He told us another great story as an example. This time he told us about using AI to train pilots. He said it was a revolutionary change but then the culture and traditional way of doing things with traditional leaders kicked in and that was it. Pay attention to this story. I thought it was a good example of what Steve wanted us to know from his discussion today.
At the end of the program, our guest offered us closing comments and a short summary. Once again he pointed to China and what they were doing and why we had to engage far more than we have so far. Even in space. Certainly in energy and disciplines such as SSP.
Please post your comments/questions on the blog. You can reach Lt. General Steve Kwast through me.
The Space Show
