ISO 21347-2025 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO 21347-2025 — Space systems — Fracture and damage control. This international standard defines minimum fracture-control and mechanical-damage-control requirements for fracture‑critical items (FCIs) and mechanical‑damage‑critical items (MDCIs) used in space systems, including launch vehicles, spacecraft and associated ground support equipment.

Abstract

This document establishes general requirements for the application of fracture‑control technology to FCIs fabricated from metallic, non‑metallic or composite materials and establishes mechanical damage control requirements for MDCIs fabricated from composite materials. The standard provides minimum fracture control and mechanical damage control requirements for general space systems and indicates how the requirements may be adapted for reusable launch vehicles; it is not intended to replace project‑specific fracture/damage requirements nor to cover processing of detected defects.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: August 2025 (published 7 August 2025 in publisher listings).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 49.140 — Space systems and operations.
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2025).
• Number of pages: 29 pages.

Key bibliographic and lifecycle metadata (status, edition, ICS and page count) are taken from the ISO catalogue entry and publisher listings.

Scope

ISO 21347:2025 sets out minimum requirements for implementing fracture control on fracture‑critical hardware and mechanical damage control for damage‑critical composite items in space applications. It applies to general space systems (launch vehicles, spacecraft and ground support equipment) and may be modified for reusable launch vehicles. The standard is not applicable where a project already has specific fracture/damage control requirements tailored to that application, nor does it govern procedures for processing detected defects.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions and classification of fracture‑critical items (FCIs) and mechanical‑damage‑critical items (MDCIs).
• Minimum fracture control requirements for metallic, non‑metallic and composite FCIs.
• Mechanical damage control requirements focused on composite MDCIs.
• Design, materials selection and damage‑tolerance considerations to manage crack initiation and growth.
• Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and inspection strategies to support fracture/damage control.
• Documentation, qualification and verification practices for fracture/damage control programs.
• Guidance for adapting requirements to reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) and exceptions where project‑specific requirements exist.

Typical use and users

Used by aerospace and structural engineers, materials and composite specialists, fracture control boards, quality/assurance teams, program managers and contractors involved in the design, qualification, manufacture and maintenance of spaceflight hardware and associated ground support equipment. It is also referenced by agencies and organisations that set program‑level fracture control policies.

Related standards

ISO 21347:2025 replaces ISO 21347:2005 (withdrawn) and should be used alongside other aerospace fracture, NDE and structural standards and organisational fracture‑control documents (for example national agency fracture‑control standards and program‑level procedures). Relevant agency standards and guidance include fracture control and NDE standards used by major space agencies.

Keywords

fracture control; damage control; fracture‑critical item (FCI); mechanical‑damage‑critical item (MDCI); damage tolerance; nondestructive evaluation (NDE); space systems; launch vehicles; spacecraft; composites; structural integrity; inspection; qualification.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 21347:2025 is an international standard titled "Space systems — Fracture and damage control" that defines minimum fracture‑control and mechanical‑damage‑control requirements for space hardware.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers application of fracture‑control technology to fracture‑critical items (metallic, non‑metallic and composite) and mechanical damage control for composite damage‑critical items in space systems (launch vehicles, spacecraft and ground support equipment), and provides minimum requirements and guidance for design, inspection and qualification. It does not cover processing of detected defects or replace project‑specific requirements.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Aerospace structural and materials engineers, fracture control boards, suppliers and contractors, quality/assurance staff, and program managers working on the design, testing and qualification of spaceflight hardware commonly use this standard. Agency engineering organisations also reference it when setting program policies.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: Current — ISO 21347:2025 is the second edition and supersedes ISO 21347:2005 (the 2005 edition has been withdrawn and replaced by the 2025 edition).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is published under the work of ISO/TC 20/SC 14 (space systems and operations). While not a numbered series, it is part of the body of space engineering standards and is typically used in conjunction with other agency and industry fracture‑control and structural standards.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Fracture control, damage control, fracture‑critical, damage‑critical, damage tolerance, NDE, composites, space systems, inspection, qualification.