scope:

Purpose.

This standard establishes the general characteristics, performance, design, test, safety, reliability, maintainability, supportability, and quality requirements for ground support systems and equipment intended for use at NASA launch, landing, or retrieval locations. This standard specifies the criteria to provide simple, robust, safe, reliable, maintainable, supportable, and cost-effective ground support equipment (GSE) necessary to support space vehicle and payload launch operations.

Applicability.

This standard recommends preferred engineering practices for NASA programs and projects. It may be cited in contracts and program documents as a technical requirement or as a reference for guidance. Determining the suitability of this standard and its provisions is the responsibility of program/project management and the performing organization. Individual provisions of this standard may be tailored (i.e., modified or deleted) by contract or program specifications to meet specific program/project needs and constraints.

This standard is not intended to be self-imposing. The criteria specified herein shall be the baseline or preferred guidelines for NASA programs, but selection and tailoring to meet specific needs are the responsibility of individual programs. Existing programs and contracts may continue to use existing program or contract-unique GSE design requirements for the life of the program or contract (including follow-on contracts) on existing or new GSE for that program or contract. Retrofit of existing GSE to comply with this standard is at the discretion of the applicable program or project office. When this standard is used in a procurement action, the standard should be reviewed by the program/project office for applicability, and only the sections that apply to the project or program should be included in the procurement documentation. The revision of this standard that was current at the time directions are issued to design, construct, manufacture, or procure the GSE shall be applicable for the useful life of the GSE. Modifications of existing GSE may be done so the modified GSE complies with the revision that is current at the time directions are issued to modify the GSE. This standard does not apply to facilities.

The criteria of this standard may be used for the GSE used at the manufacturing, development, or test sites prior to arrival at the launch, landing, or retrieval sites. This standard is recommended for the design of nonflight hardware and software used to support the operations of transporting, receiving, handling, assembly, test, checkout, service, launch, and recovery of space vehicles and payloads at the launch, landing, or retrieval sites. The criteria specified in this standard are recommended for high-risk program and project GSE. GSE for medium- and low-risk programs and projects may use the criteria stated herein at the discretion of the program/project office. Refer to NPG 7120.5 for definition of the high-, medium-, and low-risk programs and projects.

intended Use: