NASA Standards Hub
Complete reference for 83 NASA-STD, NASA-HDBK, and NASA-SPEC documents across 9 engineering discipline categories — plus commercial space programs, Artemis architecture, and governance framework.
Overview
The NASA Technical Standards Program (NTSP) maintains the Agency's collection of technical standards, handbooks, and specifications. Documents are accessed via the NASA Technical Standards System (NTSS) at standards.nasa.gov. Directives (NPRs/NPDs) live in NODIS.
Document Types
Number Series
1000–1999 Systems Engineering
2000–2999 Comms & IT
3000–3999 Human Systems
4000–4999 Electrical
5000–5999 Structures/Mech
6000–6999 Materials
7000–7999 Test & Environment
8000–8999 Safety & SMA
10000+ Facilities
Key Facts
- ✓ Program established 1997 by OCE
- ✓ 83 active technical standards
- ✓ 10 NASA Centers + JPL (FFRDC)
- ✓ OMB A-119: prefer industry stds
- ✓ "Internet Public" = freely downloadable
- ✓ Feedback via NTSS portal
Governance Framework
Document Hierarchy (8 Levels)
| Level | Document Type | Prefix | Nature | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 — Federal | U.S. Code / OMB Circulars | — | Law / Regulation | 51 U.S.C. § 20113; OMB A-119 |
| 2 — Policy | NASA Policy Directive | NPD | What (Policy) | NPD 7120.4 — Engineering & PM Policy |
| 3 — Procedure | NASA Procedural Requirements | NPR | How (Requirements) | NPR 7120.5F — Space Flight PM |
| 4 — Standard | NASA Technical Standard | NASA-STD- | Mandatory ("shall") | NASA-STD-5019A — Fracture Control |
| 4 — Spec | NASA Specification | NASA-SPEC- | Mandatory ("shall") | NASA-SPEC-5022 — Pyrovalves |
| 4 — Handbook | NASA Technical Handbook | NASA-HDBK- | Guidance ("should") | NASA-HDBK-2203 — Software Eng. |
| 5 — Center | Center Standards / CPR / CPD | Varies | Center-specific | JPL Design Principles, MSFC-SPEC- |
| 6 — Endorsed | OCE Endorsed Standards | Varies | Pick-list for programs | AIAA, SAE, IEEE, ASTM, MIL-STD |
Three Technical Authorities
Engineering Technical Authority (ETA) — Responsible for engineering design processes, specifications, rules, and best practices. Delegated by Center Directors.
Safety & Mission Assurance Technical Authority (SMA TA) — Independent safety oversight managed per NASA-STD-8709.20.
Health & Medical Technical Authority (HMTA) — Crew health/medical requirements compliance for human spaceflight.
Space Flight Program & Project Management
Lifecycle phases Pre-A through F, KDPs, life-cycle reviews, product requirements.
Systems Engineering Processes & Requirements
17 SE processes covering technical requirements, design, integration, and V&V.
Software Engineering Requirements
Mandatory software engineering, classification levels A–E, IV&V requirements.
Agency Risk Management
Risk identification, analysis, handling, and monitoring across all programs.
Lifecycle & Reviews
Governed by NPR 7120.5F. Phases Pre-A through B = Formulation; C through F = Implementation.
Pre-A
Concept Studies
→ KDP A
A
Concept & Tech Dev
MCR/SRR → KDP B
B
Preliminary Design
SDR/PDR → KDP C
C
Final Design & Fab
CDR → KDP D
D
Assembly, I&T
SIR/ORR → KDP E
E
Operations
FRR/DR → KDP F
F
Closeout
DR
Major Reviews (NPR 7123.1C)
| Review | Full Name | Phase | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCR | Mission Concept Review | Pre-A/A | Evaluates mission concepts and feasibility |
| SRR | System Requirements Review | A | Completeness and consistency of requirements |
| SDR | System Definition Review | A/B | System definition and allocated requirements |
| PDR | Preliminary Design Review | B | Preliminary design and verification approach |
| CDR | Critical Design Review | C | Detailed design readiness for fabrication |
| TRR | Test Readiness Review | C/D | Readiness for formal test execution |
| SIR | System Integration Review | D | System integration completeness |
| ORR | Operational Readiness Review | D | Readiness for operational deployment |
| FRR | Flight Readiness Review | E | Final go/no-go for each flight |
| DR | Decommissioning Review | E/F | Plans for safe disposal or decommissioning |
1000 Series — Systems Engineering & Project Management
Digital engineering, systems modeling, mission architecture, space system protection, and planetary environment testing. 5 documents.
