Larun.Space
European Cooperation for Space Standardization

ECSS Standards Hub

The complete reference for all 139 active ECSS standards across 7 branches — covering management, engineering, quality, and sustainability.

Overview

ECSS is the European Cooperation for Space Standardization — a cooperative effort of ESA, national space agencies, and European industry. Its standards provide a unified framework for space project management, engineering, and quality assurance used across all ESA missions and increasingly adopted worldwide.

Document Hierarchy

-ST-Standards — normative "shall" requirements
-HB-Handbooks — informative guidance
-TM-Technical Memoranda — background info

Applicability

  • ✓All ESA missions and programmes
  • ✓European national space agencies (CNES, DLR, ASI…)
  • ✓Prime contractors (Airbus Defence & Space, Thales, OHB…)
  • ✓Commercial missions opting in

Branch Structure

MManagement

Project planning, configuration, risk, ILS, cost

EEngineering

Systems, structures, thermal, software, propulsion

QQuality

Product assurance, reliability, safety, EEE, materials

UUtilities

Space sustainability, spectrum management

SSpace Segment

Satellite-specific, launcher-specific standards

PProject

Mission-category tailoring guidelines

DGround Data Systems

Ground segment, mission operations standards

Branch M — Management

Covers project management processes throughout the space project lifecycle, including planning, configuration, risk, cost and logistics.

StandardTitleScope
ECSS-M-ST-10C Rev.1Project Planning and ImplementationPlanning
ECSS-M-ST-40C Rev.1Configuration and Information ManagementConfig Mgmt
ECSS-M-ST-60C Rev.1Cost and Schedule ManagementCost/Sched
ECSS-M-ST-70C Rev.1Integrated Logistics SupportLogistics
ECSS-M-ST-80C Rev.2Risk ManagementRisk
ECSS-M-HB-10AProject Planning and Implementation HandbookGuidance
ECSS-M-HB-60ACost Engineering HandbookCost Guide
ECSS-M-HB-80ARisk Management HandbookRisk Guide
Key requirement: ECSS-M-ST-10C mandates a Project Management Plan (PMP) at project start, covering organisation, WBS, milestones, risk register, and configuration baseline.

Branch E — Engineering

The largest branch — systems engineering, mechanical, thermal, electrical, software, propulsion, communications, and ground systems.

E-10Systems Engineering

StandardTitle
ECSS-E-ST-10C Rev.1System Engineering General Requirements
ECSS-E-ST-10-02C Rev.1Verification
ECSS-E-ST-10-03C Rev.1Testing
ECSS-E-ST-10-04C Rev.1Space Environment
ECSS-E-ST-10-06CTechnical Requirements Specification
ECSS-E-ST-10-09CInterface Management

E-32Structural Engineering

StandardTitle
ECSS-E-ST-32C Rev.1Structural General Requirements
ECSS-E-ST-32-01C Rev.2Fracture Control
ECSS-E-ST-32-02C Rev.1Structural Design and Verification of Pressurised Hardware
ECSS-E-ST-32-08C Rev.2Fasteners
ECSS-E-ST-32-10C Rev.1Structural Factors of Safety for Spaceflight Hardware
ECSS-E-HB-32-20AStructural Materials Handbook
ECSS-E-HB-32-26ASpacecraft Mechanical Loads Analysis Handbook

E-20Electrical & Electronic

StandardTitle
ECSS-E-ST-20C Rev.2Electrical and Electronic
ECSS-E-ST-20-07C Rev.1Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
ECSS-E-ST-20-08C Rev.1Photovoltaic Assemblies and Components

E-31Thermal Control

StandardTitle
ECSS-E-ST-31C Rev.1Thermal Control for Space Vehicles
ECSS-E-HB-31-01AThermal Design Handbook

E-33/35Propulsion

StandardTitle
ECSS-E-ST-33-01C Rev.2Liquid Propulsion for Spacecraft
ECSS-E-ST-33-11C Rev.1Electric Propulsion
ECSS-E-ST-35C Rev.1Propulsion General

E-40Software Engineering

StandardTitle
ECSS-E-ST-40C Rev.1Software Engineering General Requirements
ECSS-E-HB-40ASoftware Engineering Handbook

Branch Q — Quality Assurance

Product assurance, reliability, FMECA, safety analysis, EEE components, materials, and software product assurance.

