Spaceworthiness
# Spaceworthiness

Spaceworthiness, or aerospaceworthiness, is a property, or ability of a spacecraft to perform to its design objectives and navigate successfully through both the space environment and the atmosphere as a part of a journey to or from space.

As in airworthiness, the spaceworthiness of a spacecraft depends on at least three basic components:

* design of the spacecraft, which covers activities of engineering evaluation, simulations, laboratory and prototype tests, and experimental flights;
* production, which seeks to ensure that the spacecraft has been assembled in conformity with the design specification;
* maintenance of the spacecraft, after production, before and during each flight mission.

Spaceworthiness is typically maintained through a maintenance program and / or a system of analysis, diagnosis and management of health and reliability of the spacecraft.

## Related concepts

Spaceworthiness of launch vehicles and spacecraft is an extension of the concepts of roadworthiness for cars, railworthiness for trains, seaworthiness for boats and ships, and airworthiness for aircraft.