| Standard | Title | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASA-HDBK-1004 | NASA Digital Engineering Acquisition Framework Handbook | 2020-04 | HDBK |
| NASA-HDBK-1005 | NASA Space Mission Architecture Framework (SMAF) for Uncrewed Missions | 2021-03 | HDBK |
| NASA-HDBK-1009A | NASA Systems Modeling Handbook for Systems Engineering | 2025-03 | HDBK |
| NASA-STD-1006A | Space System Protection Standard | 2022-07 | STD |
| NASA-STD-1008 | Classifications & Requirements for Testing Systems Exposed to Dust in Planetary Environments | 2021-09 | STD |
SE Processes & Requirements
Defines the NASA "SE Engine" — 17 processes aligned with ISO/IEC 15288. Compliance matrix in Appendix H.
Space Flight PM Requirements
Master PM framework for all space flight programs. Defines lifecycle, KDPs, reviews, WBS, and product-based approach.
Digital Engineering & MBSE
NASA-HDBK-1004 (acquisition framework), HDBK-1009A (SysML/MBSE guidance, 2025). Digital Thread and Digital Twin practices.
2000 Series — Communications & Information Technology
Standards for digital television, audio/video, and imagery metadata. The smallest discipline category — 3 active standards.
| Standard | Title | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASA-STD-2818 | Digital Television for NASA | Ver. 4.0 (2015) | STD |
| NASA-STD-2821 | Audio and Video Standards for Internet Resources | V2 (2020) | STD |
| NASA-STD-2822 | Still and Motion Imagery Metadata Standard | 2.0 (2024) | STD |
3000 Series — Human Systems & Human-Rating
Standards ensuring crew health, safety, and the human-rating certification process for crewed space systems.
| Standard | Title | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| NPR 8705.2C | Human-Rating Requirements for Space Systems | Current | NPR |
| NASA-STD-3001 Vol.1 | Spaceflight Human-System Standard — Crew Health (Vol 1C) | 2023 | STD |
| NASA-STD-3001 Vol.2 | Spaceflight Human-System Standard — Human Factors, Habitability (Vol 2E) | 2025 | STD |
| NASA-STD-8719.29 | Technical Requirements for Human-Rating | — | STD |
4000 Series — Electrical & Electronic Engineering
Spacecraft electrical systems, charging, lightning protection, high-voltage design, and programmable logic devices. 9 documents.
| Standard | Title | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASA-STD-4003A | Electrical Bonding for Launch Vehicles, Spacecraft, Payloads & Flight Equipment | 2013 (Chg 2016) | STD |
| NASA-STD-4005A | Low Earth Orbit Spacecraft Charging Design Standard | 2016 (Chg 2021) | STD |
| NASA-STD-4010A | Lightning Launch Commit Criteria for Space Flight | 2023 | STD |
| NASA-HDBK-4001A | Electrical Grounding Architecture for Unmanned Spacecraft | 2025 | HDBK |
| NASA-HDBK-4002B | Mitigating In-Space Charging Effects — A Guideline | 2022 | HDBK |
| NASA-HDBK-4006A | Low Earth Orbit Spacecraft Charging Design Handbook | 2018 | HDBK |
| NASA-HDBK-4007 | Spacecraft High-Voltage Paschen and Corona Design Handbook | 2016 (Chg 2020) | HDBK |
| NASA-HDBK-4008 | Programmable Logic Devices (PLD) Handbook | 2013 (Chg 2025) | HDBK |
| NASA-HDBK-4011 | VHDL Style Handbook | 2022 | HDBK |
5000 Series — Structures, Mechanical & Propulsion
Structural factors of safety, fracture control, mechanisms, load analyses, fasteners, NDE, GSE design, and additive manufacturing. 13 documents.
