Commercial Spaceflight Federation

Commercial Spaceflight Federation

Founded	2005
Type	Non-profit Trade Association
Location	Washington D.C.
Area served	United States
Members	50
Key people	Eric Stallmer (President)
Mission	"To promote the development of commercial human spaceflight, pursue ever higher levels of safety, and share best practices and expertise throughout the industry."[1]
Website	www.commercialspaceflight.org

The Commercial Spaceflight Federation is a private spaceflight industry group, incorporated as an industry association for the purposes of establishing ever higher levels of safety for the commercial human spaceflight industry, sharing best practices and expertise, and promoting the growth of the industry worldwide.^[2][3][4] Issues that the Commercial Spaceflight Federation work on include, but are not limited to, the STIM-Grants program for spaceport infrastructure, FAA regulations and permits, industry safety standards, public outreach, and public advocacy for the commercial space sector.^[5]

History

The Commercial Spaceflight Federation was initially conceived as the Personal Spaceflight Federation (PSF) by a group of leaders in the newly emerging private spaceflight industry in 2005. The goal of the newly created 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."^[6]

On August 22, 2006, the PSF laid out their priorities listing:^[7]

• 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."^[8] The areas the CSF was now representing included:

• Cargo and Crew to the International Space Station
• Flight of private individuals (space tourism)
• Science Research Missions
• Technology Research and Development
• Astronaut Training
• Education and Outreach Activities
• National Security Applications

On August 10, 2009, the CSF announced the creation of the Suborbital Applications Research Group (SARG).^[9] On February 18, 2010, the CSF announced a new research and education affiliates program.^[10]

Members

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."^[9]

Research and Education Affiliates

The Commercial Spaceflight Federation's Research and Education Affiliates program was created on February 18, 2010. The chairman of the CSF when the research and education affiliates program was created, Mark Sirangelo, said that "Researchers, engineers, and educators will be among the primary beneficiaries of the new generation of low-cost commercial spacecraft, as payload opportunities to space start to grow. We’re excited to create a new category of affiliate membership to strengthen the ties between the Commercial Spaceflight Federation and the research and education community."^[10]

See also

• NewSpace

References

1. ↑ "About Us - Commercial Spaceflight Federation". Commercial Spaceflight Federation. CSF. Retrieved 2011-01-27. 
2. ↑ David, Leonard (2005-02-09). "Personal Spaceflight Leaders Eye New Federation". SPACE.com. Retrieved 2009-02-25. 
3. ↑ Boyle, Alan (2005-02-08). "Space racers unite in federation". MSNBC. Retrieved 2009-02-25. 
4. ↑ "Commercial Spaceflight Federation Unveils New Name and New Website" (PDF) (Press release). Commercial Spaceflight Federation. Retrieved 2009-06-27. 
5. ↑ Messier, Doug (April 29, 2010). "Cecil Field Joins Commercial Spaceflight Federation". Parabolic Arc. Retrieved January 28, 2011. 
6. ↑ "Space Entrepreneurs Resolve To Create Industry Group to Promote Safety Standards and Growth of the Personal Spaceflight Industry" (PDF) (Press release). Personal Spaceflight Federation. February 8, 2005. Retrieved January 28, 2011. 
7. ↑ "Personal Spaceflight Federation Announces Future Plans" (PDF) (Press release). Personal Spaceflight Federation. August 22, 2006. Retrieved January 28, 2011. 
8. ↑ "Newly Renamed Commercial Spaceflight Federation Launches New Website" (PDF) (Press release). Commercial Spaceflight Federation. June 15, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2011. 
9. 1 2 "Commercial Spaceflight Federation Creates Scientific Advisory Panel Focused on Suborbital Research Applications" (PDF) (Press release). Commercial Spaceflight Federation. August 10, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2011. 
10. 1 2 "Commercial Spaceflight Federation Announces New Research and Education Affiliates Program, Initial Participating Universities" (PDF) (Press release). Commercial Spaceflight Federation. February 18, 2010. Retrieved January 28, 2011. 
11. ↑ "Member Organizations - Commercial Spaceflight Federation". CSF. Retrieved January 29, 2015. 
12. ↑ "Suborbital Researchers Group (SARG) - Commercial Spaceflight Federation". CSF. Retrieved January 29, 2015. 
13. ↑ "Research and Education Affiliates - Commercial Spaceflight Federation". CSF. Retrieved February 10, 2015. 

External links

• Commercial Spaceflight Federation Website