Project Constellation: Building a Constellation of Outer Space Partners at the UN
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Applicants are only allowed to submit one proposal per organization. If more than one proposal is submitted from an organization, only the first time-stamped application submission will be review for technical eligibility.
Executive Summary
The U.S. Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna advances U.S. foreign policy through multilateral diplomacy with the major international organizations headquartered in Vienna, including the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). As the U.S. Mission accredited to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and other Vienna-based international organizations, UNVIE is uniquely positioned to promote implementation of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the three other core space treaties, non- binding guidelines and best practices adopted by COPUOS, and other measures to strengthen international cooperation that advances the peaceful, responsible, and commercially beneficial uses of outer space.
The global space economy is undergoing unprecedented growth as governments, private industry, universities, entrepreneurs, and investors expand commercial space capabilities and develop innovative technologies. Participation in this rapidly evolving sector offers countries new opportunities to promote economic growth, strengthen innovation ecosystems, develop highly skilled workforces, improve public services, and increase international competitiveness.
While established spacefaring nations continue to lead many aspects of the sector, an increasing number of emerging space nations are developing national space policies, institutions, and commercial capabilities to support their participation in the global space economy. Many of these countries are seeking trusted international partners that can help strengthen institutional capacity, foster entrepreneurship, expand commercial opportunities, and develop the next generation of scientists, engineers, business leaders, and policymakers. Although numerous bilateral partnerships already exist among governments, universities, research institutions, and private companies, these relationships are often developed separately from international legal and policy debates on civil and commercial space at the UN, limiting the cross-pollination of technical standards, best practices, and policy approaches between global forums like COPUOS and regional or bilateral initiatives.
The United States possesses one of the world's most dynamic and integrated space ecosystems, combining government leadership, world-class universities, research institutions, innovative startups, established commercial companies, investors, nonprofit organizations, and international partnerships. By connecting partner countries with this broad ecosystem, the United States can improve alignment between U.S. and foreign partners’ policy approaches to UN forums like COPUOS, while strengthening national space ecosystems and promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, commercial engagement, workforce development, and mutually beneficial economic partnerships.
As the home of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), Vienna provides a unique multilateral platform for fostering these partnerships. Building upon the successful inaugural U.S. Space Forum in 2025, the U.S. Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna (UNVIE) is launching Project Constellation: Building a Constellation of Outer Space Partners at the United Nations as a long-term international partnership platform that strengthens collaboration among governments, industry, academia, entrepreneurs, and international organizations while supporting capacity building in emerging space economies that advances practical implementation of international obligations and non-binding guidelines and best practices adopted through COPUOS.
Consistent with the objectives of Economic Support Funds (ESF), Project Constellation seeks to strengthen innovation ecosystems, promote entrepreneurship and commercial engagement, build institutional and workforce capacity, and expand economic opportunities through sustainable international partnerships.
The U.S. Department of State, U.S Mission to International Organizations in Vienna (UNVIE) announces an open competition for organizations (see eligibility information in C.1) interested in submitting an application to implement a project aimed at.