| Standard | Title | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASA-STD-5001B | Structural Design and Test Factors of Safety for Spaceflight Hardware | 2014 (Chg 2022) | STD |
| NASA-STD-5002A | Load Analyses of Spacecraft and Payloads | 2019 | STD |
| NASA-STD-5005D | Design and Fabrication of Ground Support Equipment | 2013 (Chg 2024) | STD |
| NASA-STD-5009C | NDE Requirements for Fracture Critical Metallic Components | 2023 | STD |
| NASA-STD-5012B | Strength & Life Assessment — Liquid-Fueled Propulsion System Engines | 2016 | STD |
| NASA-STD-5017B | Design and Development Requirements for Mechanisms | 2022 | STD |
| NASA-STD-5018 | Strength Design for Glass, Ceramics & Windows in Human Spaceflight | 2011 (Chg 2017) | STD |
| NASA-STD-5019A | Fracture Control Requirements for Spaceflight Hardware | 2016 (Chg 2024) | STD |
| NASA-STD-5020B | Requirements for Threaded Fastening Systems in Spaceflight Hardware | 2021 | STD |
| NASA-SPEC-5022 | Manufacturing & Test Requirements for Pyrovalves | 2015 (Chg 2021) | SPEC |
| NASA-HDBK-5010 | Fracture Control Implementation Handbook — Guidance (Vol 1 Rev A) | 2023 | HDBK |
| NASA-HDBK-5010 | Fracture Control Implementation Handbook — Examples (Vol 2 Rev A) | 2024 | HDBK |
| NASA-HDBK-5026 | Strength, Fatigue & Fracture Control for Additive Manufacturing Spaceflight Hardware | 2024 | HDBK |
6000 Series — Materials & Processes
Flammability, corrosion, materials selection, additive manufacturing, atomic oxygen durability. 7 documents.
| Standard | Title | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASA-STD-6001B | Flammability, Offgassing & Compatibility Requirements and Test Procedures | 2011 (Chg 2025) | STD |
| NASA-STD-6012A | Corrosion Protection for Space Flight Hardware | 2022 | STD |
| NASA-STD-6016C | Standard Materials & Processes Requirements for Spacecraft | 2021 (Chg 2023) | STD |
| NASA-STD-6030 | Additive Manufacturing Requirements for Spaceflight Systems | 2021 | STD |
| NASA-STD-6033 | AM Requirements for Equipment and Facility Control | 2021 | STD |
| NASA-HDBK-6007B | Material Removal Processes for Advanced Ceramic Components | 2018 (Chg 2022) | HDBK |
| NASA-HDBK-6024 | Spacecraft Polymers Atomic Oxygen Durability Handbook | 2014 (Chg 2022) | HDBK |
7000 Series — Test, Environment & Modeling
Vibroacoustic testing, payload requirements, models & simulations, leak testing, and DFAT. 7 documents.
| Standard | Title | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASA-STD-7001B | Payload Vibroacoustic Test Criteria | 2017 | STD |
| NASA-STD-7002B | Payload Test Requirements | 2018 (Chg 2023) | STD |
| NASA-STD-7009B | Standard for Models and Simulations | 2024 | STD |
| NASA-STD-7012A | Leak Test Requirements | 2023 | STD |
| NASA-STD-1008 | Dust Testing in Planetary Environments | 2021 | STD |
| NASA-HDBK-7009A | Models & Simulations Implementation Guide | 2019 | HDBK |
| NASA-HDBK-7010 | Direct Field Acoustic Testing (DFAT) | 2016 | HDBK |
8000 Series — Safety, Quality & Mission Assurance
The largest discipline category. Covers system safety, SMA management, workmanship, orbital debris, software assurance, and safety culture. ~35 documents.
