Active Engineering Handbooks

The following Handbooks can be downloaded in PDF or MS Word format.

The European Space Agency hereby disclaims any liability for use of these electronic documents and assumes no responsibility for any error or omission therein. See the License agreement – Disclaimer for more information.


  1. ECSS-E-HB-10-02A – Verification guidelines (17 December 2010)
  2. ECSS-E-HB-10-03A – Testing guidelines (31 May 2022)
  3. ECSS-E-HB-10-12A – Calculation of radiation and its effects and margin policy handbook (17 December 2010)
  4. ECSS-E-HB-11A – Technology readiness level (TRL) guidelines (1 March 2017)
  5. ECSS-E-HB-20-01A – Multipactor handbook (15 June 2020)
  6. ECSS-E-HB-20-02A – Li-ion battery testing handbook (1 October 2015)
  7. ECSS-E-HB-20-05A – High voltage engineering and design handbook (12 December 2012)
  8. ECSS-E-HB-20-06A – Assessment of space worst case charging handbook (15 May 2019)
  9. ECSS-E-HB-20-07A – Electromagnetic compatibility handbook (5 September 2012)
  10. ECSS-E-HB-20-20A – Guidelines for electrical design and interface requirements for power supply (15 April 2016)
  11. ECSS-E-HB-20-21A – Guidelines for electrical design and interface requirements for actuators (15 May 2019)
  12. ECSS-E-HB-20-40A – Engineering techniques for radiation effects mitigation in ASICs and FPGAs handbook
  13. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 10A – Thermal design handbook – Part 10: Phase – Change Capacitors (5 December 2011)
  14. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 11A – Thermal design handbook – Part 11: Electrical Heating (5 December 2011)
  15. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 12A – Thermal design handbook – Part 12: Louvers (5 December 2011)
  16. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 13A – Thermal design handbook – Part 13: Fluid Loop (5 December 2011)
  17. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 14A – Thermal design handbook – Part 14: Cryogenic Cooling (5 December 2011)
  18. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 15A – Thermal design handbook – Part 15: Existing Satellites (5 December 2011)
  19. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 16A – Thermal design handbook – Part 16: Thermal Protection System (5 December 2011)
  20. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 1A – Thermal design handbook – Part 1: View factors (5 December 2011)
  21. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 2A – Thermal design handbook – Part 2: Holes, Grooves and Cavities (5 December 2011)
  22. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 3A – Thermal design handbook – Part 3: Spacecraft Surface Temperature (5 December 2011)
  23. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 4A – Thermal design handbook – Part 4: Conductive Heat Transfer (5 December 2011)
  24. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 5A – Thermal design handbook – Part 5: Structural Materials: Metallic and Composite (5 December 2011)
  25. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 6A – Thermal design handbook – Part 6: Thermal Control Surfaces (5 December 2011)
  26. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 7A – Thermal design handbook – Part 7: Insulations (5 December 2011)
  27. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 8A – Thermal design handbook – Part 8: Heat Pipes (5 December 2011)
  28. ECSS-E-HB-31-01 Part 9A – Thermal design handbook – Part 9: Radiators (5 December 2011)
  29. ECSS-E-HB-31-03A – Thermal analysis handbook (15 November 2016)
  30. ECSS-E-HB-32-20 Part 1A – Structural materials handbook – Part 1: Overview and material properties and applications (20 March 2011)
  31. ECSS-E-HB-32-20 Part 2A – Structural materials handbook – Part 2: Design calculation methods and general design aspects (20 March 2011)
  32. ECSS-E-HB-32-20 Part 3A – Structural materials handbook – Part 3: Load transfer and design of joints and design of structures (20 March 2011)
  33. ECSS-E-HB-32-20 Part 4A – Structural materials handbook – Part 4: Integrity control, verification guidelines and manufacturing (20 March 2011)
  34. ECSS-E-HB-32-20 Part 5A – Structural materials handbook – Part 5: New advanced materials, advanced metallic materials, general design aspects and load transfer and design of joints (20 March 2011)
  35. ECSS-E-HB-32-20 Part 6A – Structural materials handbook – Part 6: Fracture and material modelling, case studies and design and integrity control and inspection(20 March 2011)
  36. ECSS-E-HB-32-20 Part 7A – Structural materials handbook – Part 7: Thermal and environmental integrity, manufacturing aspects, in-orbit and health monitoring, soft materials, hybrid materials and nanotechnoligies (20 March 2011)
  37. ECSS-E-HB-32-20 Part 8A – Structural materials handbook – Part 8: Glossary (20 March 2011)
  38. ECSS-E-HB-32-21A: Adhesive bonding handbook (20 March 2011)
  39. ECSS-E-HB-32-22A: Insert design handbook (20 March 2011)
  40. ECSS-E-HB-32-23A Rev.1: Threaded fasteners handbook (6 February 2023)
  41. ECSS-E-HB-32-24A – Buckling of structures (24 March 2010)
  42. ECSS-E-HB-32-25A: Mechanical shock design and verification handbook (14 July 2015)
  43. ECSS-E-HB-32-26A: Spacecraft mechanical loads analysis handbook (19 February 2013)
  44. ECSS-E-HB-40-01A – Agile software development handbook (7 April 2020)
  45. ECSS-E-HB-40A – Software engineering handbook (11 December 2013)
  46. ECSS-E-HB-50A – Communications guidelines (18 November 2008)
  47. ECSS-E-HB-60-10A – Control performance guidelines (14 December 2010)
  48. ECSS-E-HB-60A – Control engineering handbook (14 December 2010)