ISO 11231:2010 supports and complements the implementation of the risk management process defined in ISO 17666 in situations when application of quantitative risk assessment is deemed necessary.

ISO 11231:2010 defines the principles, process, implementation and requirements for conducting a quantitative risk assessment, and explains the details of probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) as applied to safety. While PRA can be applied to project risk management involving cost and schedule, this application is outside the scope of ISO 11231:2010.

ISO 11231:2010 provides the basic requirements and procedures for use of PRA techniques to assess safety or mission risk and success in space programmes and projects. ISO 11231:2010 is applicable to all international space projects involving:

• the design of space vehicles for the transportation of personnel in space;
• the design of space and non-terrestrial planetary stations inhabited by human beings;
• the design of space and launch vehicles powered by, or carrying, nuclear materials;
• other projects as directed by authorities or clients.

These types of projects generally involve scenarios, chains of events or activities that could result in the death of, or serious injury to, members of the public, astronauts or pilots, or the workforce, or the loss of critical or high-value equipment and property. For other types of projects, it is intended that PRA be performed at the discretion of the project management.