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Why NASA Hired a Chief Economist - Odd Lots
Mar 31, 2026 Odd Lots
This week, NASA is scheduled to launch Artemis II, a mission that will send astronauts around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. But this comes at a time when the space agency is facing some pretty big funding challenges, as well as growing competition with private players like SpaceX. In this episode, we speak with Alexander MacDonald, who served as NASA's first chief economist and is now a senior associate at the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS. We talk about why the space agency had economists, how space exploration is funded, and how NASA measures its own economic impact. Please note, this episode was recorded March 10.
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Opening Discussion on Space Economy
00:00:57 - Podcast Introduction
00:04:00 - What Does NASA's Chief Economist Do?
00:06:08 - McDonald's Background and Path to NASA
00:09:15 - Historical Transition from Private to Government Funding
00:13:05 - End of Space Shuttle Program
00:16:28 - NASA Budget History and Strategy
00:22:09 - Economic Rationale for Space Exploration
00:25:41 - Lunar Economy vs Low Earth Orbit Economy
00:29:15 - Orbital Data Centers Discussion
00:32:08 - Space Elevators and Technology Evaluation
00:35:45 - Artemis Program Timeline
00:38:11 - Mars Colonization Discussion
00:42:08 - Public vs Private Space Investment
00:44:46 - Lunar Territory and International Law
00:47:33 - Conclusion and Alien Invasion Economics
This week, NASA is scheduled to launch Artemis II, a mission that will send astronauts around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. But this comes at a time when the space agency is facing some pretty big funding challenges, as well as growing competition with private players like SpaceX. In this episode, we speak with Alexander MacDonald, who served as NASA's first chief economist and is now a senior associate at the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS. We talk about why the space agency had economists, how space exploration is funded, and how NASA measures its own economic impact. Please note, this episode was recorded March 10.
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Opening Discussion on Space Economy
00:00:57 - Podcast Introduction
00:04:00 - What Does NASA's Chief Economist Do?
00:06:08 - McDonald's Background and Path to NASA
00:09:15 - Historical Transition from Private to Government Funding
00:13:05 - End of Space Shuttle Program
00:16:28 - NASA Budget History and Strategy
00:22:09 - Economic Rationale for Space Exploration
00:25:41 - Lunar Economy vs Low Earth Orbit Economy
00:29:15 - Orbital Data Centers Discussion
00:32:08 - Space Elevators and Technology Evaluation
00:35:45 - Artemis Program Timeline
00:38:11 - Mars Colonization Discussion
00:42:08 - Public vs Private Space Investment
00:44:46 - Lunar Territory and International Law
00:47:33 - Conclusion and Alien Invasion Economics