Spy Games in Space: Is a New Cold War Being Fought Above Our Heads?

The space race didn’t end with Apollo. It just changed rivals. This Space Week, the podcast dives into the new contest playing out far above our heads — between the United States and China. Billions are being poured into rockets, satellites and lunar missions, but behind the dazzling science is a darker reality: allegations of spying, stolen technology and military ambitions that could decide who controls the future of space. NASA has barred Chinese nationals from its facilities citing security fears, while Beijing accuses “foreign agents” of targeting its scientists. At the same time, both sides are racing for the Moon, not just to plant a flag, but to secure resources and set the rules for decades to come. Is this really about exploration, or are we witnessing the early moves in a new Cold War in orbit? And what role does Europe play as NASA’s partner but also as an ambitious space power in its own right? Ciara Doherty is joined by Dr Mark Hilborne, Senior Lecturer in the School of Security Studies at King’s College London and a lecturer on the Irish Defence Forces’ Advanced Command Staff Course, to discuss espionage fears, Moon ambitions, and the risks of turning space into the next battlefield. Want to feed back on the episode or suggest future topics? Email us at [email protected].