StandardTitleDomain
ECSS-Q-ST-10C Rev.1Product Assurance ManagementPA Mgmt
ECSS-Q-ST-20C Rev.1Quality AssuranceQA
ECSS-Q-ST-20-07CQuality Standard for Complex EEE ComponentsEEE
ECSS-Q-ST-20-08CMeasurement UncertaintyMeasurement
ECSS-Q-ST-30C Rev.1DependabilityReliability
ECSS-Q-ST-30-02CFailure Mode Effects Criticality Analysis (FMECA)Safety
ECSS-Q-ST-40C Rev.1SafetySafety
ECSS-Q-ST-40-12CFault Tree Analysis (FTA)Safety
ECSS-Q-ST-60C Rev.2EEE ComponentsEEE
ECSS-Q-ST-60-02C Rev.2COTS EEE ComponentsEEE COTS
ECSS-Q-ST-70C Rev.2Materials, Mechanical Parts, and ProcessesMaterials
ECSS-Q-ST-70-01C Rev.1Cleanliness and Contamination ControlCleanliness
ECSS-Q-ST-70-04CThermal Testing for Soldered ConnectionsSoldering
ECSS-Q-ST-70-12CDesign Rules for PCBsPCB
ECSS-Q-ST-80C Rev.1Software Product AssuranceSW PA
ECSS-Q-HB-30-01ADependability HandbookGuidance
ECSS-Q-HB-80-04ASoftware Metrication HandbookSW Guidance
FMECA note: ECSS-Q-ST-30-02C requires FMECA at both functional and hardware levels. Critical items (single-point failures) must be tracked in a FRACAS (Failure Reporting, Analysis, and Corrective Action System).

Branch U — Utilities / Sustainability

Cross-cutting standards for space sustainability, orbital debris mitigation, and spectrum management.

StandardTitle
ECSS-U-AS-10C Rev.2Space Sustainability (Orbital Debris Mitigation)
ECSS-U-ST-10CSpace Sustainability — Legal and Regulatory Framework
ECSS-U-ST-20CElectromagnetic Spectrum Management
Debris mitigation: ECSS-U-AS-10C aligns with ISO 24113 and IADC guidelines. Key requirements include post-mission disposal within 25 years for LEO, and passivation of energy sources within 5 years of mission end.

Branch S / P / D

S

Space Segment

Spacecraft and launcher-specific standards. Includes satellite bus, payload integration, and launch vehicle interfaces.

  • ECSS-S-ST-00C
  • Tailoring guidelines for satellite/launcher categories
P

Project

Mission-category tailoring framework. Defines compliance levels for different mission classes (A–D).

D

Ground Data Systems

Ground segment, mission data management, and telemetry standards.

Lifecycle & Reviews

ECSS defines a phased project lifecycle with mandatory reviews at each phase gate, aligned with ESA's project phases 0/A/B/C/D/E/F.

0

Mission Analysis / Needs Identification

MDR
A

Feasibility

PRR, SRR
B

Preliminary Definition

PDR
C

Detailed Definition

CDR
D

Qualification and Production

QR, AR
E

Utilisation

ORR, FRR, LRR, CRR, ELR
F

Disposal

MCR
Review types: MDR (Mission Definition Review), PRR (Preliminary Requirements Review), SRR (System Requirements Review), PDR (Preliminary Design Review), CDR (Critical Design Review), QR (Qualification Review), AR (Acceptance Review), ORR (Operational Readiness Review), FRR (Flight Readiness Review).

Software Standards

ECSS defines software engineering and assurance requirements across two branches: E-40 (Engineering) and Q-80 (Quality). Together they govern the full software lifecycle for space projects.

