Overview
ISO 16157:2018 - "Space systems - Human-life activity support systems and equipment integration in space flight - Techno-medical requirements for space vehicle crew habitation environments" - is a second-level international standard in a three-tier suite for human-life activity support in space. It defines techno-medical requirements for creating and maintaining habitable environments in manned space objects (spacecraft, space stations, lunar/planetary bases) and for extravehicular activity (EVA). The standard applies across design, production, testing, operation and maintenance phases and addresses missions up to three years (with environmental parameter sets for ≤1 year and ≤3 years).
Key Topics and Requirements
- Scope & program compliance
- Applicability across all integration levels; programs must establish verifiable specific requirements, monitoring and verification procedures.
- Human habitation environment elements
- Atmosphere (composition, total pressure), ventilation, chemical impurities and aerosols.
- Heat‑humidity control, thermal comfort and ventilation design.
- Water supply, waste management, sanitary/hygiene systems.
- Food provision and nutritional support.
- Microbiological safety for air, water and surfaces.
- Individual protection (toxic contamination, depressurization, fire contingencies).
- Fire detection and suppression, acoustic environment, illumination, garments/shoes and prevention of health deterioration.
- Techno-medical data
- Human mass/energy exchange basis for life-support sizing: typical daily energy consumption ~2 700 ± 100 kcal/man‑day; activity-specific metabolic rates and EVA/exercise factors are provided for calculations.
- Mass and water balance guidance (intake/outputs and metabolic water considerations) and organism-environment heat-exchange parameters for habitat thermal design.
- Standard structure
- Acts as a top-level coordinator for third-level standards addressing specific technical disciplines (e.g., atmosphere composition, water supply, microbiology, ventilation, fire control).
Practical Applications and Users
ISO 16157:2018 is used by:
- Spacecraft and space station designers and systems engineers (ECLSS, HVAC, life support).
- Human-factors and habitability engineers optimizing living conditions and ergonomic design.
- Space medicine officers and health & safety personnel defining medical/techno-medical limits.
- Mission planners, test & verification teams, and standards/compliance managers.
- Developers of lunar/planetary habitats and EVA systems for long-duration missions.
Typical applications include sizing and verification of environmental control and life support systems, habitability requirements for cabin design, fire and toxic contamination contingencies, and establishing monitoring/validation protocols for crew health and mission safety.
Related Standards
- First-level: ISO 17763 (overall human-life activity support systems and equipment integration).
- Third-level topics (referenced in ISO 16157): atmosphere composition & quality, aerosols, heat‑humidity, ventilation, water supply, microbiological safety, individual protection, food provision, hygiene, fire detection/extinguishing, garments, acoustic, illumination, and air chemical contaminants.
- Other referenced guidance: NASA‑STD‑3001, ECSS environmental and human factors standards.