Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The US and China are locked in a new space race, but what can history teach us? Looking back at the Cold War rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union, we explore how space programs evolve under authoritarian regimes and what drives public fascination with space exploration. How does China’s space ambitions today compare to the Soviet push for the Moon in the 1960s?
Joining us is Dr. Asif Siddiqi, a leading historian of the Soviet space program and Professor at Fordham University. He is the author of Challenge to Apollo: The Soviet Union and the Space Race, 1945-1974, and his research spans global space history, the Stalinist Gulag, and even music culture. His wide-ranging research interests include the Stalinist Gulag (he has a book coming out on that), he has edited a volume on music titled, One-Track Mind: Capitalism, Technology, and the Art of the Pop Song, and he has a book coming out on global space history, especially in South Asia and Africa. Don’t miss this deep dive into space history and the future of global space exploration!
References:
You can find most of Dr. Siddiqi's writings, podcasts, and videos at:
asifsiddiqi.com/work
👨🚀 About the Host:
Dr. Salman Hameed holds a PhD in astronomy and serves as the Charles Taylor Chair and Professor of Integrated Science & Humanities at Hampshire College. He is also a faculty member of the Five College Astronomy Department (FCAD) in Massachusetts, USA. Beyond academia, he is the CEO of Kainaat Studios, a non-profit dedicated to science communication and outreach. 🌌✨
#astronomynews #nasa #sovietunion #spacerace #apollo #history #documentary #podcast #astronomyadventures #astronomy #space #universe #science
Subscribe to our NEW Kids English Channel here: youtube.com/@UCdIRtt8-Og1q99bkK5XBhoQ
Subscribe to our Kids Urdu Channel here: youtube.com/@UCDt7wgStPBzuxtcAf2qqnkg
Subscribe to our Urdu Channel here: youtube.com/@UClJlxaRQLPsx0gPIHgIZffw
For more information about Kainaat Studios:
kainaatstudios.com
Sign up to our mailing list to get unseen content and hear special announcements! kainaatstudios.com/newsletter
Follow us for more:
Facebook facebook.com/kainaatstudios
Twitter twitter.com/KainaatStudios
Instagram instagram.com/kainaatstudios
TikTok tiktok.com/@kainaatstudios
LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/kainaat
Salman Hameed has a PhD in astronomy and is Charles Taylor Chair and Professor of Integrated Science & Humanities at Hampshire College, and a member of the Five College Astronomy Department (FCAD) in Massachusetts, USA. He is also the CEO of the non-profit Kainaat Studios
Credits:
Written & Hosted by: Salman Hameed
Edited by: Shehryar Shaikh
Music: “Kainaat” by Umer Piracha
Subtitles by: DigiCircle
Galactic Orbiters (Founding Supporters):
Sahr Foundation, Dr. Zafar Iqbal & Dr. Mehr Iqbal, Qazi Family Foundation and PixelEdge
Stellar Orbiters:
AIIR Foundation, Ashraf Qazi, Aimen Khan, Slavena Emilova Molle and Abid & Farah Donation Fund
Space Orbiters:
Dr. Abdul Nadir, Dr. Asad Ansari, Dr. Salman Mallick, Dr. Tariq Hameed, Asif Alam, Zubair Faiz, Dr. Kamran Manzoor, Dr. Arsalan Malik and Junaid Qurashi
Thank you to all our other monthly donors as well!
If you wish to donate, please visit: kainaatstudios.com/donate
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
01:12 - Prof. Asif Siddiqi
03:06 - Inauguration Speech
06:40 - Space frontier then and now
09:26 - Soviet frontier philosphy
14:05 - Spiritual and Science
15:48 - Cosmisim
18:00 - Chinese imaginary
23:40 - Science vs Authority
27:35 - Tools of propaganda
29:06 - State and science exploration
34:13 - Science to prison
39:38 - Global Science
47:17 - Space Race in 21st Century
50:26 - State-owned to Private companies
54:31 - For all Mankind
The US and China are locked in a new space race, but what can history teach us? Looking back at the Cold War rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union, we explore how space programs evolve under authoritarian regimes and what drives public fascination with space exploration. How does China’s space ambitions today compare to the Soviet push for the Moon in the 1960s?
