ASTM F3520-21

• Abstract:

  SIGNIFICANCE AND USE; 4.1 In this guide, a process to develop and execute a training program to qualify operators for safety-critical launch and reentry operations is defined. This process provides a means of compliance for training and qualification requirements under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) commercial spaceflight licensing regulations.; SCOPE; 1.1 This guide covers training and qualification of space operations personnel with safety-critical responsibilities during launch and reentry phases of flight. ; 1.2 This guide will assist in identifying safety-critical positions, determining level of training required, and developing a system for qualifying personnel to perform safety-critical operations duties. ; 1.3 In this guide, a wide range of operational positions will be addressed, including test, launch, and flight controllers; mission decision authorities; personnel handling safety-critical flight hardware; aerospace ground systems; facilities; and crew onboard human spaceflight missions. ; 1.4 Though not specifically addressed within this scope, many of these practices may be useful in informing training and qualification of on-orbit operations personnel, as well as operators performing functions critical to mission success. ; 1.5 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. ; 1.6 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.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Nov-2021
• ICS: 49.020 - Aircraft and space vehicles in general
• Technical Committee: F47 - Commercial Spaceflight
• Drafting Committee: F47.03 - Launch and Reentry Vehicles

Overview

The ASTM F3520-21: Standard Guide for Training and Qualification of Safety-Critical Space Operations Personnel establishes a comprehensive framework for developing, conducting, and documenting training programs for personnel involved in spaceflight operations where safety is paramount. Designed to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) commercial spaceflight licensing requirements, this standard is applicable to both launch and reentry phases of space missions. Its goal is to ensure that safety-critical personnel-such as test, launch, and flight controllers, mission authorities, and those handling critical hardware-are properly qualified to manage risks associated with hazardous operations in the commercial space sector.

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Key Topics

• Identification of Safety-Critical Positions: The guide provides methodologies for identifying roles that have direct impact on mission safety, including controllers, equipment handlers, ground support, and mission decision authorities.
• Defining Training Requirements: It outlines how to determine required knowledge, skills, and competency levels for each safety-critical position, drawing on tools such as Bloom’s Taxonomy for structured learning objectives.
• Training Methods: Training approaches include classroom instruction, simulations, hands-on demonstrations, and performance-based assessments to comprehensively prepare individuals and teams.
• Team Training and Coordination: Emphasizes integrated team training to ensure robust communication, coordination, and response to both routine and emergency situations.
• Qualification and Recurring Training: Describes processes for initial qualification, periodic requalification, and the need for supplemental or corrective training as roles, tasks, or technologies evolve.
• Documentation and Recordkeeping: Stresses the importance of maintaining up-to-date individual and team training records as a means of ensuring continued compliance and safety readiness.
• Evaluation and Certification: Establishes requirements for qualified evaluators, periodic review, and options for reciprocal recognition of certifications to facilitate workforce mobility in the space sector.

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Applications

The ASTM F3520-21 standard is especially relevant for organizations operating in commercial spaceflight, government agencies, and training providers seeking compliance with FAA safety requirements. Key applications include:

• Development of Training Programs: Aids organizations in creating structured training and qualification pathways for positions critical to launch and reentry operations.
• Risk Management: Provides a systematic approach to identifying and mitigating risks associated with human factors in hazardous operations, through targeted training and assessment.
• Regulatory Compliance: Supports compliance with commercial spaceflight licensing and occupational safety standards, helping operators avoid regulatory penalties.
• Operational Consistency: Promotes standardized processes for training and qualification, leading to improved mission assurance and operational consistency across personnel and teams.
• Continuous Performance Improvement: Encourages ongoing evaluation of training effectiveness, identification of skill gaps, and implementation of corrective actions to maintain high levels of competency.

This guide is also useful for informing training practices for on-orbit operations personnel and other mission-critical roles not directly addressed in the main scope, enhancing overall mission safety culture.

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Related Standards

Organizations implementing ASTM F3520-21 should also be aware of other applicable standards and references, including:

• OSHA 2254: Training Requirements in OSHA Standards to support safety and health in occupational environments.
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines: For hazard recognition and mitigation.
• AFSPCMAN 91-710: Air Force Space Command Range Safety Policies and Procedures.
• FAA Commercial Spaceflight Licensing Regulations: Relevant federal guidance for space operators.
• International Standardization Principles: As recognized by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

By integrating these standards, organizations can establish a robust, compliant, and effective framework for the training and qualification of safety-critical space operations personnel, ensuring both mission success and personnel safety.

