Author Guidelines

1. Overview

The SRC Journal of Aerospace Technology and Applications (SRC-JATA) is a peer-reviewed, open-access scholarly journal published by the Iraqi Scientific Research Commission (SRC). SRC-JATA publishes methodologically rigorous original research, review articles, technical notes/methods papers, and application or validation studies covering space science and technology (space systems, satellites and subsystems, ground stations, remote sensing, GIS, and earth observation) and aerospace engineering (aircraft design, intelligent flight systems, and unmanned aerial vehicles).

About the Journal

SRC-JATA publishes work at the intersection of space science and aerospace engineering. The journal prioritizes methodologically detailed, reproducible contributions that bridge theoretical research and practical applications. Sufficient technical information to understand and assess the work — system/mission parameters, sensor or instrument specifications, methodology, and validation data — is required for all submissions.

Publisher & Contact

• Publisher: Scientific Research Commission (SRC), Baghdad – Jadriyah, Iraq
• Website: https://src.edu.iq
• Email: aerospace@src.edu.iq

Publication Frequency & Open Access

SRC-JATA will publish on a schedule to be confirmed as the journal approaches launch. All articles will be published open access to maximize visibility, reuse, and public benefit. Readers will be able to access published content without subscription.

Article Processing Charges

Any article processing charges (APCs), waivers, or discounts will be determined by the publisher and stated on the journal website (https://src.edu.iq) ahead of launch.

2. Manuscript Types

SRC-JATA publishes the following article types, all requiring a substantive aerospace or space technology contribution:

Original Research Articles

Report original experimental, computational, or theoretical research. Must include sufficient methodological detail to enable technical assessment and reproducibility.

Review Articles

Provide a comprehensive, authoritative synthesis of a topic within SRC-JATA's scope. Should identify gaps, assess the state of the field, and offer a clear narrative — not merely a list of papers.

Technical Notes / Methods Papers

Describe new or significantly improved methods, instrumentation, ground/flight hardware, computational tools, or protocols. Must include sufficient validation and characterization data.

Application / Validation Studies

Demonstrate the application or validation of space or aerospace technologies, sensors, tracking systems, or computational models in relevant contexts. Must include quantitative performance characterization.

3. Manuscript Preparation

Language

Manuscripts may be submitted in Arabic or English, with a full abstract in both languages. Authors are encouraged to use professional language editing where needed to ensure clarity, particularly for non-native English authors. Clear technical writing is essential for fair peer review.

Authorship

Authorship is restricted to individuals who made a substantial intellectual contribution to the work and who can take responsibility for appropriate portions. All listed authors must: contribute substantially to conception, design, acquisition, analysis, or interpretation; draft or critically revise the work; approve the final version; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

SRC-JATA does not permit guest, gift, or ghost authorship. Changes to the author list after submission require written approval from all authors. SRC-JATA encourages use of the CRediT taxonomy to describe each author's role.

Before Submission Checklist

• Manuscript fits SRC-JATA scope (space science, satellite technology, remote sensing, or aerospace engineering)
• All authors meet authorship criteria and have approved the manuscript
• Key declarations prepared: funding, conflicts of interest, author contributions (CRediT), data availability
• Ethics approvals obtained and referenced where applicable
• System, mission, or measurement parameters clearly reported
• Manuscript language is clear and professionally edited if needed
• Manuscript is original and not under consideration elsewhere
• AI tool use disclosed (if any) in the Acknowledgments

Use of Generative AI

SRC-JATA permits limited use of AI-assisted tools for language polishing, provided use is disclosed and the authors take full responsibility for accuracy and integrity. AI tools may not be listed as authors. Any AI assistance that materially affected wording, analysis, code generation, or figure creation must be described in the Acknowledgments. Reviewers and editors must not upload manuscripts to external AI tools.

Originality & Plagiarism

Manuscripts must be original and not under consideration elsewhere. SRC-JATA screens submissions for originality. Plagiarism (including unattributed copying, inappropriate text recycling, data fabrication or falsification) will result in rejection and may be reported to institutions. Legitimate reuse of methods must be properly cited.

4. Manuscript Structure

SRC-JATA recommends the following structure. Variations are acceptable when justified by the article type (e.g., review articles, technical notes).

Title Page

• Manuscript title (concise and informative)
• Full author names and institutional affiliations
• Corresponding author contact details (email, address)
• ORCID iDs (recommended for all authors)
• Running head (short title, max 60 characters)

Abstract

Provide a concise abstract that states the objective, approach, key results, and technical significance. Include quantitative outcomes where possible. The abstract should be understandable without reference to the main text.

