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SPACE GREED

20 episodes 94%4KCC

Who will control the rules, resources, and risks of space?

This series examines the scramble to profit from space, from Mars law and asteroid defense to orbital industry, research stations, and self-sustaining colonies. Along the way, you will uncover the science, economics, and political tensions shaping humanity's future beyond Earth. Sign up to see how today's ambitions could redefine life in the cosmos.

Episode guide

20 episodes
1
1Declaring Martian Law
Space is home to crucial resources, important discoveries, and big potential profit. But will outer space become a place where billionaires and mega-corporations operate above and out of the reach of the law?
11 min
2
2Sol Ownership: Can A Corporation Own The Sun?
Human needs have always created opportunities for human greed. And energy might be the most crucial need of all. What if one day an ambitious corporation was able to control the sun, would we end up paying a subscription fee for sunlight?
12 min
3
3Terraforming: Can We Build A Planet B?
Once we’ve managed to get a handle on building structures to help us live on the harsh, dangerous surfaces of other celestial bodies -- why stop there? What’s to stop us from trying to change entire planets to suit our needs?
11 min
4
4Carbon Costs: Is Space Exploration Even Worth It?
There are only a handful of rocket launches every year. But that’s going to change. And each rocket that gets fired off has an impact on the atmosphere. Will Earth be able to survive hundreds, or even thousands, of fuel-burning rocket launches every year?
11 min
5
5Looting The Moon For Trillions of Dollars
The moon is rich in rare earths, metals, and the highly sought-after isotope -- Helium 3. With NASA planning to make a manned return trip to the moon by 2024, how long until some giant corporation turns moon dust into a cosmic-sized payday?
11 min
6
6Space Cowboys: Who Will Wrangle Asteroids And Save The Earth?
It happened once and it took out the dinosaurs and it’s only a matter of time before it happens again. The next time another huge space rock jeopardizes Earth, will private space companies and their advanced, expensive, and reusable spacecraft be enough to save the day?
12 min
7
7Endangered Aliens: Will Humans Trash Space?
Sci-Fi has always shocked audiences with images of powerful aliens invading and destroying Earth. But as we set out to explore the universe ourselves, what if WE are actually the invasive alien species?
11 min
8
8Asteroid Mining: Is The Next Gold Rush in Space?
We're going to run out of crucial resources and materials. It’s only a matter of time. The asteroids flying through our solar system contain tons and tons of precious metals, stones, and more. Are the astronomical profits from mining asteroids all hype?
11 min
9
9Arming Space Force
We’ve come a long way from the paranoia and fears of the Cold War but the prospect of war in space is still real. In this episode, we explore all the ways in which wars in space might be fought and who stands to make a pretty penny developing space-age weaponry.
12 min
10
10Above The Law
For the first 50 years of spaceflight, most nations broadly agreed that space was our common heritage, that it belonged to everybody. But with ambitious entrepreneurs and big potential paydays on the horizon, the next 50 years will be a complicated legal problem to solve.
11 min
11
11Toxic Space Factories
Some billionaires have suggested that moving toxic or pollution-heavy industries to space is a potential means of protecting our fragile planet. But is that even a viable solution in the short term?
12 min
12
12Suing Our Way To Space
Cowboy hat-wearing billionaires have noble reasons for their multi-billion dollar investment in space exploration but it’s hard to ignore how much money they stand to make.
12 min
13
13Will Satellites Help Us Save or Exploit Earth?
Our long-term survival on this planet depends on advanced satellites keeping us connected and keeping an eye on the Earth from orbit. The unique perspective offered by satellites allows us to track the weather and find hidden freshwater and other crucial resources.
15 min
14
14Space Pirates
Between advanced satellites and tons of precious resources the future of space exploration looks to be highly profitable. But as space entrepreneurs lead the charge into space will the historically collaborative nature of space exploration ever shift into something more cutthroat?
12 min
15
15Mad Scientists In Outer Space
The unique properties of space make it ideal for some world-changing and unique scientific experiments. Every project, experiment, and mission carried out up there has the potential to advance human development.
11 min
16
16Space As A Tax Haven
The Panama Papers, offshore banking, Swiss Banks, Dubai. For the ultra-wealthy, one of the most fun parts of making money is avoiding taxes on it. Whether it's mining asteroids or making rockets to reach them, space could be an astronomical payday. But will all that profit slip by tax free?
12 min
17
17Traveling So Fast Time Slows Down
As private space entrepreneurs develop super-fast propulsion systems, it might one day be possible for a corporation to take full advantage of the time-bending science of special relativity.
15 min
18
18Space & Shelter
Resources are tight in space. Everything that goes up there has mass and therefore a cost. That kind of restriction has inspired scientists to develop super-efficient living quarters for astronauts.
13 min
19
19World Wide Wifi
The internet changed the world when it connected people around the globe. But today, in many parts of the world a strong, stable internet connection is still a luxury. Several space entrepreneurs and giant corporations are developing advanced networks of satellites.
13 min
20
20Strange Space Recipes
Scientists are developing strange, cutting-edge ways to use naturally occurring resources like space rocks and astronaut blood to make deep space missions or long-term space colonies possible.
14 min
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