Key Safety & SMA Standards
| Standard | Title | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASA-STD-8709.20 | Management of SMA Technical Authority Requirements | — | STD |
| NASA-HDBK-8709.22 | SMA Acronyms, Abbreviations & Definitions | 2018 (Chg 2021) | HDBK |
| NASA-HDBK-8709.24 | NASA Safety Culture Handbook | 2015 (Chg 2021) | HDBK |
| NASA-HDBK-8709.25 | Human Factors Handbook — Procedural Guidance & Tools | 2023 | HDBK |
| NASA-STD-8719.11B | Fire Protection and Life Safety | 2020 | STD |
| NASA-STD-8719.12A | Safety Standard for Explosives, Propellants & Pyrotechnics | 2018 | STD |
| NASA-STD-8719.17D | Orbital Debris Mitigation — NASA Requirements | 2023 | STD |
| NASA-STD-8719.27 | Implementing Planetary Protection Requirements | 2022 | STD |
| NASA-HDBK-8715.26 | Nuclear Flight Safety for Space Nuclear Systems | 2023 | HDBK |
Workmanship Standards (8739 Series)
| Standard | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| NASA-STD-8739.1 | Workmanship Standard for Polymeric Application on Electronic Assemblies | STD |
| NASA-STD-8739.4 | Crimping, Interconnect Cables, Harnesses & Wiring | STD |
| NASA-STD-8739.5 | Fiber Optic Terminations, Cable Assemblies & Installation | STD |
| NASA-STD-8739.6B | Implementation Requirements for NASA Approved Workmanship Standards | STD |
| NASA-STD-8739.8B | Software Assurance and Software Safety | STD |
| NASA-STD-8739.14 | Fastener Procurement, Receiving Inspection & Storage for Mission Hardware | STD |
| NASA-HDBK-8739.18 | Procedural Handbook for Problems, Nonconformances & Anomalies | HDBK |
| NASA-HDBK-8739.19 | Measurement Quality Assurance Handbook (Annexes 2–4) | HDBK |
| NASA-HDBK-8739.21 | Workmanship Manual for ESD Control | HDBK |
10000 Series — Facilities Design & Infrastructure
Building Information Modeling (BIM) requirements and facility design standards for NASA centers. 2 documents.
| Standard | Title | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASA-STD-10001 | NASA Building Information Modeling Scope of Services & Requirements for Architects and Engineers | 2020 | STD |
| NASA-STD-10002 | NASA Facilities Design Standard | 2021 | STD |
Software Engineering (Cross-Cutting)
| Standard | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| NPR 7150.2C | NASA Software Engineering Requirements — defines classification A–E and lifecycle requirements | NPR |
| NASA-STD-8739.8B | Software Assurance and Software Safety Standard | STD |
| NASA-HDBK-2203 | NASA Software Engineering Handbook (Rev B, wiki-based) | HDBK |
| NASA-STD-7009B | Standard for Models and Simulations — M&S credibility assessment | STD |
Software Classification (NPR 7150.2C)
| Class | Criticality | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A | Catastrophic failure impact | Human-rated flight control |
| B | Critical failure impact | Mission critical systems |
| C | Significant failure impact | Science payload software |
| D | Negligible failure impact | Ground tools |
| E | Information only (legacy/COTS) | Off-the-shelf OS |
Commercial Space Programs — Overview
NASA's public-private partnership model — from ISS cargo in 2006 to lunar landing services and post-ISS commercial stations.
Program Timeline (2006–2025)
| Year | Program | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | COTS | Commercial Orbital Transportation Services initiated |
| 2010 | CCDev1 | $50M SAAs — crew transport concept development (5 companies) |
| 2011 | CCDev2 | $269M for crew vehicle development (Blue Origin, Boeing, SNC, SpaceX) |
| 2012 | CRS-1 | First Commercial Resupply contracts (SpaceX Dragon, Orbital Cygnus) |
| 2012 | CCiCap | $1.1B — end-to-end crew systems (Boeing, SNC, SpaceX) |
| 2014 | CCtCap | $6.8B FAR contracts — Boeing ($4.82B), SpaceX ($3.14B) |
| 2016 | CRS-2 | 2nd-gen resupply (SpaceX, Northrop, Sierra Nevada / Dream Chaser) |
