ISO 20892:2025

Space systems - Launch complexes modernization process - General requirements

This document specifies procedures in the preparation and carrying out of the modernization process of launch complexes and their components. These procedures are devised in case there is a need to make changes in existing configuration of launch complexes. This document establishes the following: a) modernization stages; b) modernization performance requirements; c) functions of the main participants of the modernization process and their interactions. This document is applicable to organizations involved in the modernization of the launch complexes.

Systèmes spatiaux — Processus de modernisation des complexes de lancement spatial — Exigences générales

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 20-May-2025
• ICS: 49.140 - Space systems and operations
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 20/SC 14 - Space systems and operations
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 20/SC 14/WG 5 - Space System Program Management and Quality
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 21-May-2025
• Due Date: 23-Jan-2026
• Completion Date: 21-May-2025

Relations

• Revises: ISO 20892:2018 - Space systems - Launch complexes modernization process - General requirements
• Effective Date: 27-Jan-2024

Overview

ISO 20892:2025 - Space systems - Launch complexes modernization process - General requirements defines a unified, practical framework for planning and executing the modernization of launch complexes (LC) and their components. The second edition specifies procedures to prepare and carry out upgrades when changes to existing launch complex configuration are required. It sets out modernization stages, performance requirements, and roles and interactions of main participants (customer, LC contractor, subcontractors, manufacturer, operator). Keywords: ISO 20892:2025, launch complex modernization, modernization process, space systems.

Key topics and requirements

• Modernization scope and options
  • Upgrading whole LC, specific components, or individual elements/items.
• Process stages
  • Preparation (technical requirements and documentation), execution (manufacture, modification, installation), testing and acceptance, and closeout (final documentation).
• Modernization performance requirements
  • Quality, dependability and testing completeness; timelines and deliverables determined by Technical Requirements (TR).
• Roles and responsibilities
  • Customer: issues TR, approves costs, monitors progress, participates in testing.
  • LC contractor: leads implementation, coordinates subcontractors, prepares documentation, organizes testing, appoints the lead project manager.
  • Subcontractor & Manufacturer: negotiate TR C, estimate costs, produce and test upgraded items.
  • Lead project manager: technical guidance, schedule and quality assurance, acceptance oversight.
• Safety, risk and interface management
  • Requires adherence to launch site safety, lessons learned, risk management and interface control practices.
• Documentation and testing
  • TRs, interface control documents, modernization management plans, and acceptance records are mandatory inputs and outputs.

Practical applications and users

ISO 20892:2025 is intended for organizations involved in launch complex upgrades:

• Launch complex owners/operators planning capability upgrades for new vehicles or payloads.
• LC contractors and prime integrators managing modernization projects and subcontractor chains.
• Manufacturers and suppliers producing upgraded components and managing production/testing.
• Project managers and engineering leads needing a standardized process for schedules, testing and acceptance.
• Regulators and safety officers ensuring modernization complies with launch site safety and risk requirements.

Use cases include retrofitting support equipment for new launch vehicles, implementing new ground systems, cost reduction measures, and improving safety, dependability and operational efficiency.

Related standards

• ISO 14620-2 - Launch site operations (safety)
• ISO 16192 - Lessons learned (principles and guidelines)
• ISO 17666 - Risk management
• ISO 17689 - Interface control documents (ground systems/equipment)
• ISO/TS 18667 - Capability-based SD&QA programme management
• ISO/TR 17400 - Testing guidance for integration sites

ISO 20892:2025 provides a structured, interoperable approach to modernizing launch complexes while aligning with established space systems safety, risk and interface standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

International
Standard
ISO 20892
Second edition
Space systems — Launch complexes
2025-05
modernization process — General
requirements
Systèmes spatiaux — Processus de modernisation des complexes
de lancement spatial — Exigences générales
Reference number
© ISO 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
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Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Abbreviated terms . 3
5 General . 3
5.1 General requirements .3
5.2 Modernization need .3
5.3 Functions of the main participants in the modernization process .3
5.4 Modernization performance requirements .5
6 Modernization process . 6
6.1 General process . .6
6.2 Modernization stages .6
Bibliography . 8

iii
Foreword
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bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
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with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
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www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 20, Aircraft and space vehicles, Subcommittee
SC 14, Space systems and operations.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 20892:2018), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— the Introduction has been clarified;
— the normative references have been updated in Clause 2 and cited in the core text;
— the Bibliography has been added.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

iv
Introduction
Technical innovations and developments in science and technology (new rockets, launchers and space
vehicles) necessitate the modernization of equipment for launch complexes. Thus, countries with launch
complex (LC) are upgrading launch support equipment (LSE) of these facilities.
However, due to obsolescence, the emergence of new technologies, new launch vehicles and requirements for
the assembly and installation of spacecrafts, there are challenges to adapt the existing system configuration
and upgrade, when it is necessary to:
a) change the performance characteristics of the LC by demand from the launch services customer;
b) modify the components of the LC and the introduction of new technologies to reduce costs (financial,
manpower, energy, time);
c) increase dependability and safety of the LC or other similar circumstances.
This document is directly aimed at increasing economic efficiency in terms of the modernization process
in creating new vehicles or changing the specification of a launch complex by a service customer, etc., or
whether or not there is a need to build a new launch complex.
This document is also aimed at providing safety and health requirements for LC personnel, since increased
demand for launch complex safety can be one reason to modernize the facility.
This document offers a unified approach to the management of the modernization process (preparation and
carrying out). Since there are no specific requirements and data, target dates for the carrying out of the
modernization process can be flexible.

v
International Standard ISO 20892:2025(en)
Space systems — Launch complexes modernization process
— General requirements
1 Scope
This document specifies procedures in the preparation and carrying out of the modernization process of
launch complexes and their components. These procedures are devised in case there is a need to make
changes in existing configuration of launch complexes.
This document establishes the following:
a) modernization stages;
b) modernization performance requirements;
c) functions of the main participants of the modernization process and their interactions.
This document is applicable to organizations involved in the modernization of the launch complexes.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 14620-2, Space systems — Safety requirements — Part 2: Launch site operations
ISO 16192, Space systems — Lessons learned — Principles and guidelines
ISO 17666, Space systems — Risk management
ISO 17689, Space systems — Interface control documents between ground systems, ground support equipment
and launch vehicle with payload
ISO/TS 18667, Space systems — Capability-based Safety, Dependability, and Quality Assurance (SD&QA)
programme management
3 Terms and definitions
For the purpose of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
3.1
launch complex modernization
LC modernization
set of works undertaken to improve and upgrade the performance characteristics and LC quality indicators
by changing the design of the LC components
Note 1 to entry: Also includes replacement of individual items to newly created ones, as well as changes and additions
to the existing design.
Note 2 to entry: Modernization also refers to upgrade in this document.
3.2
launch services customer
organization that made a contract with the operator (3.9) to perform launch services (3.3)
3.3
launch services
set of actions for the launch or attempted launch of a launch vehicle and payload, if any, to a sub-orbital
trajectory of the Earth's orbit in outer space or in any other direction in space
3.4
manufacturer of modernized product item
organization that performs work on pre-production and production of the upgraded product item by
working design documentation
3.5
customer
person or
...