Foreword

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

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Introduction

0.1 Overview

Human-inhabited and inhabitable space stations and space capsules are exposed to the risk of collision with new launch vehicle stage(s) and spacecraft during their launch and early orbit phase. While such collision threats also exist during on-orbit spacecraft operations, the launch and early orbit phase is unique in that potential collisions with inhabitable space stations and space capsules can be avoided at minimal cost (i.e. without the expenditure of on-orbit manoeuvring fuel) through the proper selection of suitable launch times.

Consistent with Clause B.5 of the United Nations Long Term Sustainability guidelines^[ 1 ^] and to protect human missions from the danger of collision with newly launched objects, the LCOLA approving agent may apply launch collision avoidance (LCOLA) methods to assess either collision risk, close approach, or both. If this assessment determines that launch at certain times would incur unacceptable risk to the human missions, the LCOLA approving agent may delay the time of launch.

In addition to establishing requirements for the safety LCOLA process, Annex A provides details on algorithms, processes, and screening criteria that may be used to conduct safety LCOLA assessments. Annex A is intended to ensure the safety and integrity of human-inhabited or inhabitable space stations.

Annex B provides additional details on algorithms, processes, and screening criteria that may be used to conduct mission assurance LCOLA assessments. Annex B is intended to ensure the safety and integrity of both the newly launched space objects and any on-orbit active spacecraft that can potentially collide with the launched objects for the initial LCOLA screening time period, and also to reduce the risk of unintended fragmentation events caused by collision of the newly launched space objects with orbital debris during that same initial screening period. A selection of general procedures for the determination of unacceptable risk that result in the identification of all collision-safe launch opportunities is described.

0.2 Breakdown of space safety constituents across ISO standards

The space flight safety-relevant topics of space traffic coordination (STC), on-orbit collision avoidance, and launch collision avoidance are closely related. To minimize duplication and maximize document consistency, the various content that serve as the basis for these three disciplines has been divided up as shown in Figure 1.

1 Scope

This document establishes the general safety launch collision avoidance (safety LCOLA) requirements for the avoidance of collision between the collection of newly launched objects resulting from a space launch [including launch vehicle stage(s) and payloads or released objects] and human-inhabited or human-habitable space stations and space vehicles.

The document specifies the requirements for the analysis of launch times and procedures for identifying safe launch opportunities. It also describes the assessment and constraints for collision avoidance risk evaluation metrics (launch collision probability and standoff distance).

2 Normative reference

3 Terms and definitions

4 Abbreviated terms

5 Safety LCOLA requirements

5.1 Conduct of a safety LCOLA

5.2 Close encounter check for a safety LCOLA

5.3 Safety LCOLA launch hold criteria

5.4 Safety LCOLA screening timespan

5.5 LCOLA analysis run timing sequence

5.6 LCOLA standoff threshold

5.7 LCOLA standoff minimum threshold

6 LCOLA product

Bibliography