Yesterday, more than 50 government and industry officials decided to launch a new ASTM International committee dedicated to developing standards in the area of commercial spaceflight. The Committee on Commercial Spaceflight (F47) will focus on standards development in areas such as occupant safety of orbital and suborbital vehicles, launch and reentry vehicles, and spaceports.

James Thomas, president of ASTM International, said, “We’re thrilled to be serving as the standards development organization for such an exciting and innovative industry. With a strong technical foundation of consensus standards, commercial spaceflight will continue to thrive.”

Held during “World Standards Week,” this meeting was in part a result of the updated U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015.

The committee will host their first meeting in the spring of 2017. Initial major tasks of the committee include creating a standards roadmap for commercial spaceflight, and the development of human spaceflight occupant safety standards.

To learn more about the ASTM International process, visit www.astm.org/ABOUT/full_overview.  To join, go to www.astm.org/JOIN or contact kstraiton@astm.org.

Media Inquiries: Dan Bergels, tel +1.610.832.9602; dbergels@astm.org
ASTM Staff Contact: Kristy Straiton, tel +1.610.832.9640; kstraiton@astm.org

Release #10195