ISO 19683:2026

International
Standard
ISO 19683
Second edition
Space systems — Design
2026-05
qualification and acceptance tests of
small spacecraft and units
Systèmes spatiaux — Qualification de la conception et essais de
réception des petits véhicules spatiaux
Reference number
© ISO 2026
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .vii
Introduction .viii
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Abbreviated terms . 3
5 General requirements . 4
5.1 Tailoring .4
5.2 Qualification test .4
5.3 Acceptance test .5
5.4 Proto-flight test .5
5.5 Retest .5
5.6 Test documentation .5
5.6.1 General .5
5.6.2 Test plan, specification and procedure .5
5.6.3 Test report .6
5.6.4 Datasheet for unit test results .6
5.7 Test conditions, tolerances and accuracies .7
5.8 Functional test .7
5.9 Design, verification and testing philosophy .7
5.10 Testing of satellite constellation program .7
6 Satellite system tests . 8
6.1 Test items .8
6.2 Test level and duration .10
7 Unit tests .10
7.1 Test items .10
7.2 Test levels and duration . 20
8 Satellite constellation tests .23
8.1 System test items . 23
8.2 Unit test items . 25
9 Test requirements .29
9.1 Electrical interface . 29
9.1.1 Purpose of test . 29
9.1.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements . 29
9.1.3 Test article configuration . 29
9.1.4 Monitoring during test . 29
9.1.5 Test levels and duration . 29
9.1.6 Test conditions and guidelines. 29
9.2 Functional test . 29
9.2.1 Purpose of test . 29
9.2.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements . 29
9.2.3 Test article configuration . 29
9.2.4 Monitoring during test . 30
9.2.5 Test levels and duration . 30
9.2.6 Test conditions and guidelines. 30
9.3 Mission test . 30
9.3.1 Purpose of test . 30
9.3.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements . 30
9.3.3 Test article configuration . 30
9.3.4 Monitoring during test . 30
9.3.5 Test levels and duration . 30

iii
9.3.6 Test conditions and guidelines. 30
9.4 Total Ionization Dose (TID) test .31
9.4.1 Purpose of test .31
9.4.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements .31
9.4.3 Test article configuration .31
9.4.4 Monitoring during test .31
9.4.5 Test levels and duration .31
9.4.6 Test conditions and guidelines.31
9.5 Single Event Effect (SEE) test .32
9.5.1 Purpose of test .32
9.5.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements .32
9.5.3 Test article configuration .32
9.5.4 Monitoring during test .32
9.5.5 Test levels and duration .32
9.5.6 Test conditions and guidelines.32
9.6 Spacecraft Charging Induced Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) test . 33
9.6.1 Purpose of test . 33
9.6.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements . 33
9.6.3 Test article configuration . 33
9.6.4 Monitoring during test . 33
9.6.5 Test levels and duration . 33
9.6.6 Test conditions and guidelines. 33
9.7 Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) test . 33
9.7.1 Purpose of test . 33
9.7.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements . 33
9.7.3 Test article configuration . 34
9.7.4 Monitoring during test . 34
9.7.5 Test levels and duration . 34
9.7.6 Test conditions and guidelines. 34
9.8 Deployment test. 34
9.8.1 Purpose of test . 34
9.8.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements . 34
9.8.3 Test article configuration . 34
9.8.4 Monitoring during test . 34
9.8.5 Test levels and duration . 35
9.8.6 Test conditions and guidelines. 35
9.9 Magnetic field test . 35
9.10 Antenna pattern test . 35
9.11 Alignment measurement . 35
9.12 Physical property measurement . 35
9.13 Launcher/Spacecraft interface test . 35
9.14 Quasi-static load test . . 35
9.14.1 Purpose of test . 35
9.14.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements . 35
9.14.3 Test article configuration . 35
9.14.4 Monitoring during test . 36
9.14.5 Test levels and duration . 36
9.14.6 Test conditions and guidelines. 36
9.15 Modal survey . 36
9.15.1 Purpose of test . 36
9.15.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements . 36
9.15.3 Test article configuration . 36
9.15.4 Monitoring during test . 36
9.15.5 Test levels and duration . 36
9.15.6 Test conditions and guidelines. 36
9.16 Sinusoidal vibration test .37
9.16.1 Purpose of test .37
9.16.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements .37
9.16.3 Test article configuration .37

