OSC Discusses Voluntary Consensus Standards with CONFERS
On August 6, the Office of Space Commerce’s Senior Advisor, Dr. Dianne Poster, participated in a webinar hosted by the Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS) on “the power of voluntary consensus standards.”
This web post hosts an embedded recording of the webinar.
Background:
The expansion of the in-space economy presents unprecedented opportunities for economic growth and scientific advancement. Realizing this potential hinges on addressing critical challenges, including space debris mitigation, ensuring safe operations, and fostering strategic vertical and horizontal interoperability between diverse space actors.
This fireside chat explored how the transformative power of voluntary consensus standards is being brought to bear in overcoming these hurdles. Speakers examined the role of voluntary consensus standards in fostering a sustainable and robust in-space economy. Current standardization initiatives and how industry-led standards, developed through open, transparent, and consensus-based processes, can drive innovation, reduce costs, enhance safety, and pave the way for a thriving in-space economy were also discussed.
Topics included:
- The benefits of voluntary consensus standards in the space industry, including enhancing interoperability, reducing costs, and promoting innovation.
- The challenges and complexities of developing and adopting standards in a rapidly evolving and global industry, including the need for international collaboration and addressing diverse stakeholder interests.
- Examples of existing and emerging standards, like those developed by organizations such as ISO and CCSDS.
- How CONFERS has influenced emergent on-orbit/in-space commercial servicing development through voluntary consensus standards development.
- How standards may address emerging issues like space debris mitigation, rendezvous and proximity operations, and space traffic coordination.