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Shape the future of sustainable space
BSI Flex 1971 v1.0 is open for public consultation. Share your feedback by 27 July 2025 to help shape the future direction of the standard and support and support environmentally responsible space activity.
What is BSI Flex 1971 v1.0 about?
One of the key objectives of BSI Flex 1971 is to support the sustainable use of outer space across the entire lifecycle of a satellite. Space economic activities involve upstream (scientific and technological foundations) and downstream (data and applications) elements. Orbital launch plays a key role in delivering, replacing, and occasionally returning upstream elements. Suborbital launch is also essential for vehicle development and scientific missions.
This standard, sponsored by the UK Space Agency, was developed with extensive input from a cross-industry Advisory Group. It aims to reduce the environmental impacts of space launch activities on Earth, Earth’s orbit, other celestial bodies and the orbits around them, and outer space.
What does it cover?
BSI Flex 1971 v1.0 provides guidance on environmental considerations for organizations planning, designing and/or operating any part of the orbital and suborbital space launch lifecycle.
It covers how organizations can:
- incorporate environmental considerations and mitigations into their designs, supply chain, manufacturing and/or constructions;
- plan and carry out launch operations with sustainability at the core;
- assess and adopt lower-impact engineering and operational alternatives; and
- minimize the environmental impacts across all phases of the launch lifecycle, from material extraction, through production and operation to decommissioning.
Why does it matter?
Applying the principles in this guidance can help organizations:
- identify and manage environmental risks;
- improve operational sustainability;
- align with industry best practice; and
- contribute to global efforts in space environmental protection.
Who is it for?
It’s intended for use by launch service providers, spaceports, ranges and payload providers, launch brokers and their supply chains.
It might also be of interest to those concerned with commissioning launches and/or seeking payload capacity. It’s applicable UK-wide, and its guidance is available to be used by organizations internationally.