| 2018 | CLPS | Commercial Lunar Payload Services — $2.6B IDIQ pool initiated |
| 2020 | CCP Ops | SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2 — first operational commercial crew |
| 2020 | HLS | SpaceX Starship HLS selected ($2.9B) for Artemis crewed landings |
| 2021 | CLD | $415.6M Phase 1 awards — Axiom, Starlab, Orbital Reef |
| 2023 | HLS Sustain | Blue Origin Blue Moon selected as sustaining HLS ($3.4B) |
| 2024 | CLPS Landings | IM-1 Odysseus (success), Blue Ghost-1 (success), Peregrine-1 (failed) |
| 2025 | CLD Phase 2 | Revised AFP — $2.1B over 5 years, min 2 providers |
COTS & Commercial Resupply Services (CRS)
COTS — Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (2006–2013)
| Company | Vehicle | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| SpaceX | Dragon + Falcon 9 | $396M | First private spacecraft to berth ISS (May 2012) |
| Orbital Sciences (now Northrop) | Cygnus + Antares | $288M | First Cygnus ISS berthing (Jan 2014) |
| Rocketplane Kistler | K-1 (terminated) | $207M rescinded | Contract terminated Oct 2007 — non-performance |
CRS-1 (2012–2024)
| Company | Vehicle | Contract | Missions |
|---|---|---|---|
| SpaceX | Dragon (Cargo) | $1.6B | 20 missions (CRS-1 through CRS-20) |
| Northrop Grumman | Cygnus | $1.9B | 11 missions (OA/NG-1 through NG-11) |
CRS-2 (2016–present)
| Company | Vehicle | Contract | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| SpaceX | Cargo Dragon 2 | ~$3.04B | Autonomous docking, pressurized + unpressurized cargo |
| Northrop Grumman | Cygnus (Enhanced) | ~$3.04B | Disposal capability, extended missions |
| Sierra Space | Dream Chaser | ~$3.04B | Winged vehicle, runway landing, cargo return, first flight 2025 |
Commercial Crew Program (CCP)
Program Phases & Funding ($8.2B+ Total)
| Phase | Mechanism | Period | Funding | Companies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCDev1 | Space Act Agreement | 2010 | $50M | Blue Origin ($3.7M), Boeing ($18M), SNC ($20M), ULA ($6.7M) |
| CCDev2 | Space Act Agreement | 2011–14 | $269M | Blue Origin ($22M), Boeing ($92M), SNC ($80M), SpaceX ($75M) |
| CCiCap | Space Act Agreement | 2012–14 | $1.1B | Boeing ($460M), SNC ($212M), SpaceX ($440M) |
| CPC | FAR Contract | 2012–14 | $30M | Boeing, SNC, SpaceX (~$10M each) |
| CCtCap | FAR FFP | 2014–present | $6.8B | Boeing ($4.82B), SpaceX ($3.14B) |
SpaceX Crew Dragon
Capsule, 4 crew + cargo. Autonomous docking. Falcon 9 launch. First operational flight Crew-1 (Nov 2020). 10+ crew rotation missions through 2025. Also: Ax-1/2/3, Inspiration4, Polaris Dawn.
CCtCap: $3.14B · Operational since 2020
Boeing CST-100 Starliner
OFT-2 (May 2022) success. CFT (Jun 2024) docked but returned uncrewed due to thruster issues. Crew returned on SpaceX Crew-9. Boeing reviewing future of space business.
CCtCap: $4.82B · Certification: In review
Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS)
Rapid, affordable robotic lunar payload delivery for Artemis pathfinding. IDIQ pool — $2.6B max through Nov 2028. 14 eligible U.S. vendors. NASA buys service, not hardware.
Intuitive Machines
Nova-C lander. Houston, TX. 4 task orders. IM-1 (Feb 2024 — first commercial lunar landing), IM-2 (2025, south pole), IM-3 (2025–26, Reiner Gamma), IM-4 (2027).
Firefly Aerospace
Blue Ghost lander. Cedar Park, TX. 4 task orders. BG-1 (Jan 2025, Mare Crisium — success), BG-2 (2026, far side), BG-3 (2027), BG-4 (2028, CSA rover).
Astrobotic Technology
Peregrine & Griffin landers. Pittsburgh, PA. 2 task orders. Peregrine-1 (Jan 2024 — propellant leak, failed). Griffin (2025 — south pole).
Draper / Team Draper
APEX 1.0 lander. Cambridge, MA. 1 task order. Schrödinger Basin far side (2026) — seismometers, heat flow, subsurface measurements.
Blue Origin
Blue Moon Mark 1. Kent, WA. 1 task order. Demo flight (2025). Also delivering VIPER rover (2027).
