National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of ISO 23312:2026. It supersedes BS ISO 23312:2022, which is withdrawn.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee ACE/68, Space systems and operations.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its committee manager.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication has been prepared in good faith, however no representation, warranty, assurance or undertaking (express or implied) is or will be made, and no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by BSI in relation to the adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of this publication. All and any such responsibility and liability is expressly disclaimed to the full extent permitted by the law.

This publication is provided as is, and is to be used at the recipient’s own risk.

The recipient is advised to consider seeking professional guidance with respect to its use of this publication.

This publication is not intended to constitute a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 October 2026.

Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).

Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not constitute an endorsement.

For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.

This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 20, Aircraft and space vehicles, Subcommittee SC 14, Space systems and operations.

This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 23312:2022), of which it constitutes a minor revision. The main change is as follows:

revision of the reference to ISO 24113.

Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

Introduction

This document is developed to incorporate the content of ISO 16127, ISO 16164, ISO 23339, ISO 26872 and other detailed requirements relevant to spacecraft related debris mitigation, corresponding to ISO 24113. The purpose of this document is to enable conformance with those high-level space debris mitigation requirements in ISO 24113 that are relevant to spacecraft.

This document acts as one of the supporting technical standards for space debris mitigation, to provide implementation requirements and details for the top-level requirements in ISO 24113.

1 Scope

This document defines detailed space debris mitigation requirements and recommendations for the design and operation of unmanned spacecraft in Earth orbit.

This document defines detailed requirements that are applicable to:

avoiding the intentional release of space debris into Earth orbit during normal operations;
avoiding break-ups in Earth orbit;
disposal of a spacecraft after the end of mission;
estimating the mass of the remaining usable propellant;
developing and maintaining the space debris mitigation plan.

NOTE This document does not cover nuclear power sources on spacecraft.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Symbols and abbreviated terms

5 Avoiding release of space debris into Earth orbit during normal operations

6 Avoiding break-ups in Earth orbit

6.1 General

6.2 Accidental break-up caused by an on-board source of energy

6.3 Accidental break-up caused by a collision

7 Disposal of spacecraft after the end of mission

7.1 General

7.2 Ensuring execution of disposal action

7.3 Disposal to minimize interference with the GEO protected region

7.4 Disposal to minimize interference with the LEO protected region

8 Estimating mass of remaining usable propellant

8.1 General

8.2 Uncertainty of estimation

8.3 Incorporating required function into spacecraft design

8.4 Documentation of data

9 Space debris mitigation plan

9.1 General

9.2 Break-up prevention plan

9.3 End of mission disposal plan (EOMDP)

9.4 Contingency plan

Bibliography