Meeting assets for The Space Show Present Mike Gold are ready! 8-29-25

Hi David Livingston

The following assets for the meeting - The Space Show Present Mike Gold are now available.

Our program began with discussions about UAP research and national security concerns, including Michael Gold's involvement with NASA's UAP Independent Study Team and his testimony before Congress. The group explored space exploration initiatives, focusing on commercial space activities, human spaceflight capabilities, and international collaboration through the Artemis accords. The conversation concluded with discussions about budget and fiscal challenges, particularly regarding NASA's funding priorities and the need for strategic objectives in space exploration, while also addressing national debt concerns and immigration policies. He went on to discuss his new role at Redwire, focusing on international space business, particularly in Europe where he sees significant growth potential due to the continent's efforts to develop independent space capabilities. He expressed concern about national security threats related to drone technology, noting that if a conflict with China were to occur, they would likely employ similar tactics to Ukraine's against Russia. The discussion concluded with Gold revealing his involvement with NASA's UAP Independent Study Team and congressional testimony on the topic. Space Show participants including John Hunt, John Jossy, Dr. Ajay Kothari, Marshall Martin, guest Dr. Hank Alewine, Bill Gowan and Dr. Doug Plata.

As for speaking on the UAP issue and concerns, our guest talked about the importance of addressing unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), particularly adversary drones, which he believes could pose a significant threat similar to what Ukraine did to Russia. He expressed concern about the stigma surrounding UAP and emphasized the need for enhanced anti-UAV capabilities to protect military bases, critical infrastructure, and nuclear facilities from potential drone attacks. Gold noted that while the current administration is more attentive to UAP issues, further acceleration in developing drone technology and defense strategies is necessary to prevent future conflicts.

He brought up the NASA UAP Independent Study Team's findings and expressed disappointment with the treatment of academic members who faced ridicule and threats for their participation. He highlighted the need for a more objective scientific approach and emphasized the importance of analyzing data and witness testimony from pilots, such as those involved in the Tic Tac incident. Gold also suggested that NASA conduct an archival review and leverage AI/ML to search for UAP-related data, and proposed expanding the NASA ASRS system to include UAP reporting.

The group discussed the potential for using the ASRS reporting system to transform pilots, crew members, and passengers into sensors for detecting unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), which could provide valuable data for national security and scientific research. Marshall highlighted the growing global internet connectivity and increased bandwidth, enabling rapid deployment of cameras and sensors to capture anomalies. John Hunt shared insights on the historical context of UAP sightings, particularly around nuclear facilities, and expressed skepticism about some conspiracy theories. Michael emphasized the need for NASA to play a role in collecting and archiving UAP data, while also noting the challenges posed by the physics of UAP sightings. The discussion concluded with optimism about the future of UAP research, particularly under the leadership of NASA's interim administrator, Sean Duffy, and the potential for bipartisan support in Congress.

We moved on with a discussion about the importance of human spaceflight and the potential for commercialization of the International Space Station (ISS). He highlighted Redwire's recent developments in bioprinting and pharmaceuticals, including the creation of a subsidiary called Space MD to commercialize space-grown crystals for drug development. Michael addressed concerns about the ISS's commercialization and its impact on funding for Moon and Mars initiatives, emphasizing that all three should be pursued simultaneously. He also touched on Redwire's global operations, including its presence in Europe and plans for expansion. The discussion concluded with questions about the timeline for bio printed medical implants and potential collaboration on artificial gravity technologies.

The group talked about several space exploration initiatives, focusing on seed crystal development for drug creation and agricultural research in microgravity. Michael Gold highlighted Red Wire's collaboration with NASA and Vast for flying a pillbox in Haven One, emphasizing the importance of microgravity for various fields including agriculture and organ fabrication. Ajay raised concerns about the lack of focus on lunar infrastructure and cargo missions, suggesting the use of Falcon Heavy for cost-effective cargo transport to the moon. The discussion also touched on the need for human spaceflight capabilities to compete with China and the importance of cargo systems, with Michael noting that the administration plans to enhance the CLPS program with CLPS 2.0 for more robust lunar surface operations.

Much was said about the Artemis Accords. The Artemis Accords and their success in bringing 56 countries together, with Doug proposing the need for a follow-on to coordinate international lunar exploration as Starship development progresses. Michael Gold emphasized the importance of leveraging the accords to optimize investments and collaborations among nations, while expressing caution regarding potential deals with China due to national security concerns and IP theft. The discussion also touched on Redwire's focus on innovation to address economic challenges and create new opportunities for America.

The group discussed the potential of SpaceX's Starship for space manufacturing, with Michael highlighting its cost-effectiveness for launching large payloads like medical laboratories. They explored the economic and strategic importance of space exploration, with Gold emphasizing the need for continued investment in space capabilities to maintain American leadership and national security. The conversation also touched on the future of the International Space Station (ISS) and the importance of developing commercial space stations, with Gold advocating for maximizing ISS utilization while advancing plans for a Commercial LEO Destination (CLD).

The group discussed the challenges of reducing the national debt, with Hank and David agreeing that current spending rates outpace revenue growth, making it difficult to balance the budget. They explored potential solutions, including selective increases in legal immigration and the role of automation and AI in the workforce, with Hank expressing concerns about AI's impact on education and cheating in online courses. The conversation concluded with a discussion of the demographic challenges facing many countries, including the United States, and the need to consider alternative approaches to immigration and education in response to these changes.

As for the challenges of addressing the national debt and deficit, Hank noted that increased federal revenue through taxation has not led to reduced spending. David and Marshall highlighted how tax increases can reduce production and marketing, while John Hunt suggested that gradual inflation could help reduce the debt over time, though this approach faces political and economic challenges. The conversation also touched on the potential for state and local governments to handle certain services more efficiently, with Hank questioning the necessity of some federal roles

The group discussed space policy and budget issues, with Hank expressing concerns about NASA's funding and the broader space sector's impact on national debt. Hank, who wrote the first paper on space accounting, emphasized the need for a complete rebranding of NASA's objectives in the new space economy and highlighted the lack of courage among academics and practitioners to discuss fiscal responsibility in space spending. The conversation also touched on the challenges of having open discussions about space funding priorities, with Hank noting that such conversations often become political and lead to excessive spending through Continuing Resolutions.

As we were nearing the end of the program, we discussed NASA's priorities and budget, with Hank emphasizing the need to focus on strategic objectives and eliminate inefficiencies, particularly in activities that could be better handled by the private sector. They critically examined the cost and timeline issues of the SLS program, with Hank noting that NASA's infrastructure is often spread across congressional districts to secure funding. The conversation also touched on China's advanced space program and its potential to surpass the U.S. in lunar exploration, highlighting the need for the U.S. to accelerate its efforts. Mike offered his comments and thoughts on this issues as we closed our meeting.

Be sure to watch the Zoom video of this program at doctorspace.substack.com. The audio will also be posted there as well as The Space Show website.

Special thanks to our sponsors:Northrup Grumman, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Hay