Other Eligible Vendors
Ceres Robotics, Deep Space Systems, Lockheed Martin, Masten (bankrupt — assets to Astrobotic), Moon Express, Sierra Space, SpaceX, Tyvak.
Mission Status
| Mission | Provider | Date | Site | Status | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peregrine-1 | Astrobotic | Jan 2024 | Lacus Mortis (planned) | ✗ Failed — propellant leak | $108M |
| IM-1 (Odysseus) | Intuitive Machines | Feb 2024 | Malapert A (south pole) | ✓ Landed (tipped) | $118M |
| Blue Ghost-1 | Firefly | Jan 2025 | Mare Crisium | ✓ Landed — success | $93.3M |
| IM-2 | Intuitive Machines | 2025 | Mons Mouton (south pole) | ⚠ Landed (tipped) | $47M |
| Griffin | Astrobotic | 2025 | Mons Mouton | In preparation | $320.4M |
| IM-3 | Intuitive Machines | 2025–26 | Reiner Gamma | Manifested | $77.5M |
| Blue Moon Demo | Blue Origin | 2025 | TBD | In development | — |
| Draper SERIES-2 | Team Draper | 2026 | Schrödinger (far side) | In development | $73M |
Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD)
Privately-owned stations to replace ISS (~2030 retirement). Critical timeline: NASA's OIG warns commercial platform unlikely before 2030. FY2026: $272.3M requested; $2.1B projected over 5 years.
| Phase | Mechanism | Scope | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 — CDISS | FFP Contract ($140M) | Axiom Space — ISS-attached modules → free-flying | Active (AxH1 targeted 2026–27) |
| Phase 1 — CDFF | Funded SAAs ($415.6M) | Free-flying station design maturation through 2025 | Complete |
| Phase 2 | Funded SAAs (revised 2025) | CDR readiness + in-space crewed demo. Min 2 providers. ~$1.5B | AFP expected 2025, awards 2026 |
Axiom Station
Modules attached to ISS, then detach for free-flying ops. AxH1 module targeted 2026–27. Has flown Ax-1/2/3 private missions. $140M NASA + private investment.
Starlab
Voyager Space + Airbus + Northrop. Single-launch on Starship. 4 crew. George Washington Carver Science Park labs. Power/volume ≈ ISS. Target: 2028–29.
Orbital Reef
Blue Origin + Sierra Space + Boeing. Modular "business park". Up to 10 crew, 830 m³. Includes LIFE inflatable habitat. Progress slowed 2024.
Vast — Haven-1/2
Haven-1: single module, Q1 2027 on Falcon 9, 4 crew for 2-week missions. Haven-2: larger multi-module. Bidding for CLD Phase 2. Private funding from Jed McCaleb.
Human Landing System (HLS)
Commercial lunar landers enabling Artemis crewed surface missions — the first human Moon landings since Apollo 17 in 1972.
SpaceX Starship HLS
Contract: $2.89B (Apr 2021), augmented for Artemis IV. Based on Starship architecture with orbital refueling. Will land 2 astronauts on lunar south pole for Artemis III. Requires multiple tanker launches. First uncrewed demo required before crewed mission.
Artemis III · Artemis IV
Blue Origin Blue Moon
Contract: $3.4B (May 2023). Mark 2 lander for Artemis V and beyond. Partners: Lockheed Martin, Draper, Boeing, Astrobotic, Honeybee Robotics. Designed for reusability. Mark 1 demo under separate CLPS contract.