iv
9.16.4 Monitoring during test .37
9.16.5 Test levels and duration .37
9.16.6 Test conditions and guidelines.37
9.17 Random vibration test .37
9.17.1 Purpose of test .37
9.17.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements .37
9.17.3 Test article configuration .37
9.17.4 Monitoring during test .37
9.17.5 Test levels and duration . 38
9.17.6 Test conditions and guidelines. 38
9.18 Acoustic test . . 38
9.18.1 Purpose of test . 38
9.18.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements . 38
9.18.3 Test article configuration . 38
9.18.4 Monitoring during test . 38
9.18.5 Test levels and duration . 38
9.18.6 Test conditions and guidelines. 38
9.19 Shock test . 38
9.19.1 Purpose of test . 38
9.19.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements . 38
9.19.3 Test article configuration . 39
9.19.4 Monitoring during test . 39
9.19.5 Test levels and duration . 39
9.19.6 Test conditions and guidelines. 39
9.20 Thermal balance test . 39
9.20.1 Purpose of test . 39
9.20.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements . 39
9.20.3 Test article configuration . 39
9.20.4 Monitoring during test . 39
9.20.5 Test levels and duration . 39
9.20.6 Test conditions and guidelines. 40
9.21 Thermal vacuum test . 40
9.21.1 Purpose of test . 40
9.21.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements . 40
9.21.3 Test article configuration . 40
9.21.4 Monitoring during test . 40
9.21.5 Test levels and duration . 40
9.21.6 Test conditions and guidelines.41
9.22 Functional test in vacuum .41
9.22.1 Purpose of test .41
9.22.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements .41
9.22.3 Test article configuration .41
9.22.4 Monitoring during test .41
9.22.5 Test levels and duration .41
9.22.6 Test conditions and guidelines.42
9.23 Cold/Hot start test .42
9.23.1 Purpose of test .42
9.23.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements .42
9.23.3 Test article configuration .42
9.23.4 Monitoring during test .42
9.23.5 Test levels and duration .42
9.23.6 Test conditions and guidelines.42
9.24 Thermal cycle functional test.43
9.24.1 Purpose of test .43
9.24.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements .43
9.24.3 Test article configuration .43
9.24.4 Monitoring during test .43
9.24.5 Test levels and duration .43
9.24.6 Test conditions and guidelines.43

v
9.25 Thermal cycle endurance test . 44
9.25.1 Purpose of test . 44
9.25.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements . 44
9.25.3 Test article configuration . 44
9.25.4 Monitoring during test . 44
9.25.5 Test levels and duration . 44
9.25.6 Test conditions and guidelines. 44
9.26 Pressure test . . 44
9.27 Leakage test . 44
9.28 Microvibration test . 44
9.28.1 Purpose of test . 44
9.28.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements .45
9.28.3 Test article configuration .45
9.28.4 Monitoring during test .45
9.28.5 Test levels and duration .45
9.28.6 Test conditions and guidelines.45
9.29 Burn-in and wear-in test .45
9.30 End-to-end mission simulation .45
9.30.1 Purpose of test .45
9.30.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements .45
9.30.3 Test article configuration .45
9.30.4 Monitoring during test .45
9.30.5 Test levels and duration . 46
9.30.6 Test conditions and guidelines. 46
9.31 Bake out and outgas test . 46
9.31.1 Purpose of test . 46
9.31.2 Test facilities and setup as basic requirements . 46
9.31.3 Test article configuration . 46
9.31.4 Monitoring during test . 46
9.31.5 Test levels and duration . 46
9.31.6 Test conditions and guidelines. 46
9.32 Tailoring and waiver guides .47
Annex A (normative) Tailoring and waiver guides .48
Annex B (informative) Basis of test levels and duration .52
Annex C (informative) Design, verification and testing philosophy for small spacecrafts .55
Annex D (informative) Test selection logic flow . 74
Annex E (informative) Environment stress screening and burn-in .87
Annex F (informative) Thermal vacuum or thermal cycle? .88
Bibliography .91

vi
Foreword
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in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
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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.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 19683:2017), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— updated terms and definitions;
— added 5.10 on testing of satellite constellation program;
— added Clause 8 on satellite constellation tests;
— updated Clause 9 on test requirements;
— updated Annex C.
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.

vii
Introduction
There is an increasing demand for small, micro, nano or pico satellite development and utilization worldwide;
yet, there is no clear and globally accepted definition of what is considered “small”, “micro”, “nano” or “pico”
satellites. These satellites are often built with emphasis on low cost and fast delivery. They are characterized
by extensive use of non-space-qualified commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) units (component). For the sake of
convenience, the term “small spacecraft” is used throughout this document as a generic term to refer to
these satellites.
A small spacecraft is a satellite that utilizes non-traditional risk-taking development and management
approaches to achieve low cost and fast delivery with a small number of team. To achieve these two points,
low cost and fast delivery, satellite design relies on the use of non-space-qualified COTS units (components),
making sate
...