Standardization News

ASTM International’s commercial spaceflight committee (F47) is developing a proposed standard that will contain recommended practices and design elements for suborbital space vehicles, orbital space vehicles, and orbital platforms (space stations).
 
Ron Desmarais, the F47 task group lead for the document, says that the goal of the proposed standard (WK92506) is to begin the process of developing standardized features that are common among the various vehicle types. Besides basic vehicle requirements as laid out in the FAA’s "Recommended Practices for Human Space Flight Occupant Safety," items such as flight suit connections, participant restraints, vehicle operating conditions, and possibly docking and on-orbit servicing features could be included.
 
“With an eye toward on-orbit operations, commonality in fueling,  transfer connections, and docking requirements will be essential for efficient operations,” says Desmarais. “The design standard will also tie in other standards, including those relating to occupant restraints, human factors, software, safety systems, and others under current or future development.”
 
These are among the areas that will be covered in WK92506:

• Systems need to maintain a safe environment for personnel;
• Accommodation for the storage and transfer of food, water, oxygen, fuels, waste and other essential items;
• Means of communication, propulsion, and station keeping, and;
• Any safety-related equipment and systems need to address foreseeable problems.

All interested parties are invited to join in the development of WK92506 and other proposed F47 standards.
 
“We need subject matter experts, people with prior experience in the design of space vehicles and space stations, and those who are actively involved with these activities,” says Desmarais. “We also need involvement from those who regulate these vehicles.”
 
ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. JOIN ASTM.

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