ISO 17566:2011

Space systems — General test documentation

ISO 17566:2011 provides a specific format for the development of test documentation for an individual test of a spacecraft, subsystem or unit. It is focused on the definition of the format for test plans, test specifications, test procedures and test reports. The scope of ISO 17566:2011 does not include overall programme test planning. A specific test plan can also be part of the overall spacecraft project test plan.

Systèmes spatiaux — Documentation générale d'essais

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 19-Jun-2011
• 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 2 - System requirements, verification and validation, interfaces, integration, and test
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 09-Dec-2021
• Completion Date: 19-Apr-2025

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 17566
First edition
2011-07-01
Space systems — General test
documentation
Systèmes spatiaux — Documentation générale d'essais

Reference number
©
ISO 2011
©  ISO 2011
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
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ii © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction.v
1 Scope.1
2 Terms and definitions .1
3 Document descriptions.2
3.1 Test plan documentation.2
3.2 Test specification documentation .3
3.3 Test procedure documentation.4
3.4 Test report documentation.5
4 Combining documents.6
4.1 General .6
4.2 Test plan/test specification/test procedure/test report .6
4.3 Combined test plan and test specification/test procedure/test report .6
4.4 Combined test plan, specification and procedure/test report.7
Annex A (normative) Test plan documentation.8
Annex B (normative) Test specification documentation .12
Annex C (normative) Test procedure documentation.19
Annex D (normative) Test report documentation.23

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards 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 has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 17566 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 20, Aircraft and space vehicles, Subcommittee
SC 14, Space systems and operations.

iv © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

Introduction
This International Standard provides the minimum requirements for generating test documentation for an
individual test of a spacecraft, subsystem or unit. Specifically, information and templates are included which
simplify and standardize the writing of the test documentation described herein.
This International Standard covers four types of test documentation:
⎯ test plan;
⎯ test specification;
⎯ test procedure;
⎯ test report.
The scope of this International Standard does not include overall programme test planning. A specific test plan
can also be part of the overall spacecraft project test plan.
Although these documents are functionally independent, there is some overlap of the information contained in
each. These documents can be combined as appropriate, depending on the nature and complexity of the test
in question. For example, for a test of moderate complexity, the test plan and test specification can be
combined into one document. For very simple tests, such as unit tests, it may be appropriate to combine the
test plan, specification and procedure all into one document. Guidance on combining documents to handle
these situations is provided in Clause 4.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 17566:2011(E)

Space systems — General test documentation
1 Scope
This International Standard provides a specific format for the development of test documentation for an
individual test of a spacecraft, subsystem or unit. It is focused on the definition of the format for test plans, test
specifications, test procedures and test reports.
The scope of this International Standard does not include overall programme test planning. A specific test plan
can also be part of the overall spacecraft project test plan.
2 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
2.1
analysis
verification method which entails performing a theoretical evaluation using accepted techniques
NOTE These techniques can include mathematics, statistics, qualitative design analysis, modelling and computer
simulation.
2.2
characteristic
distinguishing feature
2.3
objective evidence
data supporting the existence or verity of something
2.4
procedure
specified way of carrying out an activity or a process
2.5
process
set of interrelated or interacting activities which transforms inputs into outputs
2.6
requirement
need or expectation, stated or generally implied, whose fulfillment is obligatory
2.7
test
determination of one or more characteristics according to a procedure by which requirements are verified
through measurement of product performance and functions during and/or after exposure to simulated
environmental loads
2.8
verification
confirmation, through the provision of objective evidence, that specified requirements of the spacecraft system
have been fulfilled after exposure to simulated or in-service loads
3 Document descriptions
3.1 Test plan documentation
The test plan document is the master plan describing the process for an individual test on a specified test
article. The test plan document contains the following elements:
a) an introduction, comprising
1) overall test objectives, and
2) scope of the test plan document;
b) referenced documentation, including
1) normative references,
2) applicable references, and
3) informative references;
c) nomenclature, including
1) terms and definitions,
2) symbols, and
3) acronyms;
d) test purpose, comprising
1) overall test description, and
2) test strategy matrix;
e) test description, comprising
1) test approach and methodology,
2) test flow,
3) test article,
4) test set-up,
5) specialized test tools,
6) supporting analyses,
7) test input data, and
8) test output data.
2 © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

