About CSF
At CSF, we promote the development of commercial human spaceflight, pursue ever-higher levels of safety, and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Our Mission
Advocate for support and investment in the U.S. commercial space industry to unleash growth and ensure we maintain our leadership position in space to foster economic and national security.
Guiding Principles:
The U.S. Government should rely to the maximum practicable extent on the domestic commercial space industry. The DoD, Intel and civilian agencies should look to integrate commercial solutions instead of building their own capabilities to compete with commercial.
Integrate commercial solutions into the architecture rather than augment
Invest and promote in a healthy and competitive space industrial base, including new technologies and space start-ups
Steady and consistent and sufficient funding for space programs
The U.S. Government must become a smarter buyer of commercial space solutions by;
Promoting full and open competition and using commercial contract vehicles and procurement options appropriately having stable, transparent, and predictable requirements
Sending industry consistent demand signals
Multi-year contracting and funding mechanisms including firm-fixed price contract vehicles
The U.S. Government must reduce or eliminate unnecessary and counterproductive regulation of the commercial space industry to unleash growth and maintain leadership by;
Being thoughtful and intentional about what regulations are needed/not needed
Providing certainty and increasing stability, transparency and predictability
Eliminating duplication of regulations/regulatory bodies
Clearly delineating the roles and responsibilities of each Federal Agency regarding commercial space regulation
Legislative and Regulatory Work
CSF works closely with the White House, including the National Space Council and the Office of Management and Budget, to help inform the development and implementation of policy priorities, including budget requests and Space Policy Directives. CSF President Karina Drees is currently the Co-Chair of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) COMSTAC, and CSF staff members also serve on other advisory committees for the FAA and NASA.
CSF continues to work with the U.S. Congress to get commercial space policy and programmatic priorities authorized and funded in authorization and appropriations bills. Members of Congress trust CSF’s expertise and have called CSF Presidents to testify at a total of four hearings in the last
three years. CSF’s most recent testimony was before the Subcommittee on Space and Science of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation regarding “Space Situational Awareness, Space Traffic Management, and Orbital Debris: Examining Solutions for Emerging Threats.”
CSF educates congressional players on commercial space issues that will impact the industry both today and in the long-term. We continuously work with congressional offices to develop, shape, and advance legislation that helps the commercial space industry and promotes competition. CSF is committed to educating incoming members about commercial space policies and proposed laws, as well as sharing information about legislation being considered by Congress.
In addition, CSF regularly engages with government agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration and the Departments of State and Commerce, to promote regulatory frameworks which ensure safety and efficiency while providing for industry innovation. CSF’s comments on proposed rulemakings and requests for information have been critical to shaping regulatory products across the federal government.
Our member companies continue to achieve ever higher safety standards. CSF is currently formalizing industry standards through working with the standard development organization ASTM International. Through ASTM, CSF and its member companies published two industry-consensus, performance-based standards and expect to publish many more in the coming years.
Industry Work
We have expanded our membership to 90 commercial space companies and education institutions, thus giving each of those organizations a unified presence under CSF. Through smart expansion, CSF empowers the industry’s voice without dulling its message.
CSF hosts the annual Commercial Space Transportation Conference in conjunction with the FAA and the Office of Space Commerce. The two-day event consists of panels, speakers, and networking events that work to inform and discuss the most pressing issues within the commercial space industry. CSF also works with members and other trade associations to hold events on a regular basis, including the Executive Leadership Forum, a quarterly breakfast featuring members of Congress and leaders in industry.
We promote the commercial spaceflight industry through traditional media and an active social media presence. The organization is a recognized and trusted resource for media and a well-respected thought leader. CSF is consistently quoted in a wide range of media including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Reuters, Associated Press, BBC, MSNBC, Orlando Sentinel, Florida Today, Space News, Aviation Week, and many other international, national, and trade publications.
CSF increases awareness of the potential of suborbital vehicles through the Space Applications Research Group (SARG). Members of SARG convene with both congressional staff members and NASA officials to discuss topics such as space science, suborbital human-tended research, STEM education engagement, and technology development on new platforms.
CSF works to engage students and young professionals in the commercial space industry. In memory of Patti Grace Smith, CSF has established the Patti Grace Smith Scholarship Program to honor her legacy and encourage recipients to become future leaders in the commercial space industry. We do this by providing top-executive mentorship awards, all-inclusive industry conference passes, premier educational advancement scholarships, hands-on commercial spaceflight training, and real-world commercial spaceflight VIP experiences.
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Image courtesy: SpaceX