Washington D.C. February 10, 2012: As the commercial spaceflight industry prepares for its first commercial launches, the Commercial Spaceflight Federation is announcing the creation of a new coalition to bring suborbital spaceflight to students, teachers, researchers, and companies across the country. This week’s passage of legislation to ensure a stable regulatory climate for commercial spaceflight was the starting gun, and regular commercial service is expected within two years.

A number of companies will soon begin to offer routine, safe and affordable flights to space, and these flights are an unprecedented opportunity for scientists, students and the public to fly themselves and experiments they design to space. The Coalition will consist of suborbital companies, science and education organizations, and others who are committed in bringing this grand new adventure in space to people across the country.

The Coalition will spotlight scientists and engineers who are using suborbital spaceflight to study everything from the upper atmosphere to protein crystallization, and it will follow students as they prepare their own experiments that will fly into space.

The Coalition will work with government agencies, nonprofits, national organizations, and educational institutions to design programs to fulfill this industry’s potential. It will also facilitate interaction between policymakers in Washington, researchers and educators on the broad benefits of suborbital spaceflight. The Coalition will be officially launched in the next few months, but for more information or to get involved, email suborbitalcoalition@commercialspaceflight.org or visit our website at www.suborbitalcoalition.org to sign up to receive news and updates.

About the Commercial Spaceflight Federation

The mission of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) is to promote the development of commercial human spaceflight, pursue ever-higher levels of safety, and share best practices and expertise throughout the industry. The CSF’s member companies – which include commercial spaceflight developers, operators, spaceports, suppliers and service providers – are creating thousands of high-tech jobs nationwide, working to preserve American leadership in aerospace through technology innovation, and inspiring young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. For more information please visit www.commercialspaceflight.org or contact Executive Director Alex Saltman at saltman@commercialspaceflight.org or at 202.349.1121.