The Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) applauds the historic milestone in our nation’s history — the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11. The Apollo program represents humankind’s greatest and most inspirational technological achievements, to date. NASA’s accomplishments are a marvel for the ages, progressing from sending an American into space for the first time in 1961 to landing a crew on the Moon just eight years later.
As we honor the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, we should leverage how our experiences and lessons learned can guide space exploration efforts going forward. Several important lessons from Apollo need to be remembered and should guide future space exploration. The Apollo-era attitude that enabled NASA to land on the Moon 50 years ago was based on constant innovation and an eagerness to test new concepts. These are the same principles that underpin the success of the commercial spaceflight industry today.
Today, the U.S. is enjoying a renaissance in space, with the commercial space sector playing a pivotal, leading role. Our nation now has a vibrant, highly-capable commercial space sector that can accelerate and complement NASA’s internal development efforts. As we look to the future, public-private partnerships between the commercial space sector and the Government represent the most effective path to rapidly, safely and cost-effectively return to the Moon and venture on to Mars. Our collective achievements, shared passion for space and the promise of future innovation sets the stage for even greater space accomplishments to benefit all humankind.
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About The Commercial Spaceflight Federation:
The Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) is the leading voice for the commercial spaceflight industry. Founded in 2006, CSF and its 80+ members are laying the foundation for a sustainable space economy and democratizing access to space for scientists, students, civilians, and businesses. CSF members are responsible for the creation of thousands of high-tech jobs driven by billions of dollars in investment. Through the promotion of technology innovation, CSF is guiding the expansion of Earth’s economic sphere, bolstering U.S. leadership in aerospace, and inspiring America’s next generation of engineers and explorers.
