The Commercial Spaceflight Federation is a

private spaceflight Private spaceflight is any spaceflight development that is not conducted by a government agency, such as NASA or ESA. During the early decades of the Space Age, the government space agencies of the Soviet Union and United States pionee ...

industry group, incorporated as an industry association for the purposes of establishing ever higher levels of safety for the commercial

human spaceflight Human spaceflight (also referred to as manned spaceflight or crewed spaceflight) is spaceflight with a crew or passengers aboard a spacecraft, often with the spacecraft being operated directly by the onboard human crew. Spacecraft can also be ...

industry, sharing best practices and expertise, and promoting the growth of the industry worldwide. Issues that the Commercial Spaceflight Federation works on include, but are not limited to, airspace issues, FAA regulations and permits, industry safety standards, public outreach, and public advocacy for the commercial space sector.

History

In 2005, Peter Diamandis and John Gedmark from the X Prize Foundation convened a group of leaders in the emerging personal spaceflight industry, held at SpaceX's headquarters in El Segundo, California. Attendees at the meeting included SpaceX CEO

Elon Musk Elon Reeve Musk ( ; born June 28, 1971) is a businessman. He is known for his leadership of Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk has been considered the wealthiest person in th ...

Virgin Galactic Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. is a British-American spaceflight company founded by Richard Branson and the Virgin Group conglomerate, which retains an 11.9% stake through Virgin Investments Limited. It is headquartered in California, and opera ...

's Alex Tai, aviation pioneer

Burt Rutan Elbert Leander "Burt" Rutan (; born June 17, 1943) is a retired American aerospace engineer and entrepreneur noted for his originality in designing light, strong, unusual-looking, and energy-efficient air and space craft. He designed the recor ...

, businessman Robert Bigelow, and entrepreneur

John Carmack John D. Carmack II (born August 21, 1970) is an American computer programmer and video game developer. He co-founded the video game company id Software and was the lead programmer of its 1990s games ''Commander Keen'', ''Wolfenstein 3D'', ''Do ...

. The goal of what was then called the Personal Spaceflight Federation was to "design and uphold the standards and processes necessary to ensure public safety and promote growth of the personal spaceflight industry." On August 22, 2006, the PSF laid out their priorities as: :*Member Coordination :*Government Interface :**Both with Congress and other federal agencies in order "to develop a legal and regulatory environment supportive of the growth of the human spaceflight industry." :*Safety in spaceport operations, crew and passenger training, and vehicle manufacture, operations, and maintenance :**Safety was highlighted as the most important concern for the PSF because safety was the common link between all the member companies :*Insurance :*Public Relations On June 15, 2008, the Personal Spaceflight Federation announced a new website and a new name—the Commercial Spaceflight Federation—to emphasize "the diverse business activities of the commercial human spaceflight industry." The areas the CSF now represented include: :* Cargo and crew to the International Space Station :* Flight of private individuals (

space tourism Space tourism is human space travel for recreational purposes. There are several different types of space tourism, including orbital, suborbital and lunar space tourism. Tourists are motivated by the possibility of viewing Earth from space, ...

) :*Science Research Missions :*Technology Research and Development :* Astronaut training :*Education and Outreach Activities :* National Security Applications On August 10, 2009, CSF announced the creation of the Suborbital Applications Research Group (SARG). On February 18, 2010, the CSF announced a new research and education affiliates program. United Launch Alliance joined in 2010, followed by

Boeing The Boeing Company, or simply Boeing (), is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product support s ...

's membership in 2013, but both left by 2014. The X Prize Foundation left by around 2016. CSF has hosted the CST Commercial Space Transportation Conference in partnership with the FAA since 2017.

Lobbying efforts

* The Commercial Spaceflight Federation lobbied for passage of the 2015 Commercial Space Bill. * Former Commercial Spaceflight Federation President Eric Stallmer testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Space, and Competitiveness on February 24, 2015 * Former CSF President Eric Stallmer testified alongside Elliot Pullham, CEO of the

Space Foundation The Space Foundation is an American nonprofit organization, the mission of which is to advocate for all sectors of the global space industry through space awareness activities, educational programs, and major industry events. It was founded in ...

at a House Science, Space and Technology hearing on April 19, 2016 * CSF opposed the sale of excess ICBMs for use in space launch. * Eric Stallmer testified for the House's Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee in a hearing titled "The ISS After 2024: Options and Impacts." on March 22, 2017 * The Commercial Spaceflight Federation hosted a cocktail party for members of the National Space Council, including Vice President Pence, in February 2018. * A week before the 50th anniversary of

Apollo 11 Apollo 11 was a spaceflight conducted from July 16 to 24, 1969, by the United States and launched by NASA. It marked the first time that humans Moon landing, landed on the Moon. Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module pilot Buzz Aldrin l ...

