ISO 10786:2025

FINAL DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/FDIS 10786
ISO/TC 20/SC 14
Space systems — Structural
Secretariat: ANSI
components and assemblies
Voting begins on:
Systèmes spatiaux — Composants et assemblages de structure 2025-06-18
Voting terminates on:
2025-08-13
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT,
WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION OF ANY
RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE
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BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO­
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
Reference number
ISO/FDIS 10786:2025(en) © ISO 2025

FINAL DRAFT
ISO/FDIS 10786:2025(en)
International
Standard
ISO/FDIS 10786
ISO/TC 20/SC 14
Space systems — Structural
Secretariat: ANSI
components and assemblies
Voting begins on:
Systèmes spatiaux — Composants et assemblages de structure
Voting terminates on:
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT,
WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION OF ANY
RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE
AND TO PROVIDE SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
© ISO 2025
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO­
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland Reference number
ISO/FDIS 10786:2025(en) © ISO 2025

ii
ISO/FDIS 10786:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .vi
Introduction .vii
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms. 14
5 Tailoring .15
6 Requirements .15
6.1 General . 15
6.2 Design requirements .16
6.2.1 Static strength .16
6.2.2 Buckling strength .16
6.2.3 Margin of safety (MS) .16
6.2.4 Static stiffness .16
6.2.5 Dynamic behaviour .17
6.2.6 Dimensional stability .17
6.2.7 Tolerances and alignments . . .17
6.2.8 Thermal .17
6.2.9 Thermal distortion .17
6.2.10 Interface requirements . . .18
6.2.11 Electromagnetic compatibility .18
6.2.12 Lightning protection .18
6.2.13 Mass and inertia properties .18
6.2.14 Fatigue life .18
6.2.15 Fracture control .18
6.2.16 Impact damage .19
6.2.17 Stress-rupture life .19
6.2.18 Corrosion and stress corrosion control . 20
6.2.19 Outgassing. 20
6.2.20 Meteoroid and orbital debris protection . 20
6.3 Material requirements. 20
6.3.1 Mechanical properties . 20
6.3.2 Metallic materials . 20
6.3.3 Glass and ceramics materials .21
6.3.4 Composite materials . 22
6.3.5 Polymeric materials. 23
6.3.6 Adhesive materials in bonded joints .24
6.4 Manufacturing and interfaces requirements .24
6.4.1 Ensuring quality, reliability and reproducibility of manufacturing process by
production engineering.24
6.4.2 Manufacturing requirements .24
6.4.3 Manufacturing process .24
6.4.4 Integration requirements and procedures . 25
6.5 Quality assurance . 26
6.5.1 General . 26
6.5.2 Inspection . 26
6.5.3 Acceptance proof test . .27
6.6 Traceability .27
6.7 Deliverables .27
6.7.1 Identification of contractual deliverable products .27
6.7.2 Packing, handling, transportation .27
6.7.3 Storage . 28
6.8 In-service requirements . 28

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ISO/FDIS 10786:2025(en)
6.8.1 Ground inspection . . 28
6.8.2 In-orbit inspection . 28
6.8.3 Evaluation of damage . 28
6.9 Maintenance requirements . 29
6.9.1 General maintenance requirements . 29
6.9.2 Preventive maintenance . 29
6.9.3 Corrective maintenance . 29
6.10 Repair and refurbishment . 30
7 Verification of general requirements .30
7.1 General . 30
7.2 Verification of design requirements .
...

