National Aeronautics and Space Administration

www.nasa.gov

ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE

Background

Additive manufacturing (AM) has rapidly become prevalent 

in aerospace applications. AM offers the ability to rapidly 

manufacture complex part designs at a reduced cost; however, 

the extreme pace of AM implementation introduces risks to the 

safe adoption of this developing technology. The development 

of aerospace quality standards and specifications is required 

to properly balance the benefits of AM technologies with the 

inherent risks. NASA design and construction standards do not 

yet include specific requirements for controlling the unique 

aspects of the AM process and resulting hardware. While a 

significant national effort is now focused on creating standards 

for AM, the content and scheduled release of these consensus 

standards do not support the near-term programmatic needs 

of NASA.

MSFC Standard and Application to

Human Spaceflight Hardware

NASA MSFC has led with the development of a Center-level 

standard, MSFC-STD-3716, to aid in the development of 

standard practices for L-PBF processes. This standard and its 

companion specification2, MSFC-SPEC-3717, will now provide 

a consistent framework for the development, production, and 

evaluation of additively manufactured parts for spaceflight 

applications. The standard contains requirements addressing 

material property development, part classification, part process 

control, part inspection, and acceptance. The companion 

specification provides requirements for qualification of L-PBF 

metallurgical processes, equipment process control, and 

personnel training. Engineers from the three active human 

spaceflight programs have used the MSFC standard as a 

guideline for implementation of AM parts, assuring partners 

establish reliable AM processes and meet the intent of all 

NASA standards in materials, fracture control, nondestructive 

evaluation, and propulsion structures. 

Path Forward to an AM Standard

In addition to human spaceflight, standards for appropriate 

application of AM to other NASA missions such as science 

and aeronautics require consideration. Full embrace of AM 

technologies requires standardization beyond the Powder Bed 

Fusion process. A planned Agency standard applicable to all 

NASA programs and most AM technologies is currently being 

explored. Proper standardization is the key to enabling the 

innovative promise of AM, while ensuring safe, functional, and 

reliable AM parts.

References

1. MSFC-STD-3716 “Standard for Additively Manufactured 

Spaceflight Hardware by Laser Powder Bed Fusion in Metals,” 

October, 18, 2017.

2. MSFC-SPEC-3717, “Specification for Control and Qualification 

of Laser Powder Bed Fusion Metallurgical Processes,” October 18, 

2017.

Development of NASA Standards for Enabling Certification of

Additively Manufactured Parts

RS-25 Engine SuperDraco Engine

SpaceX

There are currently no NASA standards providing specific design and construction requirements for certification of 

additively manufactured parts. Several international standards organizations are developing standards for additive 

manufacturing; however, NASA mission schedules preclude the Agency from relying on these organizations to develop 

standards that are both timely and applicable. NASA and its partners in human spaceflight (Commercial Crew, Space 

Launch System, and Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Programs) are actively developing additively manufactured parts 

for flight as early as 2018. To bridge this gap, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is authoring a Center-level 

standard (MSFC-STD-3716)1

 to establish standard practices for the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) process. In its 

draft form, the MSFC standard has been used as a basis for L-PBF process implementation for each of the human 

spaceflight programs. The development of an Agency-level standard is proposed, based upon the principles of MSFCSTD-3716, which would have application to multiple additive manufacturing processes and be readily adaptable to all 

NASA programs. 

Aerojet-Rocketdyne

NASA Engineering and Safety Center Technical Bulletin No. 17-01