I recently read Spacepower Ascendant by Joshua Carlson. In it, he talks openly about the threat of China and how the U.S.’s current strategy will lead to us losing the war in Space. I think everyone should read or listen (because it is available on audible) this book. I’m excited to dive deeper not only into the book Joshua wrote, but also new things that have happened since its publication. This episode while not focused on women in the military, I think is an important topic to cover. As a woman with a degree in Engineering I find space and science really exciting and interesting and I think more women should consider careers in Space and the Space Force. I’m hoping this episode can help inspire women to consider working in Space while also helping everyone learn a little more about why Space is an important topic to discuss.
Spacepower Ascendant: The threat of China and how it relates to space
Why is China a threat? That is the question Joshua Carlson wanted to know the answer to. He had heard that China was a threat, but he didn’t understand why. People he had talked to mentioned the test where China shot a satellite and created a huge debris field but that was a capability not a threat. So when he went to school with the miltiary he dove into this question. And what he found he wrote in a paper that then was expanded into the book Spacepower Ascendant.
The history of China
China is the U.S. greatest threat the U.S. has faced. They have a goal to become the world power. To understand the goal of China you have to look at history. How they went from dominant power to being overtaken by a more powerful country (England). One main difference between England and China at the time is that China began to be inward focused. They stopped exploring and expanding their reach and influence. And when Europe expanded to the Americas they gained their wealth and with it power. Giving them power they hadn’t had before. China stopped expansion and focused inward and then were unable to defend themselves when England pushed Opium into their borders.
Communist party goals
When the communist party took over in 1949 they set out with the goal to be the world superpower in 100 years. One of the main avenues they hope to accomplish this mission is through space. China sees space as a place of expansion and not exploration which is where the U.S. focus has typically been. In Spacepower Ascendant, Carlson lays out China’s plan and goes over two strategies for the U.S. highlighting the importance of changing the current focus from exploration to expansion.
An exciting time to be in Space
It is an exciting time to begin a career in Space. There is so much happening in both the government and private sector side. While you hear about companies like Boeing, Lockheed and SpaceX there are so many other start ups or small companies playing an important role in the Space industry. If you are interested in math and science a career in Space might be right for you. And the Space Force is a unique opportunity to dive into this field and could open doors to a future career.
