Technology readiness level

A numbered scale for assessing how mature a technology is, from basic research through testing to operational use. Its levels describe the evidence and environment in which a technology has been demonstrated.

NASA Technology Readiness Levels: NASA's nine-level framework for rating technology maturity from basic principles to flight-proven systems. This is the framework that established the familiar nine-step scale.
NASA: The United States government agency responsible for civilian space exploration and aeronautics research. NASA developed the readiness-level approach for managing space technology development.
NASA Systems Engineering Handbook: NASA's guidance on systems engineering processes for developing and operating complex systems. The handbook places readiness assessments within broader program and systems engineering practice.
Manufacturing Readiness Level: A scale assessing how prepared a technology or system is for production at required rates and quality. It focuses on production capability, which technology readiness levels do not fully measure.
TRL 6: A readiness level indicating that a representative model or prototype has been demonstrated in a relevant environment. This often marks the transition from component development toward system-level demonstration.
Technology readiness assessment: A structured evaluation of evidence used to assign a technology readiness level. Assessments connect the scale's definitions to concrete evidence about a technology.
Stanford Research Institute: A nonprofit research institute founded in 1946 as a center for applied research and development. The institute introduced an early technology readiness scale for NASA in the 1970s.
Defense Acquisition System: The United States Department of Defense framework for developing, testing, and acquiring military capabilities. Readiness levels help characterize technology maturity during defense acquisition decisions.
System Readiness Level: A framework for assessing the maturity of an integrated system and its constituent technologies. It emphasizes system integration more explicitly than a technology-focused rating.
TRL 9: A readiness level indicating that an actual system has been proven through successful mission operations. It represents demonstrated operational use rather than planned deployment.

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