What Commercial Space Federation does

The Commercial Space Federation (CSF) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association founded in 2006 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., that serves as the primary policy advocacy body for the U.S. commercial space industry. CSF represents member companies across the full commercial space value chain — launch and reentry operators, commercial LEO services, remote sensing and analytics, satellite services, spaceports and infrastructure, commercial lunar exploration, space situational awareness, and supply chain services — before Congress, federal agencies (FAA, FCC, NASA, DoD), and international bodies. The organization generates revenue through four membership tiers (Executive, Associate, Space Supply Chain Council, and Research and Education Affiliates) on annual billing cycles, with Executive Members holding board seats and Associate/Supply Chain tiers providing committee access and policy engagement. Membership pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

CSF's core activities include authoring policy research reports (e.g., the SCRUBBED launch capacity study co-authored with Rational Futures, and the Perfecting Public-Private Partnerships paper), supporting ASTM International's Committee F47 on human spaceflight standards, hosting the annual Commercial Space Conference in Washington, D.C., providing Congressional testimony, and operating workforce development programs (Patti Grace Smith Scholarship, Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship). The go-to-market is community-led: advocacy-driven, with growth dependent on industry visibility, conference participation, and word-of-mouth within the commercial space community. Recent strategic hires (President Dave Cavossa in June 2024; Strategic Advisor for Global Markets Kelli Kedis Ogborn in March 2026) signal leadership investment in both operational continuity and global expansion of CSF's mandate.

Name

Commercial Space Federation

Legal name

Commercial Space Federation

Website

https://commercialspace.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Commercial Space Federation is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit trade association, founded in 2006, that advocates for the U.S. commercial space industry before Congress and federal agencies. It serves members across launch, satellite, lunar, and space supply chain sectors through tiered membership, policy research, and annual conferences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association and Industry Advocacy

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)

Keywords

• Commercial space advocacy
• Space industry association
• Space policy advocacy
• Trade association services
• Industry consensus standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CSF generates revenue through membership dues from Executive Members, Associate Members, Space Supply Chain Members, and Research and Education Affiliates. Membership tiers offer escalating benefits including board seats, committee participation, networking access, and policy advocacy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Commercial Space Federation is a trade association that provides unified policy advocacy for the commercial space industry to U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and international bodies. It offers tiered membership programs (Executive, Associate, Space Supply Chain, and Research and Education Affiliates), hosts the annual Commercial Space Conference, supports industry consensus standards through ASTM International's Committee F47 on Human Spaceflight, and publishes industry research such as the SCRUBBED launch capacity report.

