top of page
AdobeStock_251238249.jpeg

COPV.SPACE

PRESSURE VESSELS 

Dr. Michael Kezirian

Pressure Vessel COPV

Ensuring the Safety and Reliability of High-Pressure Systems in Spaceflight

image.png
image.png
jsc2011e022316.jpg
COPV cover background 1.jpg

Also available through training on demand:

Design and Operation of Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPV)

Course Information:
Type of Course: Instructor-Led Short Course
Course Length: 5 days

Selected Past Courses:

  • Airbus DS (London, UK) (2017)

  • American Institute of Aeronauitcs and Astronautics (Virtual) (2020)

  • ArianeGroup & Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) (Paris, France) (2025)

  • Blue Origin (Kent, WA) (2019)

  • European Space Agency (Noordwijk, The Netherlands) (2011)

  • Midlands Innovation Centre (Athlone, Ireland) (2015)

  • NASA Johnson Space Center (Houston, TX) (2014, 16, 21)

  • NASA Kennedy Space Center (Cocoa Beach, FL) (2012)

  • Naval Undersea Warfare Center (Newport, RI) (2019)

  • University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) (2024)

image.png

COPV Training; Course Description

University of Southern California

March 16-20, 2026

Pressure Vessels & Practice

Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs) are a cornerstone of space system safety because they enable lightweight, high-pressure storage of critical fluids for propulsion, pressurization, and life-support functions. The presence of pressurized fluids introduces inherent hazards (stored energy, leakage, compatibility, ignition/overpressure scenarios), which are controlled through a disciplined set of design and verification requirements—a “design for minimum risk” philosophy embodied in aerospace consensus standards for pressurized hardware.

​

Dr. Kezirian’s COPV expertise includes lifecycle implementation—requirements, design trades, materials/liner interfaces, qualification/acceptance testing, anomaly resolution, and operational constraints—paired with leadership in standards development. He leads (and has served as chair) of the AIAA Aerospace Pressure Vessels Committee on Standards. Under that committee, he has helped drive the development and release of key documents, including:

KSC-20200716-PH-KLS02_0003~medium.jpg
image.png

ANSI/AIAA S-080A-2018, Space Systems
Metallic Pressure Vessels, Pressurized
Structures, and Pressure Components
(reaffirmed in 2024)

image.png

ANSI/AIAA S-081B-2018, Space Systems
Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels
(reaffirmed in 2024)

image.png

AIAA G-082, Guide: Space Systems
Composite Overwrapped Pressure
Vessels with a Plastic Liner
(approved Dec 2022; copyright 2023)

AIAA COPV COURSE:

Design and Operation of Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPV)

Course Information:
Type of Course: Instructor-Led Short Course
Course Length: 2 days
AIAA CEU’s available: Yes

Course Outline:

  1. Overview of Standards

  2. Determining Operational Envelope

  3. Modeling of Pressure Vessels with Finite Element Analysis Software

  4. Liner Fatigue and Fracture

  5. Composite Stress Rupture

  6. Collateral Damage Control

  7. Non-Destructive Testing

  8. Operational Considerations

image.png
image.png
AdobeStock_314540233.jpeg
image.png
image.png

AIAA Aerospace Pressure Vessell (APV) Committee on Standards (CoS)

As a member of the AIAA Standards Steering Committee, Dr. Kezirian plays a key role in guiding the development of critical aerospace standards that influence global engineering practice. His contributions help ensure that safety, reliability, and sustainability remain central to the advancement of space technology and exploration.
 

He also serves on the AIAA Space Systems Technical Committee, where he collaborates with industry and academic experts to develop frameworks that improve mission assurance and operational integrity for commercial and government space programs.

Chair (2012 - 2024)

bg_bklue.jpg

Commitment to Safer Spaceflight

Dr. Kezirian’s contributions to pressure vessel technology and composite systems safety reflect his broader mission: advancing engineering practices that protect human life and mission success. By bridging hands-on aerospace experience with academic rigor and standards leadership, he continues to help define the future of reliable, lightweight, and resilient pressure systems in human and robotic spaceflight.

Key Focus Areas

  • Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV) Design and Testing

  • Failure Analysis and Forensic Engineering

  • Standards Development and Certification

  • Human-Rated Pressure Systems for Spaceflight

  • Ground Processing and damage control strategies

  • On-orbit operations, hazards associated with MMOD

  • Passivation, Reentry Considerations

image.png
bottom of page