AIAA Committees on Standards

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The AIAA Committees on Standards oversee the development of new standards, update current standards, and set the direction for the Institute’s standardization work.

From conception to publication, AIAA standards are the result of volunteer effort—individuals who are directly and materially affected, and technically qualified. Each document originates from an AIAA Technical Committee or developed with the support of a Committee on Standards approved by AIAA Process Subcommittee on Standards. If you are interested in lending your expertise to any of the current projects listed here or wish to develop a new project, please contact the AIAA Standards Director at nickt@aiaa.org.

See How Standards are Developed at AIAA

How to Join a Committee on Standards (CoS)

Volunteer technical experts are the heart of the AIAA standards program. Each Committee on Standards (CoS) and U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has a defined scope of work and operates under established policies and procedures.

An AIAA CoS makes recommendations concerning the need for new standards and other technical publications within its area of competency and expertise, determines when a document needs to be revised, drafts new and revised technical documents, and develops committee and public consensus on those drafts.

U. S. TAGs develop national consensus on International Standards and Technical Reports out for comment or vote. TAGs also make recommendations regarding other aspects of international standards participation such as U.S. positions on international new work items, formation of US delegations to international committee meetings, and nomination of US experts to international working groups

AIAA Draft Standards for Public Review

AIAA S-155, Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) and On Orbit Servicing (OOS) – Spacecraft Fiducial Markers, has been issued for public review. This document outlines functional, physical, and operational requirements for fiducial markers used in proximity operations, capture and servicing, including manipulation of in-space assets. It is intended to apply to a broad array of RPO/OOS industry participants from spacecraft equipment manufacturers, spacecraft operators, service providers, developers of RPO/OOS simulation, planning and safety tools, and insurers.

AIAA S-158, Prepared Free-Flyer Capture and Release, has also been issued for public review. This document describes best practices, functional requirements, operational requirements, and norms for the design, testing, and operations of prepared Free-Flyer Capture between Servicing Spacecraft and a Client Space Object. The intent is to ensure safe and reliable operations for prepared in-space capture, and to lay the foundation for future standards for prepared capture interfaces.

Public review deadline for both drafts is 14 April 2025. For a copy of the drafts, submission of public review comments, or questions, please contact Nick Tongson .

CoS or TAG Application