Show notes
The Space Show Presents Author & James Van Laak re his book “To See Far - Conflict and Cooperation on the Space Frontier” from Tuesday, April 14, 2026Quick Summary:This was a West Coast Space Show program hosted by David Livingston featuring author Jim Van Laak, who discussed his book “To See Far: Conflict and Cooperation on the Space Frontier.” Jim shared his experiences working on the International Space Station partnership with Russia during the 1990s, emphasizing the challenges of overcoming Cold War tensions and establishing cooperation between former adversaries. The discussion covered NASA’s current challenges, particularly regarding the Artemis program and SpaceX’s Starship development, with Jim expressing concerns about NASA’s lack of complete systems understanding due to the commercial service contract approach. The conversation also touched on broader societal issues, with Jim presenting a proposal about addressing global challenges through systems thinking and suggesting humanity may face significant challenges within 50 years.Detailed SummaryOur Space Show team discussed James’s current role as a senior engineering consultant on the Artemis program, where he expressed concerns about schedule pressure and safety risks. We went on to the introductions where James discussed his book about conflict and cooperation on the space frontier, particularly focusing on his work with the former USSR on the ISS program.James shared his background as a Vietnam War veteran and pilot who later became one of the original seven leaders of the International Space Station (ISS) program in 1993. He discussed the challenges and tensions involved in establishing the cooperative program with Russia, highlighting how the partnership evolved from a survival instinct into genuine respect. When asked about the upcoming de-orbiting of the ISS, James acknowledged the sadness of its retirement but explained that the orbital debris risks make it impractical to keep it operational or reposition it as a museum. David expressed concerns about commercial space stations not matching the safety and redundancy of the ISS.Jim discussed his extensive background in aviation and emphasized the importance of humility in leading the space business, noting that many entrepreneurs lack this characteristic. He shared insights from the Soviet Union era, highlighting the challenges of working with difficult partners and the necessity of cooperation for the success of the space station program. He explained that the partnership with Russia was learned through practical experience rather than formal guidance, and he noted that technical collaboration required learning on the job without diplomatic involvement.Our guest shared his experience working on the Space Station program, particularly highlighting a meaningful meeting with a Russian chief engineer in 1993 where treating the colleague with respect led to a productive collaboration. He explained that while early interactions with Russian colleagues presented challenges, the program eventually developed a collaborative culture that has become normalized across both organizations. Marshall commented on the common challenge in software engineering of developing good solutions but facing difficulty in getting them accepted by others, which James acknowledged as a familiar issue in the space program.Jim talked about his experience working on the Space Station Freedom project, where he identified significant reliability issues with the attitude control system. He found that the probability of the system functioning across a 15-month period was only 35%, with a 65% probability of failure. This concern gained attention during the 1993 redesign when Bill Shepard became the transition program manager, leading to James being brought onto the ISS team to address these issues. James also shared his background in aviation, including a personal experience with an aircraft fire at age 19, which motivated him to understand the causes of machinery failure and human decision-making errors.His experience with NASA over nearly 40 years focused on sharing insights from his book “My Wife’s Creation” about the importance of space exploration. He expressed disappointment with NASA’s current Artemis program, particularly criticizing the lack of historical knowledge and the decision to have humans first experience the Starship during the moon landing mission without proper flight testing protocols. James noted that while some NASA personnel excel at seeing far and considering the larger picture, others tend to be one-trick ponies focused on specific solutions without broader perspective.James discussed the challenges in NASA’s decision-making process, arguing that poor leadership over the past 15 years has led to suboptimal solutions due to a lack of global perspective and systems understanding. He highlighted the issue of handling flammability in the cabin atmosphere as an example of how experts in different fields struggle to coordinate their efforts effectively. James emphasized the need for a systems engineer who can understand the interconnections between technical and human dimensions, rather than having experts who focus only on their specific areas of expertise.The group discussed leadership and management styles, particularly focusing on Elon Musk’s role at SpaceX and James’s experience leading a team of several thousand people during the space station era. James shared insights about his role as a coach and team captain, emphasizing how technical decisions were made collaboratively but ultimately required his final authority. The conversation concluded with David highlighting current external constraints on NASA, including congressional oversight and proposed budget cuts to the science budget, which he noted work against the vision of space exploration for all.Our guest talked about how NASA could better manage constraints and Congress’s role in space programs. He explained that effective NASA leadership is crucial in articulating technical requirements to Congress, who ultimately relies on NASA experts for guidance. The conversation then shifted to analyzing Starship’s compliance with the rocket equation, where James argued that using Starship for lunar missions would involve unnecessary complexity and risk due to its mass ratio requirements. John added that using Starship as a lunar lander may have been more of a political decision than a technical one, and James concluded by highlighting the importance of reliability in spacecraft design, referencing Apollo’s simple ascent engine as an example of effective engineering.James expressed concerns about NASA’s limited understanding of SpaceX’s Starship system due to proprietary information restrictions in the commercial service agreement. He highlighted that NASA’s current level of access and technical mastery is significantly lower compared to previous generations of vehicles, raising questions about the reliability and performance claims. James emphasized that while he supports SpaceX’s efforts, the decision to rely on commercial contractors represents an untested approach in this domain, making the outcome uncertain.The group discussed space technology and engineering approaches, with James sharing his perspective on traditional systems engineering versus newer approaches like SpaceX’s Starship. James agreed to write a review for the Evidence Ledger regarding Starship claims. The conversation shifted to broader societal questions about space exploration’s purpose and value, with James expressing doubt about human society surviving 50 years due to current trends in technology and behavior. The conversation ended with plans for an upcoming radio appearance where Philip and Joe would be guests discussing Artemis and lessons learned.Special thanks to our sponsors:American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223 (Not in service at this time)For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: [email protected] for instructions and access.The Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. 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