ASTM F3388-23
(Classification)Standard Classification for Space Launch and Reentry Vehicles
Standard Classification for Space Launch and Reentry Vehicles
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
3.1 This classification involves two focuses:
3.1.1 Focus 1, the classification of a vehicle given a range of total capability, and
3.1.2 Focus 2, a classification of a mission being performed by a vehicle.
3.2 The two-focus classification system was necessary since a vehicle could have certain capabilities in general, which could be limited/tailored based on the particular mission.
SCOPE
1.1 This classification provides the commercial space industry an accepted method of commonly classifying space launch and reentry vehicles through the use of commonly accepted and defined terms based on operational and flight envelope of the vessel. This classification may not cover all vehicle capabilities or vehicle categories but attempts to standardize the terminology that is applicable to a majority of the industry. This classification may be useful for, but is not intended to address, amateur launch vehicles.
1.2 This classification is not intended to pass judgement on the value or quality of a certain term but rather to provide the basis of common terminology so that, for instance, when multiple vehicle operators claim a certain capability in their system, they are equivalent for outside understanding.
1.3 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: F3388 − 23
Standard Classification for
1
Space Launch and Reentry Vehicles
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3388; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3. Significance and Use
1.1 This classification provides the commercial space indus- 3.1 This classification involves two focuses:
try an accepted method of commonly classifying space launch 3.1.1 Focus 1, the classification of a vehicle given a range of
and reentry vehicles through the use of commonly accepted total capability, and
and defined terms based on operational and flight envelope of 3.1.2 Focus 2, a classification of a mission being performed
the vessel. This classification may not cover all vehicle by a vehicle.
capabilities or vehicle categories but attempts to standardize
3.2 The two-focus classification system was necessary since
the terminology that is applicable to a majority of the industry.
a vehicle could have certain capabilities in general, which
This classification may be useful for, but is not intended to
could be limited/tailored based on the particular mission.
address, amateur launch vehicles.
4. Basis of Classification
1.2 This classification is not intended to pass judgement on
the value or quality of a certain term but rather to provide the
4.1 For focus 1 of classifying a vehicle for a range to total
basis of common terminology so that, for instance, when
capability, a series of strata are used: regulatory type, mission
multiple vehicle operators claim a certain capability in their
type, vehicle’s category, class, mode, capability, size, and
system, they are equivalent for outside understanding.
propellant.
1.3 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
4.2 In the following sections, these strata are broken down
as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in
and defined further. Appendix X1 contains a form that follows
this standard.
these categories and can be used to classify the vehicles.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5. Regulatory Type
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5.1 There are two regulatory types applicable to vehicle
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
classification:
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
5.1.1 Government—A vehicle designed, developed, or con-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
tracted by a national government to be owned and operated by
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
a government agency or a procured government launch service.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
5.1.2 Commercial—A vehicle designed, developed, or con-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
tracted by a commercial company to be owned and operated by
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
a commercial company, regardless of customer.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
5.2 Only the commercial regulatory type requires licensing.
2. Terminology
6. Mission Type
2.1 Definitions:
6.1 Four forms of mission type exist:
2.1.1 vehicle, n—refers to a space launch or reentry flight
6.2 Government for Government—The government con-
vehicle.
ducts a mission on a vehicle:
2.1.1.1 Discussion—A launch vehicle payload is not itself
6.2.1 Owned and operated by the government (for example,
considered a vehicle, though a reentry vehicle may fly as a
the Space Shuttle, Orion), or
payload on a launch vehicle. A carrier aircraft is only treated as
6.2.2 Procured from a commercial company that operates it
a vehicle when a launch vehicle is attached.
under a government service contract (for example, DoD or
1 NASA launch on Atlas V).
This classification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F47 on
Commercial Spaceflight and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F47.03 on
6.3 Commercial for Government—The government pro-
Launch and Reentry Vehicles.
cures a mission conducted by a vehicle owned and operated by
Current edition approved Dec. 15, 2023. Published January 2024. DOI: 10.1520/
F3388-23. a commercial company through a commercial launch services
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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F3388 − 23
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