WP-010 · Foundation specification · v0.1

AI Safety for Orbital Operations

OSOIX uses AI as bounded, inspectable decision support. Accountable humans authorize consequential actions, while independently validated deterministic systems execute safety-critical functions.

Safety principles

Assist, do not silently command

General reasoning systems may summarize, simulate and recommend. They must not covertly become flight-control authority.

Humans authorize consequential action

Named and authenticated operators approve safety-critical decisions within explicit authority scopes.

Deterministic safeguards remain independent

Collision avoidance execution, propulsion interlocks, capture aborts, emergency shutdown and other critical controls remain outside general AI reasoning.

Uncertainty must be visible

Recommendations disclose source quality, confidence, missing information, assumptions, model version and prediction horizon.

Every recommendation is reproducible

Inputs, prompts or policy context, model versions, tools, outputs, edits, approvals and downstream outcomes are recorded.

Claims follow evidence

OSOIX must not describe a capability as operational, autonomous, certified or flight-proven before relevant evidence exists.

Prohibited uses

Direct unsupervised propulsion command

Autonomous capture authorization

Self-approved emergency override

Hidden modification of mission constraints

Suppression of uncertainty or conflicting observations

Unlogged model or policy substitution

Settlement triggered before verification

Capability marketing unsupported by evidence

Assurance lifecycle

01 · Define approved use case
02 · Document hazards and prohibited actions
03 · Validate data and model lineage
04 · Test normal, edge and adversarial cases
05 · Require human authorization
06 · Use independent deterministic safeguards
07 · Record evidence and monitor divergence
08 · Suspend, investigate and supersede after incidents

Current maturity

Policy and architecture foundation only.

OSOIX does not currently operate flight-qualified AI, a certified safety-management system, an autonomous spacecraft controller, a regulator-approved assurance framework or a customer deployment. This document defines the minimum boundaries that future prototypes and demonstrations must satisfy.