Artemis V+ · Blue Moon Mark 1 & 2
Artemis Program Architecture
Mission Manifest
| Mission | Date (NET) | Type | Crew | SLS | Key Objectives | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artemis I | Nov 2022 | Uncrewed test | — | Block 1 | SLS maiden flight, Orion heat shield test, DRO 25.5-day mission | ✓ Complete |
| Artemis II | Mar 2026 | Crewed flyby | 4 | Block 1 | First crewed SLS/Orion; lunar free-return ~10 days; crew: Wiseman, Glover, Koch, Hansen (CSA) | On pad — wet dress rehearsal |
| Artemis III | NET 2028 | Crewed landing | 4 (2 land) | Block 1 | First crewed lunar landing since 1972; south pole; Starship HLS; Axiom xEVAS suits. May be replanned. | In development — delays |
| Artemis IV | NET Sep 2028 | Gateway + Landing | 4 | Block 1B | Deliver I-Hab to Gateway; first crewed Gateway visit; lunar surface via HLS | In development |
| Artemis V | NET 2030 | Gateway + Landing | 4 | Block 1B | Deliver Lunar View; Blue Origin Blue Moon HLS; sustained operations | Planning |
| Artemis VI–VIII | 2030s | Sustained | 4 | Block 1B/2 | Routine Gateway ops; extended surface stays; ISRU demos; Mars prep | Planning |
Architecture Elements
Space Launch System (SLS)
Block 1: 95 mT LEO, 27 mT TLI. 322 ft, 8.8M lbs thrust. 4× RS-25 + 2× 5-segment SRBs. ICPS upper stage. Block 1B: EUS for Artemis IV+, 38 mT TLI. Block 2 (future): 130 mT LEO. ~$4.1B per launch. MSFC managed, Boeing prime.
Orion MPCV
Deep space capsule, 4 crew, up to 30+ days with Gateway. LAS for full ascent abort capability. European Service Module (ESA/Airbus): 33 kN OMS-E, 4× solar arrays 11.1 kW. AVCOAT ablative heat shield. Skip-entry at ~25,000 mph / 5,000°F. JSC managed, Lockheed Martin prime.
Gateway — Initial Config
PPE (Maxar, $375M): 60 kW SEP, 50 kW power, xenon ion AEPS thrusters. HALO (Northrop/Thales Alenia, $935M): first habitable module, C&DH, life support, docking ports. Launched together on Falcon Heavy (NET 2027). NRHO ~1,000–43,500 mi from Moon surface.
Gateway — Expansion
Lunar I-Hab (ESA/JAXA/Thales Alenia): enhanced habitation, ECLSS. Arrives Artemis IV. Lunar View (ESA): refueling, logistics. Canadarm3 (CSA): autonomous robotic arm. Crew & Science Airlock (MBRSC/UAE). International partners: ESA, JAXA, CSA, MBRSC.
Applicable Standards Across Artemis
| Domain | Standards | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Human Rating | SLS, Orion, HLS, xEVAS — certification before crewed missions | |
| Crew Health | Crew health, human factors, habitability for all crewed elements | |
| Structures | Factors of safety, fracture control for SLS, Orion, Gateway | |
| Materials | M&P requirements, flammability/offgassing for pressurized volumes | |
| Software | Flight software — Orion, SLS avionics, Gateway C&DH | |
| Safety | General safety; orbital debris for Gateway | |
| Test | Vibroacoustic, payload testing for all flight hardware | |
| Systems Eng. | SE processes, lifecycle management across Artemis elements |
Complete Standards List
All 83 active NASA Technical Standards at standards.nasa.gov/all-standards ↗
| Series | Discipline | Count | Documents (STD/HDBK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Systems Engineering & Project Mgmt | 5 | 3 HDBK, 2 STD |
| 2000 | Communications & IT | 4 | 1 HDBK, 3 STD |
| 3000 | Human Systems | 2 | 2 STD |
| 4000 | Electrical & Electronic | 9 | 3 STD, 6 HDBK |
| 5000 | Structures, Mechanical, Propulsion | 13 | 9 STD, 3 HDBK, 1 SPEC |
| 6000 | Materials & Processes | 7 | 5 STD, 2 HDBK |
| 7000 | Test, Environment & Modeling | 7 | 4 STD, 3 HDBK |
| 8000 | Safety, Quality, Reliability | ~35 | Largest category |
| 10000 | Facilities Design | 2 | 2 STD |
Key NPR / NPD Index
Available at nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov ↗
| Document | Title | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| NPD 1000.0 | NASA Governance and Strategic Management Handbook | Governance |