ISO/FDIS 10786:2025(en)
ISO/TC 20/SC 14
Secretariat: ANSI
Date: 2025-06-04-02
Space systems — Structural components and assemblies
Systèmes spatiaux — Composants et assemblages de structure
FDIS stage
ISO/FDIS 10786:2025(en)
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
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: + 41 22 749 01 11
EmailE-mail: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
ISO/FDIS 10786:2025(en)
Contents
Foreword . v
Introduction . vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms . 17
5 Tailoring . 18
6 Requirements . 18
6.1 General . 18
6.2 Design requirements . 19
6.3 Material requirements . 23
6.4 Manufacturing and interfaces requirements . 27
6.5 Quality assurance . 30
6.6 Traceability . 31
6.7 Deliverables . 31
6.8 In-service requirements . 32
6.9 Maintenance requirements . 33
6.10 Repair and refurbishment . 34
7 Verification of general requirements . 35
7.1 General . 35
7.2 Verification of design requirements . 35
7.3 Acceptance tests . 46
7.4 Qualification programme (qualification tests) . 47
8 Special structural items . 49
8.1 General . 49
8.2 Special structural items with published standards . 49
8.3 Special structural items without published standards . 50
9 Documentation requirements . 51
9.1 Interface control documents . 51
9.2 Applicable (contractual) documents . 51
9.3 Analysis reports . 51
10 Data exchange . 53
10.1 Data set requirements . 53
10.2 System configuration data . 54
10.3 Data exchange between design and structural analysis . 54
10.4 Data exchange between structural design and manufacturing . 54
10.5 Data exchange with other subsystems . 54
10.6 Tests and structural analysis . 54
10.7 Structural mathematical models . 54
Annex A (informative) Recommended best practices for structural design . 56
Annex B (informative) Design requirements verification methods . 67
Annex C (informative) Minimum design safety factors . 70
Annex D (informative) Margin of safety for combined loads . 74
Bibliography . 76
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ISO/FDIS 10786:2025(en)
iv
ISO/FDIS 10786:2025(en)
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.
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 document 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/had not] received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this
may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see 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 10786:2011), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— — clarification of the Scope;
— — updates of the normative references and their citations in the text;
— — updates of the terms and definitions to harmonize with the other ISO structural related standards.
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 10786:2025(en)
Introduction
Structures are the backbones of all spaceflight systems. A structural failure can cause the loss of human lives
for crewed space systems or can jeopardize the intended mission for uncrewed space systems.
The purpose of this document is to establish general requirements for structures in all space flight systems. It
provides the uniform requirements necessary to minimize the duplication of effort and the differences
between approaches taken by the participating nations and their commercial space communities in
developing structures. In addition, the use of agreed-upon standards can facilitate cooperation and
communication among space programmes.
This document, when implemented for a particular space system, assuresensures high confidence in achieving
safe and reliable operation in all phases of its planned mission.
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Final DRAFT International Standard ISO/FDIS 10786:2025(en)

Space systems — Structural components and assemblies
1 Scope
This document establishes requirements for the design, material selection and characterization, fabrication,
testing and inspection of all structural items in space systems, including expendable and reusable launch
vehicles, satellites and their payloads.
This document applies to all structural items, including fracture-critical hardware used in space systems
during all phases of the mission, with the following exceptions: adaptive structures, propulsion systems,
nuclear systems, and thermal protection systems.
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 14623, Space systems - Pressure vessels and pressurized structures — Design and operation
ISO 15864, Space systems — General test methods for spacecraft, subsystems and units
ISO 16126, Space systems — Survivability of unmanned spacecraft against space debris and meteoroid impacts
for the purpose of space debris mitigation
ISO 16454, Space systems — Structural design — Stress analysis requirements
ISO 21347, Space systems — Fracture and damage control
ISO 21648, Space systems — Flywheel module design and testing
ISO 24113, Space systems — Space debris mitigation requirements
ISO 24638, Space systems — Pressure components and pressure system integration
ISO 24917, Space systems — General test requirements for launch vehicles
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— — ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— — IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
ISO/FDIS 10786:2025(en)
3.23.1 3.1
A-basis allowable
A-basis design allowable
A-value
mechanical strength value above which at least 99 % of the population of values is expected to fall, with a
confidence level (3.13(3.13)) of 95 %
[SOURCE: ISO 14623:2003, 2.1]
3.2
[SOURCE: ISO 14623:2003, 2.1, modified — The admitted terms "A-basis design allowable" and "A-value" have
been added.]
3.2
acceptance test
required formal test (3.77(3.77)) conducted on flight hardware to ascertain that the materials (3.39(3.39),),
manufacturing processes (3.36(3.36),), and workmanship meet specifications and that the hardware is
acceptable for intended usage
[SOURCE: ISO 14623:2003, 2.2]
3.3[SOURCE: ISO 14623:2003, 2.2, modified — The term and definition have been changed from plural to
singular forms.]
3.3
adaptive structure
autonomous structural system which incorporates sensors, processors, and actuators to enable adaptation to
changing environmental c
...