3.2 Test specification documentation
The test specification is an intermediate step in the test definition process occurring between the test plan and
the test procedure. The test specification document specifies the test parameters to be used to satisfy the test
requirements given in the test plan document. Instead of listing all information in the test specification
document, other documents may be referenced. This can occur in situations where a large amount of
information is to be specified due to the complexity of the test requirements or test article. The test
specification document includes the following sections:
a) an introduction, comprising
1) overall test objectives, and
2) scope of the test plan document;
b) referenced documentation, including
1) normative references,
2) applicable references, and
3) informative references;
c) nomenclature, including
1) terms and definitions,
2) symbols, and
3) acronyms;
d) test article configuration requirements, including
1) test article configuration matrix,
2) test article measured parameters,
3) deviations from flight configuration, and
4) test article functional configuration, including
i) operational mode,
ii) electrical system state,
iii) pyrotechnic system state, and
iv) propulsion system state;
e) test facility requirements, including
1) test facility identification and location,
2) equipment,
3) instrumentation,
4) interfaces to test article,
5) environmental conditions,
6) software,
7) data acquisition and analysis systems,
8) other infrastructure required for performance of the test,
9) test facility constraints,
10) test facility operational limitations, and
11) test facility safety limitations;
f) procedural test requirements, including
1) test set-up,
2) test flow,
3) supporting analyses,
4) test article disposition after testing,
5) test specimen equipment,
6) test specimen software,
7) test specimen ground support instrumentation,
8) calibration,
9) test conditions,
10) test input parameters, tolerances and limits,
11) test output data,
12) data acquisition,
13) data processing,
14) test-specific safety considerations, and
15) test success criteria.
3.3 Test procedure documentation
The test procedure document is a detailed step-by-step set of instructions which, when followed, satisfy the
referenced test specification requirements. The test procedure document contains the following elements:
a) an introduction, comprising
1) objectives,
2) scope, and
3) background;
b) referenced documentation, including
1) normative references,
2) applicable references, and
3) informative references;
4 © ISO 2011 – All rights reserved

c) nomenclature, including
1) terms and definitions,
2) symbols, and
3) acronyms;
d) test personnel;
e) a detailed procedural checklist.
3.4 Test report documentation
The test report document describes the execution and results of the test. It provides conclusions with
reference to the objectives and test requirements specified in the test plan and test specification documents.
The test procedure document may be converted into an as-run test procedure for inclusion in the test report
document. The test report document contains the following elements:
a) an introduction, comprising
1) objectives,
2) scope, and
3) background;
b) referenced documentation, including
1) normative references,
2) applicable references, and
3) informative references;
c) nomenclature, including
1) terms and definitions,
2) symbols, and
3) acronyms;
d) as-run test article configuration;
e) as-run detailed procedural checklist;
f) test results, including
1) test output data,
2) test processed data,
3) environmental and facility data,
4) test documentation, and
5) photographs, videos and sketches;
g) test data evaluation;
h) test deviations;
i) summaries and conclusions.
4 Combining documents
4.1 General
Although these documents are functionally independent, there is some overlap of the information contained in
each. These documents may be combined as appropriate, depending on the nature and complexity of the test
in question. For example, for a test of moderate complexity, the test plan and test specification may be
combined into one document. For very simple tests, such as unit tests, it may be appropriate to combine the
test plan, specification and procedure all into one document. Guidance on combining documents to handle
these situations is provided in 4.3 and 4.4.
4.2 Test plan/test specification/test procedure/test report
For complex testing of a space system, the test plan, test specification, test procedure and test report will
usually all be written. The elements that each of these should contain are specified in Table 1 below.
Table 1 — Summary of documentation contents for complex testing
Section Test plan Test Test procedure Test report
specification
Introduction Yes Yes Yes Yes
Referenced documentation Yes Yes Yes Yes
Nomenclature Yes Yes Yes Yes
Test purpose Yes No No No
Test description Yes No No No
Test article configuration requirements No Yes No No
As-run test article configuration No No No Yes
Test facility requirements No Yes No No
Procedural test requirements No Yes No No
Test personnel No No Yes No
Detailed procedural checklist No No Yes No
As-run detailed procedural checklist No No No
...