From the White House and Capitol Hill to the C-Suite, CSF’s 20th-anniversary program brings the full spectrum of U.S. space policy voices to ASCEND 2026
The Commercial Space Federation (CSF), marking its 20th anniversary this year, will take the stage at ASCEND 2026, anchoring the event’s space policy programming for two days, 19-20 May, in Washington, D.C.
Long recognized as the premier advocacy organization for the commercial space sector, CSF represents satellite operators, launch providers, spaceports, remote sensing companies, commercial LEO destinations, and the broader cislunar exploration community. Its president, Dave Cavossa, sees ASCEND’s move to Washington as a pivotal opportunity to establish a true policy-focused space conference in the nation’s capital.
“We’ve had great defense and satellite events in D.C., but nothing you could really call a comprehensive ‘space’ conference,” Cavossa explained.
By building ASCEND into a complementary Washington event, CSF and its partners aim to create a more accessible, globally relevant hub for space policy dialogue – one well positioned to engage international delegations and U.S. government officials, especially amid tightening federal travel restrictions.
For ASCEND 2026, CSF has integrated its long-running policy conference – Space Policy Summit – directly into the ASCEND program. Beginning Tuesday, 19 May, CSF will host an intensive two-day deep dive into space policy featuring 14 panels and six fireside chats with senior executives, top government administrators, Hill staff, and members of Congress.
Rather than centering on a single theme or agency, the programming surveys the entire space policy landscape. Attendees will hear priorities from stakeholders across the federal government: NASA, the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Commerce, the State Department, the White House, and Capitol Hill.
“You’re going to come for two days and get a grasp over what the FCC cares about, what the Hill cares about, what NASA cares about, what the State Department cares about, what Commerce cares about,” Cavossa said. “You get to touch everything in two days. That’s the value of what we do.”
Marquee sessions include:
- CEO Fireside Chats – Six top commercial executives offer perspectives on the evolving space economy
- View from the White House – Three senior officials from the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Economic Council, and the Office of Management and Budget provide direct insight into administration priorities
- View from the Hill – Four to five congressional staffers outline legislative developments and what’s ahead for space policy
- Survive the Night – A panel examining how industry and government can succeed amid NASA’s recent push for a human lunar base “as soon as possible”
Sessions will also address NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman’s “Ignition” announcement – a series of initiatives unveiled in March aimed at accelerating U.S. lunar exploration and ensuring American leadership in space.
Registration for CSF’s Space Policy Summit provides access to the full ASCEND three-day program. To register, visit: https://www.ascend.events/.
