Thu, November 17, 2022, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM EST
Elliott School of International Affairs (and online) 1957 E Street Northwest Room 505 (5th Floor) Washington, DC 20052
About the Book
Space technology was developed to enhance the killing power of the state. The Moon landings and the launch of the Space Shuttle were mere sideshows, drawing public attention away from the real goal: military and economic control of space as a source of power on Earth. Today, as Bleddyn E. Bowen vividly recounts, thousands of satellites work silently in the background to provide essential military, intelligence and economic capabilities. No major power can do without them. Beyond Washington, Moscow and Beijing, truly global technologies have evolved, from the ground floor of the nuclear missile revolution to today’s orbital battlefield, shaping the wars to come. World powers including India, Japan and Europe are fully realizing the strategic benefits of commanding Earth’s ‘cosmic coastline’, as a stage for war, development and prestige.
Yet, as new contenders spend more and more on outer space, there is scope for cautious optimism about the future of the Space Age—if we can recognize, rather than hide, its original sin.
About the Author
Dr. Bleddyn Bowen is an expert in space policy and international relations in outer space. He has published research on strategic thinking and outer space, UK and EU space policy, UK and US military space doctrines, and the politics of orbital debris. Based on the classic works of military theory, his research challenges prevailing thought in military and civilian space communities and offers practical policy relevant insights for the space sector at the intersection of politics, military power, security, and technology.
Building on his expertise in the politics of outer space and the impact of space technologies on warfare, national security, and international relations, Dr. Bowen has published several journal articles and a monograph on the military, security, and political dimensions of outer space. His expertise encompasses military and intelligence space activities, governance issues in outer space, space arms control, and the international political dimensions of space exploration.
