On the latest episode of The President’s Inbox, Jim sat down with Nina Armagno, retired United States Space Force lieutenant general, and Jane Harman, former congresswoman and president emerita of the Wilson Center, to discuss the increasing importance of space as a commercial opportunity and strategic vulnerability for the United States.

Here are three highlights from their conversation:

1) The United States depends on space for both commercial and military operations. Every facet of modern life, from banking transactions to weather forecasting, hinges on the seamless operation of satellites. Commercial activities in low Earth orbit (LEO), such as SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's planned Kuiper constellation, provide high-quality internet services globally where they would be difficult to build on the ground. The military, too, depends on space for communications, surveillance, and navigation, making it an essential theater for national security reasons. As Jane put it, “Military and commercial reliance on space means any disruption could have catastrophic consequences on Earth.” Satellites, traveling at speeds of 17,000 miles per hour, are highly susceptible to even the smallest disruptions, with almost no options for immediate repair. Any disturbances could trigger far-reaching consequences for the U.S. economy, national security, and everyday life. Space has evolved from a mere domain of exploration to a vital strategic frontier.

2) The unchecked proliferation of space debris threatens to turn Low Earth Orbit into an impassable minefield. The Kessler Effect describes a cascading scenario where collisions between space debris generate more debris, leading to further collisions in an exponential manner. With an estimated 40,000 items of space junk already orbiting the Earth, the risk of such a chain reaction is real. In February 2024, an obsolete Russian satellite missed a U.S. satellite by just 30 feet, and the International Space Station routinely maneuvers to avoid debris. Many satellites, however, do not have the capability to conduct even these small maneuvers once launched into space. Nina warned, “Too much debris in low Earth orbit could make space unusable for generations.” Losing access to LEO would severely limit technological advancement and deeply damage global digital infrastructure. Without coordinated intervention, the consequences will be catastrophic and largely irreversible.

3) The lack of any common rules or management of space is dangerous and unsustainable. Unlike maritime law or air traffic regulations, no universally enforced framework exists to dictate how nations and corporations should manage satellite deployment, collision prevention, or debris mitigation. Although agreements such as the 1967 Outer Space Treaty provide broad principles, they lack enforceability and specificity in addressing modern challenges. As Nina noted, “right now, space is essentially the ‘Wild West’–nations and private companies are launching satellites without any oversight or coordination.” Russia and China have conducted numerous anti-satellite tests, destroying their own satellites with missiles and creating dangerous debris fields. The potential deployment of nuclear weapons to space promises to increase the risk of accidents or even intentional confrontations. Establishing a robust coordination framework, including between rival powers, is essential to prevent reckless actions that could jeopardize space access for all of humanity.

If you’re looking to learn more about Nina and Jane’s work on space policy, check out the CFR task force report that they co-chaired, Securing Space: A Plan for U.S. Action.