Dr. Namrata Goswami on the Chinese lunar & space program, national security, Asian space and India. Don't miss it!

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We welcomed our guest, Dr. Namrata Goswami, with the objectives of exploring China's lunar ambitions and space policies, comparing them to US initiatives while discussing the implications for commercial space activities and national security. The discussion concluded with analyses of China's strategic energy initiatives and space technology development, including their approach to commercial space partnerships and the potential impact of U.S. sanctions on Russian oil imports on India's space relationships. Space Show participants included Marshal Martin, Dr. Ajay Kothari, Rick Kwan, John Hunt, Dr. Charles Lurio and Amir Notea.

As a group discussed recent changes in U.S. space policy and personnel, including the departure of a controversial now ambassador to India. Namrata Goswami returned as a guest to analyze these developments. They also reviewed SpaceX's successful Starship Demo 10 flight and discussed the importance of India as a strategic partner in space. The show highlighted upcoming events, including an art exhibition by Dr. Kothari in Fairfax, Virginia, and encouraged listeners to support the Space Show through donations or sponsorships.

Namrata discussed China's lunar program, highlighting its focus on building an industrial capacity and infrastructure on the moon by 2036, including a 1 megawatt nuclear energy capability. She compared this to the US Artemis program, noting that while both aim to build lunar bases, China's ambitions are on a larger scale. Namrata also addressed concerns about China potentially misbehaving on the moon, explaining that China's strategic culture, as a one-party state, has historically involved occupying resource-rich areas. She suggested that the US needs to enhance its cislunar domain awareness, establish clear policy guidance for lunar infrastructure development, and take leadership in creating a regulatory structure for lunar activities to counter China's ambitions.

Namrata discussed the evolving discourse on space policy, highlighting how legal systems established in the 1960s and 1970s did not anticipate the current commercial space sector. She noted that while her research and analysis are reflected in some policy documents, there is still a need to address the global nature of space activities and the importance of space infrastructure. David inquired about the impact of Namrata's work on space policy, to which she explained that her research has influenced national security considerations and policy discussions, though not directly leading to specific policy outcomes.

Charles inquired about China's plans for their Long March 10 and 9 rockets, and Namrata clarified the differences between the two. She explained that the Long March 10A is a non-reusable rocket intended for lunar missions by 2030, while the Long March 9 is a heavy-lift rocket designed to be partially reusable by 2030, with a goal of full reusability by 2040. Namrata also highlighted that China's space program is driven by specific missions and infrastructure goals, such as space-based solar power and a Mars base, and emphasized the ideological purposes behind their rocket development, similar to SpaceX's narrative.

The discussion focused on comparing China's commercial space sector with the US model. Namrata explained that while the US has a traditional public-private partnership where government funds commercial space activities through agencies like NASA, China's system is more integrated with government funding and direction. She noted that China's commercial space companies, though not state-owned, receive significant government funding and operate under a legal framework where they must support national defense and security initiatives if requested. The conversation highlighted how China's approach has allowed it to become an innovation powerhouse in areas like quantum computing and AI, while maintaining control over strategic technologies through its National Defense Law.

The discussion next focused on the potential impact of U.S. sanctions on Russian oil imports on India's space partnership with the U.S. Namrata explained that while India has economic concerns about oil prices affecting its population, the space partnership remains strong, with ongoing collaborations including NASA's NISAR satellite launch and human spaceflight programs. The conversation also explored space policies in the Middle East, particularly the United Arab Emirates' ambitious goals including Mars missions and space resource utilization, as well as Saudi Arabia's plans for a spaceport and smart city. The group discussed whether sanctions on Russian oil would force India and China to comply with U.S. demands, with Namrata noting that economic sanctions could be challenging in India due to its large population and dependence on oil imports, though the outcome remained uncertain.

Namrata discussed China's strategic energy initiatives, particularly their discovery of thorium deposits and development of nuclear and space-based solar power programs per comments from Ajay. Namrata explained that under President Xi Jinping, China has identified energy as a critical strategic area due to concerns about energy security and the "Malacca Dilemma," and has been investing heavily in alternative energy sources and space technology. The conversation ended with Marshall expressing his impression of SpaceX's Starship 10 launch, while Rick announced he would soon be traveling to China.

Please see the Zoom video of this program a doctorspace.substack.com. The program audio will also be posted on Substack along with being posted on TSS website.

Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless Entertainment

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