What Coalition for Deep Space Exploration does

The Coalition for Deep Space Exploration (CDSE) is a Washington, D.C.-based, privately held non-profit industry advocacy organization representing more than 50 space-industry businesses. The coalition's core function is to serve as the unified industry voice advocating for sustained U.S. leadership in human space exploration, deep space science, and space technology, primarily by engaging Congress, NASA, and other federal stakeholders in support of programs including the Artemis missions, the Space Launch System (SLS), the Orion spacecraft, Human Landing Systems, and the Lunar Gateway. CDSE is led by President and CEO Allen Cutler, with governance provided by a Board of Directors drawn from member companies.

CDSE's product surface consists of information and advocacy services rather than commercial technology products. These include the Deep Space Extra daily newsletter, the Deep Space Podcast, the CDSE Blog, official Coalition Statements on industry and policy matters, a Policy Documents library covering topics such as Artemis Accords, NASA funding, nuclear energy for space, and space resources, an Artemis Resources mission-information hub, and a gated Congressional Space Studies Series for members. A password-protected member digital toolkit distributes strategic communications resources, policy documents, and coalition archives. There is no proprietary technology stack, software platform, AI/ML capability, or patent portfolio disclosed; the coalition's outputs are editorial, policy, and communications in nature.

CDSE's business model is membership-dues based and recurring. The coalition generates revenue from tiered membership fees paid by its 50+ space-industry member companies, offering different membership levels and recruiting new members through its website, industry events, and policy outreach. Membership pricing is not publicly disclosed; contact for enrollment is handled through Barbara Stacey. CDSE does not have external investors, subsidiaries, or funding rounds — it is member-funded and Board-governed. The organization operates from a single headquarters at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Suite 200, Washington D.C., chosen for proximity to policy-making centers, and does not maintain geographic operations outside the United States.

Name

Coalition for Deep Space Exploration

Legal name

Coalition for Deep Space Exploration

Website

https://exploredeepspace.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Coalition for Deep Space Exploration is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit advocacy coalition representing 50+ space-industry businesses, lobbying Congress and NASA in support of Artemis, SLS, Orion, and Lunar Gateway programs through member dues-funded policy engagement and content services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CDSE is funded through membership dues from over 50 space industry businesses and stakeholders. The coalition offers different membership levels and provides members with access to a digital toolkit, policy documents, strategic communications resources, and representation in Washington D.C. policy advocacy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CDSE is a Washington D.C.-based national industry advocacy coalition representing more than 50 space industry businesses. It advocates for sustained U.S. human space exploration, deep space science, and space technology leadership by engaging Congress, NASA, and federal agencies in support of programs including Artemis, SLS, Orion, Human Landing Systems, and Lunar Gateway. Members receive a digital toolkit, policy documents, strategic communications resources, daily newsletters, and a podcast.

Product overview

The Coalition for Deep Space Exploration is a membership-based industry advocacy organization, not a technology product company. It offers informational and advocacy services including the Deep Space Extra daily newsletter, Deep Space Podcast, policy documents, coalition statements, a blog, Artemis mission resources, and Congressional Space Studies Series. These are advocacy, communications, and educational offerings for space industry stakeholders rather than commercial technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CDSE Membership Tiered membership program for space industry businesses and stakeholders, providing access to a members-only digital toolkit, policy documents, strategic communications resources, and direct advocacy representation to Congress, NASA, and federal agencies.
• Members-Only Digital Toolkit A password-protected member portal providing access to policy documents, strategic communications resources, ARTEMIS Supplier Insider content, and coalition archives for CDSE member companies.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDSE advocates in support of NASA programs including the Artemis missions, SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, Human Landing Systems, and Lunar Gateway. The coalition works closely with NASA to advance U.S. human spaceflight objectives.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Commercial Spaceflight Federation: Advocacy organization for the commercial spaceflight industry, representing companies developing vehicles and services for human spaceflight. Directly comparable to CDSE in mission and Washington-based advocacy model, though with stronger commercial-sector orientation.
• Aerospace Industries Association: U.S. trade association representing the aerospace and defense industry, including major primes and suppliers. Closely comparable to CDSE as a Washington D.C.-based industry advocacy body with overlapping member companies and shared policy priorities around NASA and defense spending.
• Satellite Industry Association: U.S.-based trade association representing the commercial satellite industry. Comparable as a Washington D.C. space industry advocacy body with a member-funded model and federal policy focus, though concentrated in satellite communications rather than human deep space exploration.
• National Space Society: Nonprofit space advocacy organization promoting human spaceflight and settlement. Comparable to CDSE in mission advocacy and member-supported model, though with a stronger grassroots/public-membership orientation versus CDSE's industry-B2B focus.
• The Planetary Society: The world's largest nonprofit space advocacy organization, focused on advancing space science and exploration through public engagement and policy work. Comparable as a space advocacy nonprofit with educational content, a membership base, and policy advocacy, though broader in scope beyond human deep space exploration.
• Space Frontier Foundation: Advocacy nonprofit promoting the opening of the space frontier to human settlement through policy reform. Comparable as a space advocacy organization with policy focus, though smaller in scale and more ideologically oriented toward commercial space development than CDSE's NASA-program focus.
• Secure World Foundation: Nonprofit promoting the sustainable and secure use of outer space through policy research and advocacy. Comparable as a space-focused nonprofit with Washington policy engagement, though focused on sustainability and security topics rather than human exploration programs.

Broad incumbents

• AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics): Largest professional society for aerospace engineering and policy, with broad membership across industry, government, and academia. Comparable as a long-established aerospace membership organization with policy advocacy and publications, though its scope spans all of aerospace rather than deep space exploration specifically.

Regional players

• European Space Policy Institute: Vienna-based think tank providing independent analysis on European space policy. Comparable as a space policy research and advocacy organization, though operating primarily in the European institutional context rather than U.S. federal advocacy.
• Space Industry Association of Australia: Australian peak industry body representing the nation's space sector. Comparable as a space industry trade association with advocacy mission, though operating in a different geography focused on Australian national space policy rather than U.S. federal advocacy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/xploredeepspace
• Facebookfacebook.com/XploreDeepSpace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coalition-for-deep-space-exploration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Coalition for Deep Space Exploration