Dr. Bhavya Lal

<p>In this episode, we sit down with <strong>Dr. Bhavya Lal</strong>, space policy leader, MIT alum, PhD from George Washington University, and recipient of NASA’s Distinguished Service Medal. After serving in senior leadership at NASA, Dr. Lal returned to RAND: School of Policy to continue shaping the conversation on national space strategy.</p><p>Our discussion spans some of the most urgent issues in space today: the growing <strong>orbital debris problem</strong>, the need for a <strong>shared global dataset</strong>, and the tension between America’s <strong>resources and ambitions</strong> in space. She emphasizes why <strong>strategic coherence</strong> and bipartisan commitment are essential for credibility and long-term success.</p><p>We also talk about the power of books to shape perspective, highlighting George R. Stewart’s <em>Earth Abides</em> — a life-changing novel that offers an “anti-history” of collapse and resilience, and what it teaches us about humanity’s fragile place on the <strong>cosmic shore</strong>.</p><p><br /></p>