This standard provides guidelines for selected reference and standard atmospheric models for use in engineering design or scientific research. The guide describes the content of the models, uncertainties and limitations, technical basis, data bases from which the models are formed, publication references, and sources of computer code for thirty-seven (37) Earth and planetary atmospheric models, for altitudes from surface to 3500 kilometers, which are generally recognized in the aerospace sciences.

This standard is intended to assist aircraft and space vehicle designers and developers, geophysicists, meteorologists, and climatologists in understanding available models, comparing sources of data, and interpreting engineering and scientific results based on different atmospheric models.