SPI Alumna Dr. Jana Robinson Interviewed by The Royal United Services Institute’s War In Space Podcast

SPI alumna Dr. Jana Robinson, Managing Director of the Prague Security Studies Institute,  was interviewed by The Royal United Services Institute’s War In Space podcast about her research on the ‘ground-based space race’, where authoritarian states fund parts of the space economy in third countries to gain influence and shape their voting decisions. Their discussion explores these economic and financial threats, and how they further shape norms in space. They also discuss the soft power element of space and the future for international space cooperation in the context of the future decommissioning of the International Space Station.

The episode is available here on the podcast’s website, or in the adjacent Spotify widget.

SPI Students & Alumni Stephanie Delpozzo, Josh Ingersoll, & Shiv Patel Selected for Payload Pioneers 30 Under 30 List

Three SPI students & alumni were selected for Payload‘s inaugural Payload Pioneers list, which recognizes 30 rising stars in the space community under 30 years old.

Stephanie DelPozzo, an associate at Nextfed specializing in aerospace and defense, has merged her passions for policy and space by acting as a bridge between the scientific, policy, and finance sectors of the space community. Having closed over 40 M&A deals in two years, she also advocates for mental health and sober inclusivity within the DC space community.

Josh Ingersoll, senior manager of regulatory affairs at Astranis, seamlessly juggles between business, engineering, and policy while aiding in global telecommunications endeavors. Beyond this multifaceted role, he provides mentorship and promotes inclusivity in the space industry, emphasizing the value of diverse perspectives.

Shiv Patel champions innovative space tech as the government affairs lead at SpinLaunch, pushing for a shift from traditional rocket methods. Beyond his role, Patel actively contributes to space policy discussions, emphasizes the importance of diversity in the industry, and mentors students about careers in the DC space community.

SPI congratulates Stephanie, Josh, and Shiv for this recognition, and is thrilled to see SPI well-represented as 10% of the awardees.

SPI Director, Dr. Scott Pace, Speaks at Harvard Kennedy School at Reception Honoring 50th Anniversary of GPS

SPI Director Dr. Scott Pace spoke at a reception honoring the 50th anniversary of the Global Positioning System with Dr. Brad Parkinson, Chief Architect for GPS and Professor Emeritus at Stanford University.

The reception took place at the Belfer Center of Harvard Kennedy School, and was hosted by Moonshot Space PIC, in partnership with NASA and the Belfer Center’s Defense, Emerging Technology, and Strategy Program. It was the inaugural reception of the Moonshot Space PIC, a student organization at Harvard Kennedy School.

NTS-2 Satellite, credit Naval Research Laboratory

SPI Assistant Professor Aaron Bateman Published in the Journal of Strategic Studies

SPI Assistant Professor Dr. Aaron Bateman was published in the Journal of Strategic Studies, a peer-reviewed academic journal covering military and diplomatic strategic studies.

His article, “Information security in the space age: Britain’s Skynet satellite communications program and the evolution of modern command and control networks,” utilizes recently declassified documents to reframe the history of British space activities.

He shows how U.K. space policy during the Cold War was shaped by sovereign control requirements for flexible and secure defense communications, but that in the Space Age, Britain had to reconcile its desire for an autonomous satellite communications network with the reality of vital American assistance.

Concept Art of Skynet 4 – Royal Signals and Radar Establishment

SPI Attends International Astronautical Congress 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan

SPI was well represented at the 74th International Astronautical Congress, which was held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The IAC is the premier annual event where global space actors gather, and attracts more than 6,000 participants each year, representing a myriad of space sectors and topics. The IAC offers the latest developments in academia and industry, and provides opportunities for exchanging ideas, networking, and potential partnerships.

SPI Director Dr. Scott Pace presented his paper “Global Space Futures — 2050” at the 36th International Academy of Astronautics Symposium on Space Policy, Regulations and Economics. You can read his paper below from the file uploaded to this page.

SPI Professor Dr. Henry Hertzfeld was recognized by the International Institute of Space Law with a certificate of appreciation for his service, and co-chaired “Space Economy Session – A focus on in-space operations and their potential to stimulate economic development” as well as “Cost and Procurement impacts on Space Programmes linked to high inflation
and world-wide scarcity of components and materials.”

SPI Research Professor Dr. Pascale Ehrenfreund was a speaker for the “Space for Emerging Ecosystems – Emerging Ecosystems for Space” section.

SPI MA alum and current GW PhD student Andrew Garza presented his paper “Engagement and Communication of the Space Sustainability Rating.”

Many SPI alumni attended as well, including Associate Professor Dr. Mariel Borowitz of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Angela Peura who works with NASA SCaN, and Faud Guliyev who lives in Baku.



SPI Assistant Professor Aaron Bateman Wins AIAA Aerospace History Manuscript Award

SPI Professor Dr. Aaron Bateman was selected by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) for the prestigious History Manuscript Award for the best historical manuscript dealing with the science, technology, and/or impact of aeronautics and astronautics on society.

The annual award provides professional recognition to an author who makes a major and original contribution to the history of aeronautics or astronautics.

The award honors Professors Bateman’s manuscript, “A Space Renaissance: The Strategic Defense Initiative and the Arms Race,” which is also the basis of Professor Bateman’s forthcoming book: Weapons in Space: Technology, Politics, and the Rise and Fall of the Strategic Defense Initiative from MIT Press.

Dr. Bateman’s manuscript was enthusiastically received by the award reviewers, and he will be recognized for the award at the 2024 AIAA Science and Technology Forum (SciTech) in January, 2024, in Orlando, Florida.

SPI congratulates Dr. Bateman on this achievement!

Strategic Defense Initiative Concept Art

“A comprehensive re-examination of the political and technical history of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), this outstanding work is likely to remain the standard reference for years to come.”

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)