Bleddyn E. Bowen - Original Sin: Power, Technology and War in Outer Space

The perspective on space Bowen brings is meant toand doeschallenge the reader. There is much of value here to chew on, and any serious space power student or practitioner needs to pay careful attention to his arguments.

Everett Dolman, Professor of Comparative Military Studies and Strategy,
US Air Forces Air Command and Staff College, and author of Astropolitik

This book sets out to describe how the militarisation of space is not a new policy issue or trend in world politics, but a long-established historical fact and present reality. Original and compelling, this will be of interest to anyone seeking a history of technologys role in space strategy.

John J. Klein, author of Understanding Space Strategy

A fresh, timely and detailed account of the military-political origins of spacepower and the future of warfare in space.

Deganit Paikowsky, author of The Power of the Space Club

Bowen persuasively demonstrates that space technology is the outcome of war, and driven by military applications. By exposing the hidden face of space, this book makes a critical intervention towards a peaceful world.

Alice Gorman, author of Dr Space Junkvs the Universe

Original Sinmakes the valid argument that, far from us existing in a new space race, the history of space exploration has always been about power, politics, political economy and the pursuit of national interests on the global stage. A satisfying and insightful read from a deeply knowledgeable expert.

Tim Stevens, Senior Lecturer in Global Security and head of the
Kings Cyber Security Research Group, Kings College London

Just as space security is becoming more urgent, Bleddyn Bowen has delivered a remarkable account of the seventy-year-long militarised Global Space Age. Original Sinscompelling narrative will be of great interest to scholars of military strategy, Cold War historians, and policymakers.

Aaron Bateman, Assistant Professor of History and International Affairs,
George Washington University

ORIGINAL SIN

BLEDDYN E. BOWEN

Original Sin

Power, Technology and War
in Outer Space

HURST & COMPANY, LONDON

First published in the United Kingdom in 2022 by
C. Hurst & Co. (Publishers) Ltd.,
New Wing, Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA
Bleddyn E. Bowen, 2022
All rights reserved.

The right of Bleddyn E. Bowen to be identified as the author of this publication is asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

A Cataloguing-in-Publication data record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN: 9781787387775

This book is printed using paper from registered sustainable and managed sources.

www.hurstpublishers.com

I Dad, Mary, Vanessa, ac Alwyn

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us.

1 John, 1:8, World English Bible

CONTENTS

PART I
THE ORIGINAL SIN OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY

PART II
THE MATURATION OF SPACEPOWER

PART III
STRATEGY IN THE GLOBAL SPACE AGE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

No book exists in a social and intellectual vacuum, despite the isolating effects of a pandemic. I have drawn upon the help, support, and knowledge of many people throughout the research and writing of this book. In particular, a massive thanks to Aaron Bateman at the Space Policy Institute, George Washington University, who reviewed most of the book and provided excellent insights, reading suggestions, and information across several areas. Special thanks to Cameron Hunter and Andrew Futter, both friends and colleagues at the School of History, Politics, and International Relations (HyPIR) at the University of Leicester who re-viewed parts of the book and also served as reliable touchstones for ideas, arguments, insights from their areas of expertise, and general support in other ways, involving the pub when pandemic restrictions allowed! Thanks also to HyPIR for institutional support with production requirements at the end of the publishing process.