September 18, 2023
Geopolitical analyst Marshall (The Power of Geography) turns his focus to the final frontier in this concise look at space and the emerging “era of astropolitics.” Sketching the history of human dealings with space from prehistoric lunar calendars to the launch of Sputnik, Marshall lays the groundwork for his view that “space is going to be a geopolitical narrative of the twenty-first century.” Marshall demonstrates how politically fraught and high stakes space has the potential to be, highlighting how telecommunications satellites utilize the “attractive piece of real estate” that is Low Earth Orbit and the untapped potential of mineral resources on the moon. He cites as precursors of the coming political turmoil the 2023 incident of a Chinese surveillance balloon passing over the U.S. and Elon Musk deploying his Starlink satellite dishes in Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2022. Marshall makes the case that laws governing space, such as the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, “require drastic updating” to prevent future conflict. Marshall’s assessments intrigue, and he provides valuable insight into an overlooked aspect of space exploration, though forays into more speculative realms, such as what a solar system–wide war might look like, slow things down. Still, Marshall’s expedition into the political realities of space is a thought-provoking effort.
September 15, 2023
The author of Prisoners of Geography examines how leaping into space is both technically feasible as well as economically necessary. Marshall is a British journalist who has written a series of well-regarded books about geography and its impact on politics, history, and human affairs in general. Here, he looks in a different direction: up. The author begins with a review of the early days of rocketry and space research, although most of that ground has been already covered. The pace picks up when he turns to the Moon landings and the deployment of early-generation satellites. Military imperatives drove much of the early technology, but gradually the emphasis moved to commercial objectives. Marshall ably explains how satellites actually work and the strategic importance of certain points in space that allow for geostationary orbit. The next step, notes the author, should be a return to the Moon, which has critical resources, possibly including water and a potential energy source called helium-3, which could be used for nuclear fusion. The author sees a growing consensus about a new Moon project but accepts that it would be a massive undertaking. One possibility is establishing a space station as a staging post. A Moon settlement could then act as a steppingstone to Mars and beyond. Once again, it is becoming a race with military goals, mainly between the U.S. and China. Marshall examines China's burgeoning space program, noting that Russia, now faltering, is hoping that a partnership with China will put it back in the game. Marshall worries that once established in space, humans will simply repeat their geopolitical mistakes and conflicts. The current treaties are obsolete, and negotiating a new legal framework will be tricky, but he suggests some useful ideas. This is an engaging, informative read, and Marshall displays flashes of wit and a thorough understanding of the issues. A well-researched, insightful, infectiously enthusiastic book.
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