ASTM F3658-23 PDF

Overview

ASTM F3658-23: Standard Guide for Crewed Suborbital Space Vehicle Design provides consensus-based guidance for organizations and design teams engaged in the development of suborbital space vehicles intended to carry humans, including flight crew, mission specialists, and spaceflight participants. The standard applies to both new and existing suborbital vehicle designs and outlines essential practices recognized through industry experience and regulatory frameworks to increase flight safety and successful return to Earth.

This ASTM standard supports commercial spaceflight by summarizing lessons learned and best practices tailored to human occupancy, focusing on occupant protection, system reliability, and emergency response. The guide was developed in accordance with major international standardization principles as recognized by the WTO TBT Committee.

Key Topics

ASTM F3658-23 addresses a comprehensive range of topics critical to the design and operation of crewed suborbital space vehicles, emphasizing:

• Human Needs and Accommodations

  • Provision of atmospheric conditions suitable for human life and critical operations
  • Management and containment of biological and wet waste
  • Availability of emergency survival equipment and supplies, including first aid and communication devices

• Human Protection

  • Protection from acceleration, vibration, radiation, noise, and mechanical hazards
  • Systems for fire detection, suppression, and emergency response to contaminated atmospheres or loss of cabin pressure
  • Procedures for occupant escape and emergency egress

• Flight Worthiness

  • Fault tolerance in the presence of catastrophic hazards, with specific guidelines for redundant systems and structural integrity
  • Material and process compatibility to minimize risks such as toxic exposure or fire
  • Environmental requirements ensuring functionality across natural and induced conditions

• Human/Vehicle Integration

  • Ergonomic considerations tailored to occupants’ physical interaction with vehicle systems
  • Provision for clear communication between crew, occupants, and ground controllers
  • Support for manual override of automated systems during safety-critical scenarios

• Testing and Demonstration

  • Requirements for qualification and environmental testing exceeding maximum operating conditions
  • Mandate for flight demonstration before operation with human occupants and post-modification testing

Applications

ASTM F3658-23 is an essential resource in various commercial and research contexts involving crewed suborbital spaceflight. It is directly applicable to:

• Commercial Spaceflight Vehicle Manufacturers Assists in developing safe, reliable suborbital vehicles capable of carrying passengers, mission specialists, or researchers.

• Aerospace Design Teams and Engineers Provides baseline criteria for safety-critical systems, environmental controls, occupant accommodations, and vehicle integration.

• Space Tourism Operators Outlines safety and emergency management expectations for flights carrying spaceflight participants.

• Regulatory Compliance and Certification Supports alignment with international and federal human spaceflight safety recommendations and aids in regulatory review processes.

• Research Institutions and Space Agencies Helps guide the development of suborbital research platforms intended for human occupancy.

Related Standards

For a holistic approach to human safety in crewed space vehicles, reference the following standards and guidelines:

• ASTM F3668/F3668M: Guide for Occupant Survivability in Orbital Vehicles
• FAA Recommended Practices for Human Space Flight Occupant Safety, Version 1.0
• ASTM F3377: Terminology Relating to Commercial Spaceflight

Additional related standards may include those covering flight worthiness, failure tolerance, occupant safety, crew escape, and safety-critical system design in aerospace contexts.

Keywords: suborbital space vehicle design, crewed spaceflight, occupant safety, flight worthiness, emergency procedures, human protection, ASTM F3658-23, commercial space vehicle standards, human/vehicle integration, aerospace safety guidelines