Keywords

Provide 4–8 keywords that reflect the system/mission type, method, application domain, and key technical terms (e.g., "remote sensing," "satellite tracking," "GIS," "unmanned aerial vehicle," "ground station").

Introduction

Define the technical problem, summarize relevant prior work, and state the study's specific contribution or objective. Avoid extensive background not directly relevant to the work.

Materials and Methods (Experimental / Methodology)

Describe materials, instrumentation, and procedures in sufficient detail to enable replication. Specify, as applicable:

• System, mission, or platform type and relevant parameters
• Orbital, flight, or sensor geometry and operating conditions
• Measurement method, instrument, calibration, and reference conditions
• Uncertainty budget or validation statement
• Relevant standards or protocols followed (ISO, CCSDS, ITU, IAU, etc.)

For computational studies, specify: software and version, models used, input datasets, geometry description, and validation benchmarks.

Results and Discussion

Present results clearly using appropriate figures and tables. The Discussion should interpret findings in the context of prior work, address limitations, and explain discrepancies or uncertainties. Avoid speculation not supported by data.

Conclusion(s)

Summarize the main technical findings and their implications for space science or aerospace technology. Avoid repeating results verbatim; emphasize significance and practical or scientific impact.

Acknowledgments

Recognize contributions that do not meet authorship criteria (technical assistance, routine support). Confirm that named individuals have consented to acknowledgment. Disclose any AI tool use here.

Statements & Declarations

Include the following mandatory statements (see Section 9 for details):

• Funding statement
• Conflicts of interest declaration
• Author contributions (CRediT taxonomy encouraged)
• Data availability statement
• Ethics approval (if applicable)
• Informed consent (if applicable)

References

References must be complete, accurate, and formatted consistently. Cite primary sources for key technical statements, standards, and measurement data. Include DOIs where available.

5. Formatting Guidelines

Nomenclature and Units

Use SI units throughout (e.g., km, m/s, kg, W, Hz) along with standard astronautical and aeronautical notation. Define acronyms, abbreviations, and symbols at first use. Use notation consistent with ISO, IAU, or CCSDS publications where applicable.

6. Figures and Tables

Figures

• Use vector formats for line art where possible (EPS, SVG); adequate resolution for photographs and imagery (≥300 dpi)
• Labels must be legible at final print size (minimum 8pt)
• Satellite imagery, ground tracks, and signal or sensor response plots should include axis labels with units
• Any image processing must be disclosed and must not misrepresent data
• Authors must retain original image files and provide them upon request
• Reuse of third-party figures requires written permission and appropriate attribution

7. References

References must be complete and formatted consistently. Cite primary sources for key technical statements, standards, and measurement data. Include DOIs where available. Avoid excessive self-citation.

Key Standards to Reference

Where applicable, cite relevant ISO, CCSDS (Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems), ITU, or IAU documents as primary technical sources for orbital mechanics, space data systems, and spectrum/communications standards.

8. Submission Process

Online Submission

Once live, manuscripts will be submitted through the SRC-JATA online submission system. The submission must include the main manuscript file. If the system requests separate files (title page, blinded manuscript), follow the instructions to support the journal's double-blind review process.

Required Documents

1. Main Manuscript File — Complete manuscript (blinded if required)
2. Title Page — Separate file with author names, affiliations, ORCID iDs, and corresponding author details
3. Cover Letter — Addressed to the Editor-in-Chief; confirm scope fit and originality
4. Figures — High-resolution individual files (if not embedded)
5. Supplementary Materials — If applicable

Submission Declaration

By submitting to SRC-JATA, authors confirm that the work is original, not under consideration elsewhere, that all authors meet authorship criteria and have approved the submission, and that required declarations (funding, conflicts of interest, ethics) are included. Supporting documentation (ethics approvals, consent forms, raw data) may be requested during review.

Initial Evaluation

The editorial office performs initial checks for completeness, scope fit, and policy compliance before assignment to peer review. Manuscripts that are out of scope, lack essential technical information, or show clear policy violations may be desk-rejected without external review.

Submission Steps

1. Go to the SRC-JATA online submission system (link to be published at launch)
2. Create an account or log in
3. Enter manuscript details and select manuscript type
4. Upload all required files
5. Complete all declarations (funding, COI, author contributions, data availability)
6. Review and confirm submission
7. Receive submission confirmation with tracking ID

9. Statements & Declarations

SRC-JATA requires transparent declarations to support research integrity and reader trust. Include the following statements at the end of the manuscript (before References):

Funding Statement

State all sources of financial support, including grant numbers where available, and describe the funders' role (if any) in study design, data collection, or publication. If no funding was received, state this explicitly.

