{"data":{"id":"us/14-cfr-450.163","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"14 CFR 450.163","heading":"Lightning hazard mitigation.","body":"(a) Lightning hazard mitigation. An operator must—\n(1) Establish flight commit criteria that mitigate the potential for a launch or reentry vehicle intercepting or initiating a direct lightning strike, or encountering a nearby discharge, using a means of compliance accepted by the Administrator; or\n(2) Use a vehicle designed to protect safety-critical systems in the event of a direct lightning strike or nearby discharge.\n(b) Application requirements. (1) An applicant electing to comply with paragraph (a)(1) of this section must submit flight commit criteria that mitigate the potential for a launch or reentry vehicle intercepting or initiating a direct lightning strike, or encountering a nearby lightning discharge.\n(2) An applicant electing to comply with paragraph (a)(2) of this section must submit documentation providing evidence that the vehicle is designed to protect safety-critical systems against the effects of a direct lightning strike or nearby discharge.","path":["Title 14—Aeronautics and Space","CHAPTER III—COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION","SUBCHAPTER C—LICENSING","PART 450—LAUNCH AND REENTRY LICENSE REQUIREMENTS","Subpart C—Safety Requirements"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-14.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:24:20Z","sha256":"3e2bdebacf69e09751b9c7d8428c6b8efe3d4f8d8a838b5dbdd80a0d5c9c0858","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/14-cfr-450.161","next":"us/14-cfr-450.165"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}