scope:

Purpose

This NASA Technical Standard establishes common LLCC for avoidance of natural and triggered lightning to launch vehicles during ascent that are developed by the LAP for United States space launch.

Applicability

This Standard is approved for use by NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers and Facilities, and applicable technical requirements may be cited in contract, program, and other Agency documents. This language applies to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (a Federally Funded Research and Development Center), other contractors, recipients of grants, cooperative agreements, or other agreements only to the extent specified or referenced in the applicable contracts, grants, or agreements.

As the definitive document for the most up-to-date LLCC in support of launches, this Standard has been adopted for use by other Federal Government agencies involved with spaceflight operations, including the Department of Defense (DoD) and the FAA. USSF and FAA regulations refer to this publication as a common standard for criteria intended to protect against the hazards associated with natural and triggered lightning.

Requirements for USSF launches may be found in SSCMAN 91-710, Volume 6, Attachment 4, section A4.2.5, Natural and Triggered Lightning. Requirements for FAA commercially licensed launches fall under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter III, Part 450.163(a)(1), Lightning Hazard Mitigation, and in Appendix G to Part 417, Natural and Triggered Lightning Flight Commit Criteria (LFCC).

References to "this Standard" refer to NASA-STD-4010A; references to other documents state the specific document information.

Verifiable requirement statements are designated by the acronym "LLCCR" (Lightning Launch Commit Criteria Requirement), numbered, and indicated by the word "shall." This Standard contains 35 requirements. To facilitate requirements selection by NASA programs and projects, a Requirements Identification Matrix is provided in Appendix A.

Explanatory or guidance text is indicated in italics beginning in section 4. The terms "may" or "can" denote discretionary privilege or permission, "should" denotes a good practice and is recommended but not required, "will" denotes expected outcome, and "is/are" denotes descriptive material or a statement of fact.

Tailoring

Tailoring of the requirements in this Standard for application to a specific program or project is acceptable when formally approved by the delegated NASA Technical Authority in accordance with NPR 7120.5, NASA Space Flight Program and Project Management Requirements, and documented in program or project requirements.