MIL-PRF-1540, A Performance Specification for Design and Product Verification of Space Hardware

Acquisition reform has caused the cancellation or conversion of many military specifications and standards. One of the standards targeted for conversion by Air Force Material Command (AFMC) was MIL-STD-1540. The standard provides details for the testing of launch, upper stage, and space vehicles. AFMC requested that MIL-STD-1540C be converted from a standard to an alternative form of documentation. To answer this request, The Aerospace Corporation and Space and Missile Systems Center used an innovative approach to develop a document that retained the value of the original standard. The new document is MIL-PRF-1540 (a Military Performance Specification). MIL-PRF-1540 is intended for use in the Request For Proposal (RFP) instructions for new procurements of space hardware. The value of MIL-STD-1540C was retained by incorporating it into the already existing MIL-HDBK-340. The revised handbook, MIL-HDBK-340A, is referenced by MIL-PRF-1540 as guidelines only.