Just over 50 years ago, the first satellite was spun into orbit. Space filled us with optimism and awe. But were we just staking out a new war zone? Today, 1000 active satellites are circling the earth. By shutting down a few of them, the infrastructure of an entire country can be paralyzed. For the United States, "full spectrum dominance" — control of land, sea, air and space — is still the goal of some within the Defense Department.

With unprecedented access to present and former US military personnel, and insights from anti-weapons activists, as well as military analysts, Masters of Space explores this "new arena for war." Follow the saga of the emerging competition between the major industrial nations to control space.