ASTM E1997-15(2021) PDF

Overview

ASTM E1997-15(2021), Standard Practice for the Selection of Spacecraft Materials, provides essential guidelines for engineers, materials specialists, systems designers, and quality control professionals involved in choosing and controlling materials for spacecraft and related systems. Developed by ASTM International, this standard focuses on unmanned systems and the external portions of manned or man-tended systems, including usage in low Earth orbit, synchronous orbit, and interplanetary missions.

Selecting appropriate materials for spacecraft is fundamentally different from terrestrial applications, due to the unique challenges presented by space environments. These include extreme temperatures, vacuum conditions, radiation exposure, the risk of micrometeoroid impacts, and the presence of atomic oxygen. The standard aims to increase reliability, ensure long operational lifetimes, and mitigate the high cost and difficulty of repairs in space.

Key Topics

• Environmental Impact on Materials: Outlines how different orbital regions-low Earth orbit, synchronous orbit, and interplanetary space-impose specific constraints such as temperature extremes, radiation, debris, and atomic oxygen, each of which affects material selection and lifespan.
• Materials to Avoid: Advises against using substances known to perform poorly or degrade in space, including:
  • Metals with high vapor pressure (e.g., mercury, cadmium, zinc)
  • Pure tin, due to whisker growth and potential for electrical shorts
  • Stress-corrosion-sensitive metals unless properly treated
  • Materials with high outgassing or volatile emissions
  • Compounds prone to particulate contamination or instability under thermal cycling
• Material Selection Process: Emphasizes that only careful, informed engineering judgment, supported by rigorous testing and documentation, is sufficient for spacecraft materials selection. The need to verify properties, control suppliers, and avoid reliance on simple data sheets is highlighted.
• Control Methods: Promotes the establishment of approved materials and process lists unique to each space mission, frequent testing of key properties, close oversight by experienced materials engineers, and integration of materials review in all design phases.
• Documentation and Traceability: Recommends materials lists and process specifications be strictly controlled, configuration-managed, and reviewed by qualified specialists to ensure only suitable, proven materials are used.

Applications

ASTM E1997-15(2021) is widely applicable in the aerospace industry, specifically for:

• Spacecraft Construction: Useful in selecting both structural and non-structural materials for satellites, probes, and external equipment on manned space stations.
• Subsystems and Components: Guides selection for critical subsystems such as thermal blankets, antennas, solar arrays, electrical connectors, and adhesives.
• Mission Planning: Aids in evaluating material durability and compatibility for projected mission environments, such as exposure to vacuum, radiation, or outgassing-sensitive payloads.
• Quality Assurance: Serves as a reference for the development of internal material control policies, supplier qualifications, and compliance verification strategies.
• R&D and Risk Mitigation: Essential for new design or experimentation, helping to avoid unsuccessful material choices and increase mission reliability.

Related Standards

ASTM E1997-15(2021) references and complements several important industry standards, including:

• ASTM E595 - Test Method for Total Mass Loss and Collected Volatile Condensable Materials from Outgassing in a Vacuum
• MIL-STD-889 - Dissimilar Materials
• MIL-HDBK-5 - Metallic Materials and Elements for Aerospace Vehicle Structures
• MIL-HDBK-17 - Properties of Composite Materials
• ESA PSS-07/QRM-0 - European Space Agency Guidelines for Space Materials Selection
• QQ-A-250 - Federal Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy Plate and Sheet

These standards collectively help ensure that spacecraft materials are selected based on robust, reliable criteria, improving the long-term success and safety of aerospace missions.

Keywords: spacecraft materials, selection guidelines, ASTM E1997, space environment, outgassing, vacuum, radiation, quality control, aerospace materials, materials testing, approved process lists, unmanned systems, low Earth orbit materials, synchronous orbit, interplanetary missions.