Product overview

The Commercial Space Federation (CSF) is a trade association and industry advocacy organization, not a product company. CSF's offerings consist of membership services and advocacy programs rather than commercial products. Their core offerings include: policy advocacy representing the commercial space industry before U.S. Congress and the Administration; organizing the annual Commercial Space Conference in Washington, D.C.; conducting industry research and publishing reports on commercial space issues (such as the SCRUBBED: America's Launch Capacity Challenge report and the Perfecting Public-Private Partnerships paper); facilitating networking and business development among member companies; and supporting education initiatives including the Patti Grace Smith Scholarship Program and Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship. CSF offers multiple membership tiers: Executive Members (launch operators, spaceports, satellite manufacturers), Associate Members (broader commercial space ecosystem), Space Supply Chain Members (supply chain services), and Research and Education Affiliates (universities and research institutions).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Membership Board-level membership tier for leading commercial space companies, providing an exclusive seat on the CSF Board of Directors and potential Executive Committee service, with all Associate membership benefits included.
• Associate Membership Standard commercial space industry membership providing access to CSF-exclusive member meetings, regular policy briefings, policy input, and special event access for the broader commercial space ecosystem.
• Space Supply Chain Council (S2C2) Membership Membership tier for space supply chain companies providing executive networking, strategy sessions, and peer collaboration with policymakers and industry leaders focused on supply chain policy engagement.
• Research and Education Affiliates Membership Affiliate membership for universities and research institutions, including a quarterly newsletter, REM members section access, internship opportunities, and ambassador webinars supporting space research and workforce development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 180 launches from U.S. soil in 2025 demonstrate the scale of industry activity CSF represents
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rational FuturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026CSF partnered with Rational Futures, a space policy and economics consulting firm, to co-author the 'SCRUBBED: America's Launch Capacity Challenge' report. The report provides a data-driven assessment of U.S. launch demand and infrastructure challenges. Rational Futures team includes former NASA Chief Economist Dr. Akhil Rao and former NASA Senior Policy Advisor Dr. Tom Colvin. This partnership produced actionable policy recommendations for addressing launch capacity gaps.
• ASTM International Committee F47 on Human SpaceflightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSF supports the ongoing development of industry consensus standards through ASTM International's Committee F47 on Human Spaceflight. Active industry standards development is essential for tracking industry development, informing government policy, and providing means of compliance with performance-based rules.
• Patti Grace Smith Scholarship ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSF is a founding contributor to the Patti Grace Smith Scholarship Program, supporting students and young professionals entering the commercial space industry. CSF's support includes internship placement, scholarship awards, access to conferences, and real-world experience.
• Matthew Isakowitz FellowshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSF is a founding contributor to the Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship, providing career development support for emerging leaders in commercial space. The fellowship offers internship placement and real-world industry experience.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Space Foundation: Trade association advocating for the global space ecosystem, hosts the annual Space Symposium and Symposia Series, and operates Space Certification programs. Directly comparable to CSF as a peer advocacy body for the space industry; CSF specifically co-hosts Space Policy Summit at ASCEND (Space Foundation's event).
• The Planetary Society: World's largest independent space interest group advocating for space science and exploration through policy engagement and public outreach. Comparable as a space policy advocacy organization with similar Congressional testifying posture and educational programs.
• Satellite Industry Association (SIA): Trade association representing U.S. satellite operators, manufacturers, and ground equipment suppliers on policy and regulatory issues. CSF's own President Dave Cavossa was previously SIA's Executive Director and Chair, illustrating direct institutional overlap and shared advocacy mission.
• National Space Society (NSS): Grassroots space advocacy organization promoting a spacefaring civilization through events (International Space Development Conference), publications, and policy engagement. Comparable to CSF's mission of advancing space industry policy with a focus on commercialization and settlement.

Regional players

• Space Florida: Florida's state-level aerospace economic development agency operating spaceport infrastructure and promoting commercial space investment. Comparable as a space industry advocacy and development body but geographically scoped to Florida rather than U.S.-wide.

Broad incumbents

• Aerospace Industries Association (AIA): Larger, broader trade association covering civil aviation, defense, and space across prime contractors and Tier-1 suppliers. Comparable as a competing space advocacy voice but with a portfolio approach that includes aerospace and defense beyond commercial space.
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA): Premier professional society for aerospace engineers and practitioners, combining publications, conferences, and policy advocacy. Operates in the same space industry ecosystem and overlaps with CSF on technical standards, events, and Congressional engagement.
• National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA): Trade association representing the U.S. defense industrial base, including defense-relevant space contractors. Comparable as a large industry advocacy organization with deep Congressional ties, though its focus is broader defense rather than commercial space.

Emerging players

• NewSpace Nexus: New Mexico-based space industry accelerator and advocacy hub supporting emerging commercial space startups via networking, mentorship, and policy engagement. Comparable as a commercial space ecosystem advocacy organization, though with a more startup-incubation orientation.
• Space Frontier Foundation: Advocacy organization focused on NewSpace and the commercial space sector, supporting policy changes and entrepreneur engagement. Overlaps with CSF's commercial space mission but with a smaller footprint and alumni-run model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/csf_space
• Facebookfacebook.com/commercialspaceflight
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/commercial-space-federation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Commercial Space Federation