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:F3520 −21
Standard Guide for
Training and Qualification of Safety-Critical Space
Operations Personnel
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F3520; 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. Terminology
1.1 This guide covers training and qualification of space 3.1 Definition:
operations personnel with safety-critical responsibilities during 3.1.1 safety-critical personnel, n—people who direct or
launch and reentry phases of flight. perform actions, or monitor systems, that are safety-critical.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—This may include people directly inter-
1.2 This guide will assist in identifying safety-critical
facing with or controlling safety-critical systems or hazardous
positions, determining level of training required, and develop-
materials, remotely controlling safety-critical systems, or mak-
ing a system for qualifying personnel to perform safety-critical
ing safety-critical decisions.
operations duties.
1.3 In this guide, a wide range of operational positions will
4. Significance and Use
be addressed, including test, launch, and flight controllers;
4.1 Inthisguide,aprocesstodevelopandexecuteatraining
mission decision authorities; personnel handling safety-critical
program to qualify operators for safety-critical launch and
flight hardware; aerospace ground systems; facilities; and crew
reentry operations is defined. This process provides a means of
onboard human spaceflight missions.
compliance for training and qualification requirements under
1.4 Though not specifically addressed within this scope,
FederalAviationAdministration (FAA) commercial spaceflight
many of these practices may be useful in informing training
licensing regulations.
and qualification of on-orbit operations personnel, as well as
operators performing functions critical to mission success.
5. Positional Training Needs Assessment
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5.1 Identify safety-critical operations tasks using any or all
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
of the following methods:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5.1.1 Reference applicable safety standards (for example,
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
OSHA2254, National Fire ProtectionAssociation (NFPA), and
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 3
AFSPCMAN 91-710 ).
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
5.1.2 Identify operations that involve hazards from facility,
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ground, or flight systems. This assessment should address all
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
applicable mission phases: prelaunch, launch, ascent, reentry,
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
and post-landing.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
5.1.3 Reference formal hazard analyses for operational
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
controls used to mitigate the hazard.
5.1.4 Review lessons learned from mishap reports and
2. Referenced Documents
investigations.
5.1.5 Identify safety-critical operations positions.
2.1 OSHA Standard:
5.1.6 Assessment should consider positions in which an
OSHA 2254 Training Requirements in OSHA Standards
operator could create, control, or respond to a hazard. The
operator could accomplish this through direct handling of
safety-critical hardware or hazardous materials or configura-
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F47 on Commercial
tion of safety-critical systems before or during hazardous
Spaceflight and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F47.03 on Unoccupied
Launch and Reentry Vehicles.
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2021. Published January 2022. DOI: 10.1520/
F3520-21.
2 3
Available from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 200 Range Safety User Requirements Manual Volume 1,Air Force Space Command
ConstitutionAve., NW, Washington, DC 20210, https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/ Range Safety Policies and Procedures, https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/
files/publications/osha2254.pdf. 1/spoc/publication/afspcman91-710v1/afspcman91-710v1.pdf.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F3520−21
operations. Additionally, positions that exercise go/no-go au- 6.2.3 Use of operational systems or data simulations, or
thority during hazardous operations shall understand the haz- both, when practical, in performance training is beneficial for
ards and mitigations that may result from their decisions. high fidelity individual and group training.
Determine necessary knowledge and skill levels for each
safety-critical position to perform tasks at the required level of 7. Initial Training and Qualification Requirements
competency. Note that this should consider both nominal and
7.1 For each operations position, develop a list of training
off-nominal operations.
topics, tasks, methods of training, and number of performance
5.1.7 Identify the required knowledge and skills to enter
events for individual qualification.
training for each safety-critical position based on expected
7.2 Create a list of team training topics and tasks along with
educationorpriorexperience,orboth.Ifaprospectiveoperator
types and number of performance training events required for
does not meet the minimum, supplemental training may be
team qualification.
used as a prerequisite for positional training.
5.1.8 Identify the required level(s) of competency for each 7.3 In addition to satisfying training requirements, qualifi-
cation may involve other prerequisites, such as meeting
task. This may vary between different safety-critical positions
based on how directly they impact safety, for example, physical, psychological, or medical requirements.
troubleshooting requires a higher level of performance than
8. Recurring Training and Qualification Requirements
executing planned actions. Bloom’s Taxonomy for Teaching,
Learning, and Assessment can be useful for identifying
8.1 For individual positions and teams, determine recurring
competency levels. Following are standard levels of learning
training and qualification requirements. Qualification fre-
and performance used in training development listed from
quency may be time- or milestone-based depending on the
lowest to highest:
frequency of operations. Requirements should consider:
5.1.8.1 Remember—Recognize and recall.
8.1.1 Task complexity;
5.1.8.2 Understand—Interpret, exemplify, classify,
8.1.2 Extent of automation involved;
summarize, infer, compare, and explain.
8.1.3 Safety risk of tasks not properly executed;
5.1.8.3 Apply—Execute and implement.
8.1.4 Frequency of operations or training delivery, or both,
5.1.8.4 Analyze—Differentiate, organize, and attribute.
accounting for knowledge or skill degradation, or both, over
5.1.8.5 Evaluate—Check and critique.
time;
5.1.8.6 Create—Generate, plan, and produce.
8.1.5 Method of training (see 5.2);
8.1.6 Number and significance of changes to tasks or
5.2 Determine the appropriate type of positional training for
procedures (supplemental training); and
each knowledge and skill.
8.1.7 Deficiencies in task performance (corrective training).
5.2.1 Knowledge Training—Includes reading assignments,
classroom training, and computer-based training.
9. Positional Training and Qualification Plan
5.2.2 Demonstration Training—Watching a qual
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