Meridian International Center to Lead Project Constellation, a $5 Million U.S. Initiative Advancing International Space Partnerships
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Announced by UNVIE in Vienna, the initiative connects emerging space nations with American commercial capabilities, policy expertise, and opportunities for cooperation.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — [October 20, 2026] — Meridian International Center will serve as the prime recipient and principal implementer of Project Constellation, a new $5 million U.S. initiative launched by the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna (UNVIE) to advance international space cooperation and U.S. commercial and policy leadership. Meridian will implement the initiative in partnership with the Commercial Space Federation and SPACEAIMS.
Project Constellation was announced by U.S. Ambassador Preston Wells Griffith on October 15, 2026, at the second annual U.S. Space Forum. Hosted by UNVIE at the Vienna International Center in Austria, the two-day Forum brought together senior U.S. officials, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, diplomats, and experts. Ambassador Wells Griffith provided opening remarks, while NASA Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations Kathleen Karika delivered a keynote address.
Project Constellation will connect American companies, researchers, and space experts with international partners through commercial diplomacy, fellowships, pitch competitions, study tours, and cooperation on the safe exploration and use of space. Working closely with UNVIE, Meridian and its partners will help emerging space nations strengthen their capabilities while creating opportunities for collaboration with the U.S. civil and commercial space sectors.
“Project Constellation underscores the U.S. Government's commitment to international space cooperation and will unleash a range of opportunities for nations to advance tangible space partnerships with the United States, while closely supporting and enabling the American commercial space industry,” said Frank Justice, Vice President, Open Diplomacy Programs and Director, Space Diplomacy Initiative, Meridian International Center.
The project expands Meridian’s Space Diplomacy Initiative within its Center for Technology, Innovation, and Space. Through its Space Diplomacy Forum, Track 1.5 dialogues, professional exchanges, and training, Meridian brings government, diplomatic, industry, and academic leaders together to strengthen American leadership through international cooperation. Project Constellation extends that work into sustained engagement that helps countries translate space ambitions into practical partnerships with U.S. institutions and companies.
As prime recipient and principal implementer, Meridian will oversee program strategy, delivery, partner coordination, and financial management. Drawing on its diplomatic and industry networks, Meridian will organize international exchanges, convenings, and stakeholder engagement.
The Commercial Space Federation will lead the initiative’s commercial-space components. A central part of CSF’s role is to move engagement toward practical commercial pathways: helping assess partner-country priorities and readiness, build commercial-space fluency, and connecting emerging space ecosystems with relevant U.S. companies and supply chains. Through convenings, exchanges, and delegations, CSF will help identify opportunities for commercial engagement, procurement, and sustained business partnerships.
“Space is a global endeavor, and the standards, norms, governance approaches, infrastructure, and critical capabilities developed today will shape how countries participate for decades. This is a consequential moment to work with partners on shared approaches and interoperable systems that support responsible activity and sustainable growth. U.S. commercial companies are central to that effort: they are already delivering capabilities and building cross-border relationships that turn cooperation into practice. We are proud to partner with Meridian International Center and SPACEAIMS through Project Constellation to advance these efforts,” said Kelli Kedis Ogborn, Strategic Advisor for Global Markets and Industry Engagement, Commercial Space Federation.
SPACEAIMS will guide the space law, policy, and governance components, contributing country assessments, policy dialogues, and practical training to help participants strengthen national space frameworks and engage in international space cooperation.
“SPACEAIMS is delighted to join Meridian International Center and the Commercial Space Federation in advancing Project Constellation. As more countries pursue their ambitions in space, diplomacy will be essential to translating national interests into practical partnerships and shared approaches. We look forward to bringing the rigor of academia and the power of experiential learning to help strengthen the capabilities of emerging space nations and advance U.S. leadership in international space diplomacy,” said Dr. Saadia Pekkanen, Founder, SPACEAIMS.
Together, Meridian, the Commercial Space Federation, and SPACEAIMS will support UNVIE’s vision for a broader network of international space partners—bringing diplomatic engagement, commercial expertise, and policy capacity together to advance responsible space activity and shared economic opportunity.
About Meridian International Center
Meridian International Center is a nonpartisan center for diplomacy founded in 1960 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. Meridian strengthens American leadership by building geopolitical resilience, increasing economic competitiveness, and accelerating collaboration on shared challenges. Its Center for Technology, Innovation, and Space connects leaders across government, business, and civil society to navigate the diplomacy of emerging technologies.
About the Commercial Space Federation
The Commercial Space Federation (CSF) is an industry association advocating for policies, investment, and innovation that advance the U.S. commercial space sector. It works with Congress and federal agencies to support industry growth, strengthen American leadership in space, and promote a competitive commercial space economy.
About SPACEAIMS
SPACEAIMS is a public policy consulting enterprise specializing in space diplomacy, law, policy, and governance, bringing policy-relevant academic expertise to decision-makers worldwide. Through advisory services, briefings, education, and practical training, it helps leaders strengthen national space frameworks and navigate the legal and policy dimensions of international space cooperation.
Learn more: UNVIE announcement
Media Contact
Riley Nelson
RNelson@Meridian.org | 719-213-0171