METRIC/SI (ENGLISH) 
 NASA TECHNICAL STANDARD 
Office of the NASA Chief Engineer

 Approved: 2021-04-21 


ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING REQUIREMENTS 
FOR SPACEFLIGHT SYSTEMS 


DOCUMENT HISTORY LOG 


Status Document 
Revision 
Change 
Number 
Approval Date Description 
Baseline   2021-04-21 Initial Release 


FOREWORD 

This NASA Technical Standard is published by the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (NASA) to provide uniform engineering and technical requirements for 
processes, procedures, practices, and methods that have been endorsed as standard for NASA 
programs and projects, including requirements for selection, application, and design criteria of an 
item. 

This NASA Technical Standard is approved for use by NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers 
and facilities, and applicable technical requirements may be cited in contract, program, and other 
Agency documents. It may also apply to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (a Federally Funded 
Research and Development Center [FFRDC]), other contractors, recipients of grants and 
cooperative agreements, and parties to other agreements only to the extent specified or 
referenced in applicable contracts, grants, or agreements. 

This NASA Technical Standard defines the minimum set of requirements for additive 
manufactured (AM) parts used for NASA crewed spaceflight systems, provides guidance and 
recommendations for tailoring this NASA Technical Standard for NASA non-crewed missions, 
and covers in-space AM operations. 

Requests for information should be submitted via “Feedback” at https://standards.nasa.gov. 
Requests for changes to this NASA Technical Standard should be submitted via MSFC Form 
4657, Change Request for a NASA Engineering Standard. 


   Original Signed By            April 21, 2021 

Ralph R. Roe, Jr. Approval Date 
NASA Chief Engineer 


TABLE OF CONTENTS 
SECTION PAGE 

DOCUMENT HISTORY LOG ................................................................................................... 2 
FOREWORD................................................................................................................................. 3 
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................. 4 
LIST OF APPENDICES .............................................................................................................. 7 
LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... 7 
LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................ 7 

 SCOPE ............................................................................................................................... 9 
1.1 Purpose ................................................................................................................................ 9 
1.2 Applicability ....................................................................................................................... 9 
1.3 Tailoring ............................................................................................................................ 10 
1.4 Summary of Methodology ................................................................................................ 10 
1.4.1 Deliverables ...................................................................................................................... 10 
1.4.2 Applicable Technologies ................................................................................................ 107 

 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS ...................................................................................... 18 
2.1 General .............................................................................................................................. 18 
2.2 Government Documents ................................................................................................... 18 
2.3 Non-Government Documents ........................................................................................... 19 
2.4 Order of Precedence .......................................................................................................... 21 
 ACRONYMS, ABBREVIATIONS, SYMBOLS, AND DEFINITIONS .................... 21 
3.1 Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Symbols .......................................................................... 21 
3.2 Definitions......................................................................................................................... 23 

 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................... 31 
4.1 Tailoring of this NASA Technical Standard’s Requirements ........................................... 31 
4.2 Additive Manufacturing Control Plan (AMCP) ............................................................... 31 
4.2.1 Applicable Documents, AMCP ........................................................................................ 31 
4.2.2 Supplier Compliance with the AMCP .............................................................................. 32 
4.3 Additive Manufacturing Part Classification ..................................................................... 34 
4.4 Quality Assurance ............................................................................................................. 44 
4.5 Equipment and Facility Control Plan (EFCP) .................................................................. 45 
4.6 Fracture Control ................................................................................................................ 46 
4.7 Unplanned Interruptions ................................................................................................... 47 


TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 
SECTION PAGE 

4.8 Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) .................................................................................... 47 
4.9 In-situ Process Monitoring ................................................................................................ 50 
4.10 Repair and Rework ........................................................................................................... 51 
4.11 Witness Testing for Statistical Process Control ................................................................ 51 
4.12 Serialization ...................................................................................................................... 66 
4.13 Digital Thread ................................................................................................................... 66 
4.14 Production Engineering Record ........................................................................................ 69 
4.15 Preproduction Articles ...................................................................................................... 73 
4.16 Proof Testing ..................................................................................................................... 74 
4.17 Qualification Testing ........................................................................................................ 75 
4.18 Part Acceptance ................................................................................................................ 75 