| NPD 7120.4 | NASA Engineering and Program/Project Management Policy | Policy |
| NPR 7120.5F | NASA Space Flight Program and Project Management Requirements | Program Mgmt |
| NPR 7120.7 | NASA IT and Institutional Infrastructure PM Requirements | IT programs |
| NPR 7120.8 | NASA Research and Technology PM Requirements | R&T programs |
| NPR 7120.10B | Technical Standards for NASA Programs and Projects | Standards gov. |
| NPR 7123.1C | NASA Systems Engineering Processes and Requirements | Sys. Engineering |
| NPR 7150.2C | NASA Software Engineering Requirements | Software |
| NPR 8000.4 | Agency Risk Management Procedural Requirements | Risk Mgmt |
| NPR 8705.2C | Human-Rating Requirements for Space Systems | Human Rating |
| NPR 8705.4 | Risk Classification for NASA Payloads | Risk class. |
| NPR 8705.5 | Technical PRA Procedures for Safety and Mission Success | PRA |
| NPR 8705.6 | SMA Audits, Reviews, and Assessments | SMA oversight |
| NPR 8715.3C | NASA General Safety Program Requirements | Safety |
| NPR 8735.2 | Management of QA Functions for NASA Contracts | Quality |
| NPR 8900.1 | Health and Medical Requirements for Human Space Exploration | Crew health |
Cross-Reference: NASA ↔ ECSS ↔ Industry
| Domain | NASA | ECSS | Industry Standards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Systems Engineering | NPR 7123.1C | ECSS-E-ST-10C Rev.1 | ISO/IEC 15288, INCOSE SE HB |
| Program Management | NPR 7120.5F | ECSS-M-ST-10C Rev.1 | PMI PMBOK |
| Human Rating | NPR 8705.2C | — | FAA 14 CFR Part 460 |
| Software Engineering | NPR 7150.2C | ECSS-E-ST-40C Rev.1 | DO-178C, IEEE 12207 |
| Software Assurance | NASA-STD-8739.8B | ECSS-Q-ST-80C Rev.1 | DO-178C, IEC 61508-3 |
| Structural Design | NASA-STD-5001B | ECSS-E-ST-32C Rev.1 | AIAA S-110, S-111 |
| Fracture Control | NASA-STD-5019A | ECSS-E-ST-32-01C Rev.2 | MIL-STD-1530 |
| Safety | NPR 8715.3C | ECSS-Q-ST-40C Rev.1 | MIL-STD-882E, IEC 61508 |
| FMEA/FMECA | NPR 8715.3 (ref) | ECSS-Q-ST-30-02C | MIL-STD-1629, IEC 60812 |
| Materials & Processes | NASA-STD-6016C | ECSS-Q-ST-70C Rev.2 | ASTM, MIL-HDBK-5 |
| Electrical Bonding | NASA-STD-4003A | ECSS-E-ST-20C Rev.2 | MIL-STD-464 |
| Orbital Debris | NASA-STD-8719.17D | ECSS-U-AS-10C Rev.2 | ISO 24113 |
Glossary & Abbreviations
Resources & NASA Centers
NASA Technical Standards System (NTSS)
All NASA-STD, HDBK, SPEC documents + OCE Endorsed Standards
NODIS Library
All NPDs and NPRs (NASA Directives)
NASA Lessons Learned (LLIS)
Vetted lessons learned from NASA programs and projects
NASA Software Engineering Handbook
Wiki-based NASA-HDBK-2203 implementation guidance
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Research papers, technical reports, and NASA publications
Space Industry Technical Standards
Office of Space Commerce Standards Compendium (2024)
NASA Centers
| Center | Code | Location | Key Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson Space Center | JSC | Houston, TX | Human spaceflight, crew systems, mission control, human rating |
| Kennedy Space Center | KSC | Cape Canaveral, FL | Launch operations, Commercial Crew Program |
| Marshall Space Flight Center | MSFC | Huntsville, AL | SLS, propulsion, structural standards |
| Goddard Space Flight Center | GSFC | Greenbelt, MD | Earth science, space science, NODIS host |
| Jet Propulsion Laboratory | JPL | Pasadena, CA | Deep space missions, Mars rovers, FFRDC (Caltech) |
| Langley Research Center | LaRC | Hampton, VA | Aeronautics, atmospheric science, systems analysis |
| Glenn Research Center | GRC | Cleveland, OH | Propulsion, power systems, communications |
| Ames Research Center | ARC | Moffett Field, CA | Computing, thermal protection, astrobiology |
| Stennis Space Center | SSC | Bay St. Louis, MS | Rocket engine testing (RS-25, SLS) |
| Armstrong Flight Research | AFRC | Edwards AFB, CA | Flight research and testing |