Award-winning science fiction author and friend of the show Stuart Hardwick returns to share the story behind his latest work, Tales of the United States Space Force and his passion for space defense and storytelling.    Happy WORLD SPACE WEEK! https://www.worldspaceweek.org/  We’re celebrating World Space Week with our partners, Cosmic Girls and their INCREDIBLE Space Competition announcement you DO NOT want to miss:  https://www.cosmicgirls.org/  In this episode, Stuart & Beth discuss the critical importance of space defense and how science fiction plays a role in educating the public about the future of space exploration. Can fictional stories dispel misconceptions about America’s newest military service branch, the United States Space Force? Listen to hear the answer to this question, the challenges of space militarization, the role of satellites in our economy, and why protecting our presence in space is more critical now than ever.   About Stuart Hardwick: Stuart Hardwick is an award-winning science fiction author and editor passionate about blending fiction and fact to bring important topics to light. Having grown up in an Air Force family during the Apollo era, Stuart has always been fascinated by space and its role in shaping our world. His latest project, Tales of the United States Space Force, is a groundbreaking anthology that combines science fiction stories with factual articles to illustrate the need for space defense while dispelling myths about the Space Force. His work reminds listeners and readers alike that space is vital to our economy and everyday life—and must be defended.    Learn more and get a free ebook sampler at:  www.cStuartHardwick.com   If you enjoyed this episode and would like to share, I’d love to hear it!    You can follow and share in the socials,  LinkedIn - @casualspacepodcast Facebook - @casualspacepodcast Instagram - @casualspacepodcast YouTube - @casualspacepodcast83 or email me at beth@casualspacepodcast.com.   *Remember!!! You can send your story to space TODAY! The window for STORIES of Space Mission 03 is NOW OPEN! Send your story, for free, to www.storiesofspace.com