I don't think he's saying "I hope a cold war brews so we can get better space exploration!!"

I think he's saying-- well, at least if geopolitical tensions get worse, maybe it will also at least improve space exploration.

> Did you live during the Cold War? I struggle to understand why someone would want to live under that constant existential threat of nuclear annihilation.

Ummm, we still live under that constant existential threat.

He didn't say he wants it. I think he means that times of renewed rivalry and tension are coming whether we want it or not, and he hopes some good can come from it.

Both Russia and the US still have enough nuclear weapons to wipe out much of humanity. All that changed is that we don't live under is the constant reminder of that existential threat.

My father worked on Safeguard. It's unfortunate to think that the last several decades of relative calm might have been temporary.