ECSS-E-ST-40C Rev.1 — Engineering

• Software development process requirements

• Documentation requirements (SRS, SDD, ICD, STS, STR)

• Verification and validation at each phase

• Software classification (levels A–E by criticality)

ECSS-Q-ST-80C Rev.1 — Product Assurance

• Software PA plan and reviews

• Non-conformance and change control

• Supplier audits and qualification

• Metrics collection and analysis

Software Classification (ECSS-E-ST-40)

LevelCriticalityExample
AMission-critical / Safety-criticalAttitude control, life-support
BMission-critical, not safetyPayload data handling
CNot mission-criticalGround support tools
DNon-mission softwareAdmin, documentation tools
ECOTS / reused (no source)OS, RTOS

Cross-Reference: ECSS ↔ NASA ↔ Industry

Mapping between ECSS standards, NASA standards, and key industry/military equivalents.

DomainECSSNASAIndustry
Systems EngineeringECSS-E-ST-10C Rev.1NPR 7123.1CISO/IEC 15288
Program ManagementECSS-M-ST-10C Rev.1NPR 7120.5FPMI PMBOK
Software EngineeringECSS-E-ST-40C Rev.1NPR 7150.2CDO-178C, IEEE 12207
Software AssuranceECSS-Q-ST-80C Rev.1NASA-STD-8739.8BDO-178C, IEC 61508-3
Structural DesignECSS-E-ST-32C Rev.1NASA-STD-5001BAIAA S-110, S-111
Fracture ControlECSS-E-ST-32-01C Rev.2NASA-STD-5019AMIL-STD-1530
Safety / FMEAECSS-Q-ST-40C Rev.1NPR 8715.3CMIL-STD-882E, IEC 61508
Fault Tree AnalysisECSS-Q-ST-40-12CNASA Fault Tree HBIEC 61025
Materials & ProcessesECSS-Q-ST-70C Rev.2NASA-STD-6016CASTM, MIL-HDBK-5
Electrical BondingECSS-E-ST-20C Rev.2NASA-STD-4003AMIL-STD-464
Orbital DebrisECSS-U-AS-10C Rev.2NASA-STD-8719.17DISO 24113
EMCECSS-E-ST-20-07CCenter standardsMIL-STD-461G
NBrowse the full NASA Standards Hub →

Glossary

CDR
Critical Design Review
CDF
Concurrent Design Facility
DRD
Document Requirements Definition
EEE
Electrical, Electronic & Electromechanical
FMECA
Failure Mode, Effects & Criticality Analysis
FRACAS
Failure Reporting, Analysis & Corrective Action System
FRR
Flight Readiness Review
FTA
Fault Tree Analysis
GSE
Ground Support Equipment
ICD
Interface Control Document
ILS
Integrated Logistics Support
KDP
Key Decision Point
MCR
Mission Close-out Review
MDR
Mission Definition Review
NCR
Non-Conformance Report
ORR
Operational Readiness Review
PA
Product Assurance
PDR
Preliminary Design Review
PMP
Project Management Plan
PRR
Preliminary Requirements Review
RAMS
Reliability, Availability, Maintainability & Safety
RID
Review Item Discrepancy
SE
Systems Engineering
SEMP
Systems Engineering Management Plan
SRR
System Requirements Review
STR
Software Test Report
TRL
Technology Readiness Level
V&V
Verification & Validation
WBS
Work Breakdown Structure

Resources

ECSS Standards Portal

Official source for all ECSS standards — search, filter by branch, download PDFs

ESA Engineering Standards

ESA's overview of ECSS adoption and project requirements

ECSS Secretariat

ECSS organisation homepage — membership, working groups, news

NASA Standards (Cross-ref)

NASA's equivalent technical standards program for comparison

ISO Space Standards

ISO/TC 20/SC 14 — Space Systems standards committee

ECSS Glossary

Searchable ECSS glossary of space terms and abbreviations