Conflicts of Interest

All authors must disclose relationships or interests that could be perceived to influence the work (financial, personal, or professional). Declared conflicts do not automatically disqualify a manuscript. If none exist, state: "The authors declare no conflicts of interest."

Author Contributions (CRediT)

Provide an Author Contributions statement using the CRediT taxonomy roles (e.g., Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Validation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Data Curation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Visualization, Supervision, Project administration, Funding acquisition).

Data Availability

Include a specific Data Availability statement. Examples:

• "Data are available in the [Repository Name] repository at [persistent link/DOI]."
• "Data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request due to [reason]."
• "No new data were created or analyzed in this study."

For measurement or remote sensing studies, deposit calibration files, datasets, and analysis scripts in a trusted repository where feasible.

Ethics Approval

For studies involving human participants, animals, or sensitive materials, provide the ethics committee name and approval reference number. Human-subject research must have prior approval from an appropriate ethics committee and follow recognized ethical frameworks (e.g., Declaration of Helsinki).

Informed Consent

Where required, state how informed consent was obtained and how confidentiality was maintained. If consent was waived, state the waiver authority and justification.

Plagiarism & Research Integrity

SRC-JATA screens submissions for originality. Plagiarism, data fabrication/falsification, image manipulation, duplicate submission, and citation manipulation are forms of misconduct that will result in rejection and may be reported to authors' institutions. SRC-JATA follows COPE guidelines for handling misconduct allegations.

10. Peer Review Process

Review Type

SRC-JATA uses a double-blind peer review process (or as stated on the journal website). Authors and reviewers remain anonymous to each other throughout the review. The journal may employ single-anonymous review for certain article types.

Workflow and Stages

1. Submission completeness check — editorial office verifies all required files and declarations
2. Initial editorial screening — scope fit, policy compliance, minimum technical reporting
3. Assignment to handling editor — expert editor assigned based on topic
4. Reviewer assignment — minimum two independent expert reviewers
5. Peer review — typically 3–4 weeks
6. Editorial decision — based on reviewer reports and editor assessment

Possible Decisions

• Accept: Manuscript accepted as submitted or with minor editorial corrections
• Minor Revisions: Small changes required; typically re-evaluated by handling editor only
• Major Revisions: Substantial changes needed; manuscript will be re-reviewed
• Reject: Not suitable for publication in SRC-JATA

Peer Review Integrity

SRC-JATA peer review is intended to evaluate technical quality, validity, and clarity. Editors and reviewers must recuse themselves when conflicts of interest exist. Reviewers must not share manuscripts, upload them to AI tools, or use manuscript content for their own purposes. All review materials are confidential.

11. Revised Manuscripts

When submitting a revision, provide a point-by-point response to all reviewer and editor comments, and highlight changes in the manuscript (e.g., using track changes or a different colour). Include a clean version without markup for production.

Revision Timeline

• Minor Revisions: Submit within 30 days
• Major Revisions: Submit within 60 days

If more time is needed, contact the editorial office before the deadline. Manuscripts not revised within the agreed timeframe may be closed.

12. After Acceptance & Publication

After Acceptance

After acceptance, the manuscript enters production (copyediting, typesetting, proofing, and online publication). Authors will be contacted for proof approval. Proof corrections should be limited to typographical errors and factual corrections; substantive changes at proof stage may require editorial approval.

1. Proof Review: Review and approve the typeset proof — typically within 48–72 hours
2. DOI Assignment: Manuscript receives a permanent DOI
3. Online Publication: Article published online as soon as production is complete
4. Issue Assignment: Included in the appropriate journal issue

Open Access & Copyright

SRC-JATA provides open access to published articles. Authors retain copyright in their work unless stated otherwise by the publisher's terms. By publishing in SRC-JATA, authors grant the publisher the rights necessary to publish and distribute the article. Published articles are typically licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY), allowing reuse with proper attribution.

Supplementary Materials

Supplementary materials (additional figures, tables, datasets, code, protocols, or multimedia) may be published alongside the main article. They should be clearly labeled and referenced in the main text. Large datasets should be deposited in a trusted repository and cited with a persistent identifier (DOI).

Promoting Your Work

• Deposit accepted manuscript in institutional repositories per publisher terms
• Update your ORCID profile with the published article
• Share preprint DOI and published DOI through academic networks
• Reference published SRC-JATA articles in future work where appropriate