5. QUALIFIED MATERIAL PROCESS (QMP) ............................................................ 76 
5.1 Process Development ........................................................................................................ 77 
5.2 Unique QMPs, Minimum Control Categories .................................................................. 78 
5.3 Configuration Management .............................................................................................. 79 
5.4 Definition of a Candidate Material Process ...................................................................... 79 
5.4.1 Feedstock .......................................................................................................................... 79 
5.4.2 Build Process .................................................................................................................... 85 
5.4.3 Post-Processing ................................................................................................................. 86 
5.4.4 Customized Material Process ............................................................................................ 88 
5.5 Qualification of a Candidate Material Process ................................................................. 88 
5.5.4 Qualified Material Process Record ................................................................................. 101 
5.6 Registration of a Candidate Material Process to an MPS ............................................... 102 
5.7 Qualified Material Process Record ................................................................................. 104 

 MATERIAL PROPERTY SUITE (MPS) .................................................................. 104 
6.1 MPS for Class A and B Parts .......................................................................................... 104 


TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) 
SECTION PAGE 

6.2 Material Properties for Class C Parts .............................................................................. 105 
6.3 MPS Approval ................................................................................................................ 106 
6.4 Process Control in Material Property Development ....................................................... 107 
6.5 Lot Variability Impact on Material Allowables .............................................................. 108 
6.6 Used Feedstock Lot Controls .......................................................................................... 110 
6.7 Influence Factors ............................................................................................................. 110 
6.7.1 Identification and Characterization of Influence Factors ................................................ 111 
6.7.2 Influence Factor Effect on Material Allowables ............................................................. 112 
6.7.3 Explicit Evaluation of Anisotropy .................................................................................. 112 
6.8 Criteria for the Use of External Data in the MPS ........................................................... 113 
6.9 Process Control Reference Distribution (PCRD) ........................................................... 114 
6.10 PCRD Maintenance ........................................................................................................ 115 
6.11 Development of Material Allowables and Design Values .............................................. 116 

 PART PRODUCTION PLAN (PPP) .......................................................................... 130 
7.1 Part-Specific Information................................................................................................ 131 
7.2 Part Classification and Associated Rationale ................................................................. 132 
7.3 Integrated Structural Integrity Rationale ........................................................................ 133 
7.4 AM Part Production Summary........................................................................................ 134 
7.4.1 Witness Testing ............................................................................................................... 134 
7.4.2 Planned Interruptions ...................................................................................................... 134 
7.4.3 Post-Build Operations Requiring Specific Controls ....................................................... 134 
7.5 Preproduction Article Requirements ............................................................................... 136 
7.6 End Item Data Package (EIDP) Information .................................................................. 136 
7.7 Part Production Plan (PPP) Revisions ............................................................................ 137 

 QUALIFIED PART PROCESS (QPP) ....................................................................... 138 
8.1 AM Production Readiness Review (AMRR) .................................................................. 138 
8.2 Additive Manufacturing Readiness Review (AMRR) Documentation and Approval ... 140 
8.3 Qualified Part Process (QPP): Establishment ................................................................. 140 
8.4 Qualified Part Process (QPP): Modifications ................................................................. 141 
8.5 Build Execution .............................................................................................................. 142 
8.6 Control of Digital Thread for Part Production ................................................................ 142 


LIST OF APPENDICES 

APPENDIX PAGE 

A Requirements Compliance Matrix .......................................................................   143 
B Non-crewed and Robotic Mission Tailoring Guidelines .....................................   183 
C References ............................................................................................................   188 


LIST OF FIGURES 

FIGURE PAGE 

1 Topical Outline for NASA-STD-6030 .................................................................   14 
2 Key Products and Processes for NASA-STD-6030 .............................................   15 
3 Symbol Legend for Key Products and Processes .................................................   16 
4 AM Part Classification .........................................................................................   34 
5 Creating Electronic Records of Design/Creation of AM Parts ............................   67 
6 Overview of AM Production Activities and Sequence ........................................   78 
7 Fracture Control Classification Logic Diagram (NASA-STD-5019A) ...............   186 


LIST OF TABLES 

TABLE PAGE 

1 Applicable Technologies and Material Types .....................................................   18 
2 Structural Demand, Metallic AM Parts................................................................   41 
3 Structural Demand, Polymeric AM Parts ............................................................   43 
4 Assessment Criteria for Additive Manufacturing Risk ........................................   44 
5 Metals Witness Testing Quantities and Acceptance Results for Independent 
Builds ...................................................................................................................  

