Jun 04, 2021

ASTM International’s commercial spaceflight committee (F47) has approved a new standard that supports the increasing amount of space travel by improving data exchange between space operators and the Federal Aviation Administration. 

According to ASTM International member Zheng Tao, as the number and diversity of space operations increase, improved data exchange will help air traffic management (ATM) more efficiently manage the National Airspace System (NAS) during these operations. 

“Improved data exchange enables more efficient coordination between space operators and the FAA, which will lead to reduced aircraft delays and impacts on other NAS users,” says Tao.  

Tao notes that the new standard (soon to be published as F3514) is an initial guidance document that will be updated as industry gains more experience. F3514 will provide industry space operators a better idea of the data that the FAA could use to help reduce their impacts on other NAS users and facilitate airspace integration. 

Spaceports and other third-party entities will look to this standard to find ways to help facilitate this data exchange. The FAA could use the new standard as a basis or input for identifying their own data exchange needs, requirements, and related activities. Finally, other air navigation service providers could adapt the standard to provide similar data exchange guidance. 

For more information on ASTM International standards for commercial spaceflight, please watch this video. 

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