, Eric Stallmer testified before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee with Apollo 11 & 13 flight director Gene Kranz, former

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...

engineer and author of Rocket Boys, Homer Hickam, former

mathematician Christine Darden, and CEO of the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration Mary Lynne Dittmar on July 9, 2019 * Eric Stallmer testified before the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee in a hearing on

's ISS plans on July 10, 2019 * Karina Drees testified before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee titled "Space Situational Awareness, Space Traffic Management, and Orbital Debris: Examining Solutions for Emerging Threats" on July 22, 2021. * Karina Drees testified before the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee in a hearing titled "Continuing U.S. Leadership in Commercial Space at Home and Abroad" on July 13, 2023.

Committees and Working Groups

The Commercial Spaceflight Federation has two organizing committees as well as several working groups composed of their members and staff that are working to address the most pressing issues facing the industry. Participation in these committees is open to Executive and Associate members.

Legislative

The Legislative Committee works to secure funding for civil space activities,

, the

Office of Space Commerce The Office of Space Commerce (OSC) is an office within National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration which is part of the United States Department of Commerce. It is currently one of several offices within the department that are responsibl ...

, and FAA's

Office of Commercial Space Transportation The Office of Commercial Space Transportation (generally referred to as FAA/AST or simply AST) is the branch of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that approves any commercial rocket launch operations — that is, any lau ...

(AST). Additionally, it seeks to work with congressional offices and committees to implement programmatic and language requests that establish and benefit programs that utilize commercial industry.

Regulatory

CSF's Regulatory Committee collaborates to prepare information for and present a united position to regulators across the USG, ensuring that regulation does not needlessly hinder the advancement of the commercial space industry. To this end, the Regulatory Committee ensures that commercial perspectives are included in the regulation and standards development process to ensure the safety of

spaceflight participants Spaceflight (or space flight) is an application of astronautics to fly objects, usually spacecraft, into or through outer space, either with or without humans on board. Most spaceflight is uncrewed and conducted mainly with spacecraft such a ...

and provide the FAA and FCC with means of compliance. The Committee also works with industry experts from a variety of government agencies (including The Departments of State and

Commerce Commerce is the organized Complex system, system of activities, functions, procedures and institutions that directly or indirectly contribute to the smooth, unhindered large-scale exchange (distribution through Financial transaction, transactiona ...

) to promote modernization of Export Control policy and procedures in regards to the commercial space industry. The committee aims to assist American companies to remain competitive leaders in the global market and to advance innovation and technology overall. The committee also serves as a point of reference for adherence to current legislation and policy.

Spaceports

The Commercial Spaceflight Federation's

Spaceport A spaceport or cosmodrome is a site for launching or receiving spacecraft, by analogy to a seaport for ships or an airport for aircraft. The word ''spaceport''—and even more so ''cosmodrome''—has traditionally referred to sites capable of ...

s Working Group focuses on a wide variety of issues facing the

spaceport A spaceport or cosmodrome is a site for launching or receiving spacecraft, by analogy to a seaport for ships or an airport for aircraft. The word ''spaceport''—and even more so ''cosmodrome''—has traditionally referred to sites capable of ...

community including environmental, infrastructure, and regulatory topics, as well as seeking to encourage and fund programs to support spaceports.

Membership

CSF members are responsible for the creation of thousands of high-tech jobs. Members include over 85 industry organizations involved in commercial spaceflight and private spaceflight, often referred to as new space. There are four tiers of CSF membership, with each having different requirements and perks. The highest tier is Executive Membership, which is generally reserved for commercial spaceflight developers, operators, and

s. Below Executive members are Associate Members, which is composed of suppliers supporting commercial spaceflight, with recent members including suppliers of mission support services and suppliers of training, medical and life-support products and services. The third tier of membership is called Research and Education Affiliates (REM for short), and this tier is occupied by

Universities A university () is an educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...

, educational and student nonprofits, and other research and education institutions. The fourth tier of CSF membership is the Patrons Program. This tier is distinct from the rest in the sense that it is composed of individuals rather than corporate entities.

Executive Members

Executive Membership is the highest level of membership offered at the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. At this level, members have an exclusive seat on the CSF Board of Directors.

Current List of Executive Members

(Updated November 30, 2024): *

Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public university, public research university in Tempe, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 as Territorial Normal School by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, the university is o ...

* Axiom Space *

Blue Origin Blue Origin Enterprises, L.P. is an American space technology company headquartered in Kent, Washington. The company operates the suborbital New Shepard rocket and the heavy-lift New Glenn rocket. In addition to producing engines for its own ...

* Cecil Field Spaceport (

Jacksonville Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...

) * ISS National Laboratory *

Maxar Technologies Maxar Technologies Inc. is an American space technology company headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, United States, specializing in geospatial intelligence, Earth observation, and on-orbit servicing satellites, satellite products, and relate ...

* Midland International Air & Space Port *

Planet A planet is a large, Hydrostatic equilibrium, rounded Astronomical object, astronomical body that is generally required to be in orbit around a star, stellar remnant, or brown dwarf, and is not one itself. The Solar System has eight planets b ...

* Redwire * Relativity Space *

Rocket Lab Rocket Lab Corporation is a Public company, publicly traded aerospace manufacturer and List of launch service providers, launch service provider. Its Rocket Lab Electron, Electron orbital rocket launches Small satellite, small satellites, and ha ...

* Sierra Space * Southwest Research Institute * Space Florida * Stoke Space *

SpaceX Space Exploration Technologies Corp., commonly referred to as SpaceX, is an America, American space technology company headquartered at the SpaceX Starbase, Starbase development site in Starbase, Texas. Since its founding in 2002, the compa ...

* Voyager Space Holdings * World View Enterprises

Associate Members

The second highest tier, Associate members are invited to participate on CSF committees and working groups.

Current List of Associate Members

(Updated November 30, 2024): * Advanced Space * Aerostar * Aetherflux * Alaska Aerospace Corporation *

Amazon Amazon most often refers to: * Amazon River, in South America * Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin * Amazon (company), an American multinational technology company * Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek myth ...

(

Kuiper Systems Kuiper Systems LLC, commonly known as Project Kuiper, is a subsidiary of Amazon that was established in 2019 to deploy a large satellite internet constellation to provide low- latency broadband connectivity. The name Kuiper was a company coden ...

) * Astranis Space Technologies * Arctos * AST Space Mobile * Barrios Technology * Cesium Astro * Colorado Air and Space Port * COMSPOC * Firefly Aerospace * Gravitics * HawkEye 360 *

Houston Airport System Houston Airport System (HAS) is a department of the Houston, City of Houston, Texas, United States that manages city airports. Its administrative offices are on the property of George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

* Interlune * ispace Inc. * Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory * LeoLabs * Mead and Hunt * RS&H * Space Tango * Spaceport America * Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority * Varda Space Industries * Vast

Research and Education Affiliates

The Research and Education Affiliates is primarily for "Researchers, engineers, and educators."

Current list of research and education affiliates

(Updated November 30, 2024): * American Society for Gravitational and Space Research * Association of Spaceflight Professionals *

Baylor College of Medicine The Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) is a private medical school in Houston, Texas, United States. Originally as the Baylor University College of Medicine from 1903 to 1969, the college became independent with the current name and has been se ...

* Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine * Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University * Florida Institute of Technology *

Florida State University Florida State University (FSU or Florida State) is a Public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preeminent university in the s ...

* The Museum of Flight * High Speed Flight * National Institute for Aviation Research * New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology *

New Mexico State University New Mexico State University (NMSU or NM State) is a public, land-grant, research university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States. Founded in 1888, it is the state's oldest public institution of higher education, and was the original land-g ...

Purdue University Purdue University is a Public university#United States, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, United States, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded ...

* Silicon Valley Space Center * Sovaris Aerospace, LLC * Stanford Aeronautics & Astronautics * STARS at

Carnegie Mellon Carnegie may refer to: People *Carnegie (surname), including a list of people with the name **Andrew Carnegie, Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist * Clan Carnegie, a lowland Scottish clan Institutions Named for Andrew Carnegie * ...

University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it ...

University of Central Florida The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public university, public research university with its main campus in unincorporated area, unincorporated Orange County, Florida, United States. It is part of the State University System of Florida. ...

University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preem ...

University of North Dakota The University of North Dakota (UND) is a Public university, public research university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States. It was established by the Dakota Territory, Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishm ...

University of Texas Medical Branch The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) is a Public university, public Academic health science centre, academic health science center in Galveston, Texas, United States. It is part of the University of Texas System. UTMB includes the olde ...

Patrons Program

The Patron Program is unique in that it allows for individual membership, unlike other membership categories, which are reserved for corporations, and organizations.

Suborbital Applications Researchers Group

The Suborbital Applications Researchers Group (SARG) was created on August 10, 2009, to "increase awareness of commercial suborbital vehicles in the science and R&D communities, to work with policymakers to ensure that payloads can have easy access to these vehicles, and to further develop ideas for the uses of these vehicles for science, engineering, and education missions."

References

External links

Commercial Spaceflight Federation Website
{{Politics of outer space Space organizations Commercial spaceflight Private spaceflight Aviation trade associations