 56 
6 Polymer Witness Testing Quantities and Acceptance Results for Independent 
Builds ...................................................................................................................  

 58 
7 Metals Witness Testing Quantities and Acceptance Results for Continuous 
Builds ...................................................................................................................  

 61 


LIST OF TABLES (Continued) 

TABLE PAGE 

8 Polymer Witness Testing Quantities and Acceptance Results for Continuous 
Builds ...................................................................................................................  

 63 
9 Virgin Powder Feedstock Controls ......................................................................   80 
10 Wire Feedstock Controls ......................................................................................   81 
11 Filament Feedstock Control .................................................................................   82 
12 Liquid Feedstock Controls ...................................................................................   83 
13 Minimum Mechanical Property Tests for Metal QMP Builds .............................   97 
14 Minimum Mechanical Property Tests for Metal Sub-QMP and SPC Evaluation 
Builds ...................................................................................................................  

 98 
15 Minimum Mechanical Property Tests for Polymeric QMP Builds ......................   99 
16 Minimum Mechanical Property Tests for Polymeric Sub-QMP and SPC 
Evaluation Builds .................................................................................................  

 100 
17 Properties and Controls to Register a Candidate Material Process to an MPS ....   102 
18 Required Lot Quantities for Lot-Mature Metal MPS Properties .........................   108 
19 Required Lot Quantities for Lot-Mature Polymeric MPS Properties ..................   109 
20 Notional Example for Reevaluating PCRDs per Number of Builds ....................   115 
21 Required Minimum Coefficient of Variation in Metallic Strength Material 
Allowables ...........................................................................................................  

 118 
22 Listing of Requirements that Can and Cannot be Tailored for Class C Part 
Characterization; Specifications that Can be Tailored are Denoted “Y” .............  

 185 
23 Applicable AM Technologies and Material Types by Part Class ........................   187 


ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING REQUIREMENTS 
FOR SPACEFLIGHT SYSTEMS 

 SCOPE 

This NASA Technical Standard is directed toward additive manufacturing (AM) processes used 
in the design, fabrication, and testing of space program flight hardware for NASA, including, but 
not limited to, crewed, non-crewed, robotic, launch vehicle, lander, and spacecraft 
program/project hardware elements. All crewed spaceflight hardware is covered by the 
requirements of this document, including vendor-designed, off-the-shelf, and vendor-furnished 
items. Guidance and recommendations for tailoring this NASA Technical Standard for NASA 
non-crewed missions, such as robotic missions (spacecraft and launch vehicles), are provided in 
Appendix B. This NASA Technical Standard is also intended to cover in-space AM operations; 
however, significant tailoring of these requirements is expected.   

AM parts used in interfacing ground support equipment (GSE) or test equipment are covered by 
the requirements of this NASA Technical Standard only to the extent required to prevent damage 
to or contamination of spaceflight hardware. 

1.1 Purpose 

The purpose of this NASA Technical Standard is to define the minimum requirements for AM 
processes used for spaceflight systems, provide guidance and recommendations for tailoring this 
NASA Technical Standard for NASA non-crewed missions, and cover in-space AM operations. 

1.2 Applicability 

This NASA Technical Standard is approved for use by NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers 
and facilities, and applicable technical requirements may be cited in contract, program, and other 
Agency documents. It may also apply to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (a Federally Funded 
Research And Development Center [FFRDC]), other contractors, recipients of grants and 
cooperative agreements, and parties to other agreements only to the extent specified or 
referenced in applicable contracts, grants, or agreements. 

Verifiable requirement statements are designated by the acronym “AMR” (Additive 
Manufacturing Requirement), numbered, and indicated by the word “shall”; this NASA 
Technical Standard contains 115 requirements. Explanatory or guidance text and rationales for 
requirements are indicated in italics beginning in section 4 of this NASA Technical Standard. To 
facilitate requirements selection by NASA programs and projects, a Requirements Compliance 
Matrix is provided in Appendix A. 


