ISO 14620-3:2021

FINAL
INTERNATIONAL ISO/FDIS
DRAFT
STANDARD 14620-3
ISO/TC 20/SC 14
Space systems — Safety
Secretariat: ANSI
requirements —
Voting begins on:
2021-05-18
Part 3:
Voting terminates on:
Flight safety systems
2021-07-13
Systèmes spatiaux — Exigences de sécurité —
Partie 3: Systèmes de sauvegarde en vol
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO
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Reference number
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO-
ISO/FDIS 14620-3:2021(E)
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES,
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©
NATIONAL REGULATIONS. ISO 2021

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ISO/FDIS 14620-3:2021(E)

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© ISO 2021
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ISO/FDIS 14620-3:2021(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Abbreviated terms . 2
5 General requirements . 2
6 Flight termination system requirements . 3
6.1 General . 3
6.2 Flight termination system safe and arm devices . 4
6.3 Flight termination system ordnance . 5
6.4 Ground support equipment . 5
7 Range tracking system requirements . 6
7.1 Description . 6
7.2 Requirements . 6
8 Telemetry data transmitting system requirements . 7
8.1 Description . 7
8.2 Requirements . 7
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ISO/FDIS 14620-3:2021(E)

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
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ISO collaborates closely 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).
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. Details of
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on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
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For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
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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 14620-3:2005), which has been
technically revised. The main changes compared with the previous edition are as follows:
— the text has been updated to be consistent with ISO 14620-1 and ISO 14620-2.
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.
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ISO/FDIS 14620-3:2021(E)

Introduction
Space launch activities can present hazards to people and damage to property and the environment.
International space treaties adopted by the United Nations impose legal liabilities on countries involved
in launching space vehicles to provide compensation for certain injuries and damages incurred as the
result of such launches.
This document affects the safety of exposed people, property and environment, as well as countries
and organizations conducting commercial or civil launch activities.
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FINAL DRAFT INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/FDIS 14620-3:2021(E)
Space systems — Safety requirements —
Part 3:
Flight safety systems
1 Scope
This document sets out the minimum requirements for flight safety systems (FSSs), including flight
termination systems (FTSs, externally controlled systems or on-board automatic systems), tracking
systems, and telemetry data transmitting systems (TDTSs) for commercial or non-commercial launch
activities of orbital or suborbital, unmanned space vehicles. The intent is to minimize the risk of injury
or damage to persons, property or the environment resulting from the launching of space vehicles.
This document can be applied by any country, by any international organization, whether
intergovernmental or not, and by any agency or operator undertaking the launching of space vehicles.
This document is intended to be applied by any person, organization, entity, operator or launch
authority participating in commercial or non-commercial launch activities of orbital, or suborbital,
unmanned space vehicles unless more restrictive requirements are imposed by the launch site country.
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 10795, Space systems — Programme management and quality — Vocabulary
ISO 14620-1, Space systems — Safety requirements — Part 1: System safety
ISO 14620-2, Space systems — Safety requirements — Part 2: Launch site operations
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 10795, ISO 14620-2 and the
following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
flight safety system
combination of flight-, ground- or space-based hardware and software designed, installed and/or
operated specifically for providing flight safety
Note 1 to entry: This combination of equipment, facilities, procedures and personnel required to monitor
operations provides protection to personnel and property both foreign and domestic from any damage that can
be caused by a non-nominal flight.
Note 2 to entry: The flight safety system may include flight termination systems (3.2), telemetry data transmitting
systems (3.6) and range tracking systems (3.4).
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ISO/FDIS 14620-3:2021(E)

3.2
flight termination system
explosive or other disabling or thrust-terminating equipment installed in a launch vehicle, plus any
associated ground equipment, for terminating the flight of a malfunctioning vehicle or stage
3.3
launch
initial action to place, or attempt to place, a launch vehicle and payload, if any, in a suborbital trajectory,
in Earth orbit in outer space, or otherwise in outer space
3.4
range tracking system
combination of flight-, ground- or space-based hardware and software designed, installed and/or
operated specifically for tracking a launch vehicle
3.5
safety envelope
area designated for launch (3.3) and preorbital flight that is cleared of uninvolved persons or where the
risk of injury, fatality or property damage to the public is below a designated threshold probability (3.7)
3.6
telemetry data transmitting system
combination of flight- or space-based hardware and software, designed, installed or operated for down-
linking vehicle and flight system performance and health data to flight safety operators
3.7
threshold probability
probability that loss or damage will exceed a specified level
Note 1 to entry: Threshold probability is a quantitative measure that represents the probability of occurrence
associated with unplanned events or levels of damage caused by launch-related activities.
4 Abbreviated terms
FSS flight safety system
FTS flight termination system
GNSS global navigation satellite system
GSE ground support equipment
RTS range tracking system
S&A safe and arm
SFP single failure point
TDTS telemetry data transmitting system
5 General requirements
5.1 All launch vehicles shall incorporate tracking devices or establish means of tracking that enable
real-time monitoring of vehicle position and velocity, and prediction of instantaneous impact points
throughout the launch phase where it is necessary to satisfy the safety envelope requirement.
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ISO/FDIS 14620-3:2021(E)

5.2 All spent stages shall incorporate tracking devices or establish means of tracking that enable real-
time monitoring of vehicle position and velocity, except when pre-flight analysis establishes that the
stage separation activity will not result in an unknown or hazardous impact area or dispersion.
5.3 All launch vehicles shall incorporate TDTSs for monitoring vehicle performance data and the FTS
and tracking system status that are capable of functioning throughout the launch phase until the end of
range safety responsibility.
5.4 Any launch vehicle having a stage, motor or
...