ISO 16615:2025Published

Space systems — Stable operation requirements for spacecraft attitude and orbit control system

Systèmes spatiaux — Exigences de fonctionnement stable pour le système de contrôle de l'altitude et de l'orbite d'engins spatiaux

Abstract / scope

This document provides the criteria for stable on-orbit operation of the spacecraft's AOCS. It addresses the factors affecting the spacecraft's on-orbit stability by specifying principles and requirements for establishing the spacecraft AOCS's capability for stable on-orbit operation, which include:

—     principles for judging data validity and the requisite procedures for handling such data;

—     anomaly detection;

—     management of software and hardware failures;

—     safety boundary checks;

—     activation protocols for emergency survival modes.

This document also establishes the functional interface between on-orbit autonomy and ground-based maintenance operations, ensuring that the spacecraft maintains its intended attitude and orbit.

This document is applicable to the attitude and orbit control systems of various types of spacecraft.