1.3 Tailoring 

Refer to section 4.1 in this NASA Technical Standard. 

1.4 Summary of Methodology 

This NASA Technical Standard provides the policy framework for the development and 
production of hardware produced using AM processes. It accommodates requirements from 
NASA’s governing design and safety standards and provides necessary controls for the safe 
implementation of the technology. It does not dictate other structural design or structural 
certification criteria. Figure 1, Topical Outline for NASA-STD-6030; Figure 2, Key Products 
and Processes, NASA-STD-6030; and Figure 3, Symbol Legend for Key Products and Processes, 
outline and illustrate the key products and processes controlled by this NASA Technical 
Standard and, figuratively, how each is related.  

Figure 1 summarizes the organization of this NASA Technical Standard. It begins with the 
general requirements for an Additive Manufacturing Control Plan (AMCP) to govern the 
engineering and production practice. The AMCP always works in parallel with a Quality 
Management System (QMS), which provides quality assurance from establishing the 
foundational processes through placing the part into service. Under the umbrella of the AMCP 
and the QMS, Figure 1 outlines how the requirements of this NASA Technical Standard fit into 
two categories:  foundational process control and part production control. The foundational 
process control requirements for AM processes provide the basis for reliable part design and 
production. They include qualification of manufacturing processes, equipment controls, 
personnel training, and material property development. The part production control requirements 
are typical of aerospace operations and include design and assessment controls, part production 
plans (PPPs), preproduction article processes, and relevant production controls. 

Figure 2 provides a more detailed view of this outline by illustrating the key products and 
processes of this NASA Technical Standard. The symbols used in the figure indicate the type of 
product or action (e.g., internal documents, documents requiring approval, databases, or 
decisional actions). The legend for these symbols is given in Figure 3. Structured similarly to the 
outline in Figure 1, Figure 2 further illustrates the flow of the products and processes through the 
general, foundational, and part-production controls. While showing the figurative relationships 
of the key products and processes, Figure 2 cannot be read as a serial flow chart, particularly for 
the prerequisite foundational controls.  

Beginning at the top of Figure 2 with the general requirements, the implementation of the 
requirements of this NASA Technical Standard, and any tailoring that may be required, is 
documented by the AMCP prepared by the cognizant engineering organization (CEO) 
responsible for development and implementation of the AM parts. The AMCP also defines how 
the QMS(s) is(are) integrated throughout the process. Key points of QMS integration are 
illustrated with a green triangle symbol in Figure 2. The AMCP and the QMS govern the 
engineering and quality assurance disciplines, respectively, from start to finish. 


The foundational process control requirements include methodologies for AM process 
qualification, control and operation of equipment, personnel training, and the characterization of 
AM material performance for material allowables, design values, and statistical process control 
(SPC) monitoring. For material process control, the key steps include establishing a Qualified 
Material Process (QMP) to ensure a consistent process definition, using a specification to control 
the raw material feedstock, evaluating the process capability, and, finally, documenting the 
process capability in a configuration-controlled QMP record for each AM machine. The scope 
contained in the QMP can scale depending on the classification of the parts (A, B, or C) the CEO 
wishes to produce using the QMP, resulting in the hierarchy of QMP-A, QMP-B, or QMP-C. It 
is important to note that a QMP record does not contain all aspects of the process development 
effort that led to the QMP. The QMP record contains the definition of the final process and 
supporting data.  

Qualified machines and trained operators are key foundational controls required by this NASA 
Technical Standard and are implemented through NASA-STD-6033, Additive Manufacturing 
Requirements for Equipment and Facility Control. Although represented independently in Figure 
2, they are essential to any successful AM operation; and plans are required to define how 
controls are implemented. An Equipment and Facility Control Plan (EFCP), the basic contents of 
which are covered in NASA-STD-6033, is developed and maintained by any facility producing 
AM parts. The EFCP sets and enforces the requirements for qualification, maintenance, and 
calibration activities on AM machines and associated equipment. Associated equipment may 
include, but is not limited to, sieve equipment, measuring or calibration instruments, cleaning 
tools, and other such apparatus that are influential to continued successful operation of the AM 
process. Equipment controls are only as good as the training of the