MANY MINDEDUS Government Proposes COSMOSIS Framework to Manage Space Complexity
The US government developed the COSMOSIS complex systems governance framework as a proposed approach to manage space system complexity. This framework, described in a 2026 publication by M.C. Sungaila, was formally referenced in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s (OSTP) July 20, 2026 report titled 'Science: A New Golden Age.' The OSTP report recommended federal agencies build a self-improving science enterprise that maps systemic gaps in grantmaking portfolios. COSMOSIS incorporates seven components including interconnection principles, the Cynefin decision-making framework, polycentric governance nodes, and feedback loops for risk monitoring. It explicitly references the Outer Space Treaty and Frank White’s Overview Effect as foundational principles.
The framework aims to shift US space governance from treating actors in isolation toward complex systems analysis. The Office of Space Commerce Mission Authorization program requires adaptive governance for novel space activities, with plans to rapidly iterate requirements based on industry feedback. This approach targets preventing space system failures through interconnected oversight.
While not yet implemented, COSMOSIS represents a potential step toward more resilient space governance. It could reduce risks from system failures that disrupt critical security infrastructure by integrating diverse technologies like AI, quantum computing, and nuclear power into a unified system. However, the framework remains a proposed approach with unfulfilled recommendations and incomplete detail on its seven components. Its direct impact on abundance is limited—it addresses security stability rather than creating freely available resources. The US government must now translate these proposals into actionable policy before the framework becomes operational.
Source: SpaceNews