Joining us is Dr. Asif Siddiqi, a leading historian of the Soviet space program and Professor at Fordham University. He is the author of Challenge to Apollo: The Soviet Union and the Space Race, 1945-1974, and his research spans global space history, the Stalinist Gulag, and even music culture. His wide-ranging research interests include the Stalinist Gulag (he has a book coming out on that), he has edited a volume on music titled, One-Track Mind: Capitalism, Technology, and the Art of the Pop Song, and he has a book coming out on global space history, especially in South Asia and Africa. Don’t miss this deep dive into space history and the future of global space exploration!
References:
You can find most of Dr. Siddiqi's writings, podcasts, and videos at:
asifsiddiqi.com/work
👨🚀 About the Host:
Dr. Salman Hameed holds a PhD in astronomy and serves as the Charles Taylor Chair and Professor of Integrated Science & Humanities at Hampshire College. He is also a faculty member of the Five College Astronomy Department (FCAD) in Massachusetts, USA. Beyond academia, he is the CEO of Kainaat Studios, a non-profit dedicated to science communication and outreach. 🌌✨
#astronomynews #nasa #sovietunion #spacerace #apollo #history #documentary #podcast #astronomyadventures #astronomy #space #universe #science
Subscribe to our NEW Kids English Channel here: youtube.com/@UCdIRtt8-Og1q99bkK5XBhoQ
Subscribe to our Kids Urdu Channel here: youtube.com/@UCDt7wgStPBzuxtcAf2qqnkg
Subscribe to our Urdu Channel here: youtube.com/@UClJlxaRQLPsx0gPIHgIZffw
For more information about Kainaat Studios:
kainaatstudios.com
Sign up to our mailing list to get unseen content and hear special announcements! kainaatstudios.com/newsletter
Follow us for more:
Facebook facebook.com/kainaatstudios
Twitter twitter.com/KainaatStudios
Instagram instagram.com/kainaatstudios
TikTok tiktok.com/@kainaatstudios
LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/kainaat
Salman Hameed has a PhD in astronomy and is Charles Taylor Chair and Professor of Integrated Science & Humanities at Hampshire College, and a member of the Five College Astronomy Department (FCAD) in Massachusetts, USA. He is also the CEO of the non-profit Kainaat Studios
Credits:
Written & Hosted by: Salman Hameed
Edited by: Shehryar Shaikh
Music: “Kainaat” by Umer Piracha
Subtitles by: DigiCircle
Galactic Orbiters (Founding Supporters):
Sahr Foundation, Dr. Zafar Iqbal & Dr. Mehr Iqbal, Qazi Family Foundation and PixelEdge
Stellar Orbiters:
AIIR Foundation, Ashraf Qazi, Aimen Khan, Slavena Emilova Molle and Abid & Farah Donation Fund
Space Orbiters:
Dr. Abdul Nadir, Dr. Asad Ansari, Dr. Salman Mallick, Dr. Tariq Hameed, Asif Alam, Zubair Faiz, Dr. Kamran Manzoor, Dr. Arsalan Malik and Junaid Qurashi
Thank you to all our other monthly donors as well!
If you wish to donate, please visit: kainaatstudios.com/donate
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction
01:12 - Prof. Asif Siddiqi
03:06 - Inauguration Speech
06:40 - Space frontier then and now
09:26 - Soviet frontier philosphy
14:05 - Spiritual and Science
15:48 - Cosmisim
18:00 - Chinese imaginary
23:40 - Science vs Authority
27:35 - Tools of propaganda
29:06 - State and science exploration
34:13 - Science to prison
39:38 - Global Science
47:17 - Space Race in 21st Century
50:26 - State-owned to Private companies
54:31 - For all Mankind
