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51 U.S.C. § 20102 — Congressional declaration of policy and purpose
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Devotion of Space Activities to Peaceful Purposes for Benefit of All Humankind.—** Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States that activities in space should be devoted to peaceful purposes for the benefit of all humankind.
**(b) Aeronautical and Space Activities for Welfare and Security of United States.—** Congress declares that the general welfare and security of the United States require that adequate provision be made for aeronautical and space activities. Congress further declares that such activities shall be the responsibility of, and shall be directed by, a civilian agency exercising control over aeronautical and space activities sponsored by the United States, except that activities peculiar to or primarily associated with the development of weapons systems, military operations, or the defense of the United States (including the research and development necessary to make effective provision for the defense of the United States) shall be the responsibility of, and shall be directed by, the Department of Defense; and that determination as to which agency has responsibility for and direction of any such activity shall be made by the President.
**(c) Commercial Use of Space.—** Congress declares that the general welfare of the United States requires that the Administration seek and encourage, to the maximum extent possible, the fullest commercial use of space.
**(d) Objectives of Aeronautical and Space Activities.—** The aeronautical and space activities of the United States shall be conducted so as to contribute materially to one or more of the following objectives:
(1) The expansion of human knowledge of the Earth and of phenomena in the atmosphere and space.
(2) The improvement of the usefulness, performance, speed, safety, and effi
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Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-51/section-20102-congressional-declaration-of-policy-and-purpose--f445d0de95.md
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Source location: Title 51, Chapter 201, § 20102; chapter-201-national-aeronautics-and-space-program.md
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**(a) Devotion of Space Activities to Peaceful Purposes for Benefit of All Humankind.—** Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States that activities in space should be devoted to peaceful purposes for the benefit of all humankind.
**(b) Aeronautical and Space Activities for Welfare and Security of United States.—** Congress declares that the general welfare and security of the United States require that adequate provision be made for aeronautical and space activities. Congress further declares that such activities shall be the responsibility of, and shall be directed by, a civilian agency exercising control over aeronautical and space activities sponsored by the United States, except that activities peculiar to or primarily associated with the development of weapons systems, military operations, or the defense of the United States (including the research and development necessary to make effective provision for the defense of the United States) shall be the responsibility of, and shall be directed by, the Department of Defense; and that determination as to which agency has responsibility for and direction of any such activity shall be made by the President.
**(c) Commercial Use of Space.—** Congress declares that the general welfare of the United States requires that the Administration seek and encourage, to the maximum extent possible, the fullest commercial use of space.
**(d) Objectives of Aeronautical and Space Activities.—** The aeronautical and space activities of the United States shall be conducted so as to contribute materially to one or more of the following objectives:
(1) The expansion of human knowledge of the Earth and of phenomena in the atmosphere and space.
(2) The improvement of the usefulness, performance, speed, safety, and efficiency of aeronautical and space vehicles.
(3) The development and operation of vehicles capable of carrying instruments, equipment, supplies, and living organisms through space.
(4) The establishment of long-range studies of the potential benefits to be gained from, the opportunities for, and the problems involved in the utilization of aeronautical and space activities for peaceful and scientific purposes.
(5) The preservation of the role of the United States as a leader in aeronautical and space science and technology and in the application thereof to the conduct of peaceful activities within and outside the atmosphere.
(6) The making available to agencies directly concerned with national defense of discoveries that have military value or significance, and the furnishing by such agencies, to the civilian agency established to direct and control nonmilitary aeronautical and space activities, of information as to discoveries which have value or significance to that agency.
(7) Cooperation by the United States with other nations and groups of nations in work done pursuant to this chapter and in the peaceful application of the results thereof.
(8) The most effective utilization of the scientific and engineering resources of the United States, with close cooperation among all interested agencies of the United States in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort, facilities, and equipment.
(9) The preservation of the United States preeminent position in aeronautics and space through research and technology development related to associated manufacturing processes.
(10) The search for life’s origin, evolution, distribution, and future in the universe.
**(e) Ground Propulsion Systems Research and Development.—** Congress declares that the general welfare of the United States requires that the unique competence in scientific and engineering systems of the Administration also be directed toward ground propulsion systems research and development. Such development shall be conducted so as to contribute to the objectives of developing energy and petroleum-conserving ground propulsion systems, and of minimizing the environmental degradation caused by such systems.
**(f) Bioengineering Research, Development, and Demonstration Programs.—** Congress declares that the general welfare of the United States requires that the unique competence of the Administration in science and engineering systems be directed to assisting in bioengineering research, development, and demonstration programs designed to alleviate and minimize the effects of disability.
**(g) Warning and Mitigation of Potential Hazards of Near-Earth Objects.—** Congress declares that the general welfare and security of the United States require that the unique competence of the Administration be directed to detecting, tracking, cataloguing, and characterizing near-Earth asteroids and comets in order to provide warning and mitigation of the potential hazard of such near-Earth objects to the Earth.
**(h) Purpose of Chapter.—** It is the purpose of this chapter to carry out and effectuate the policies declared in subsections (a) to (g).
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Establishment and Appointment of Administrator.—** There is established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Administration shall be headed by an Administrator, who shall be appointed from civilian life by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Under the supervision and direction of the President, the Administrator shall be responsible for the exercise of all powers and the discharge of all duties of the Administration and shall have authority and control over all personnel and activities thereof.
**(b) Deputy Administrator.—** There shall be in the Administration a Deputy Administrator, who shall be appointed from civilian life by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Deputy Administrator shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Administrator may prescribe. The Deputy Administrator shall act for, and exercise the powers of, the Administrator during the Administrator’s absence or disability.
**(c) Restriction on Other Business or Employment.—** The Administrator and the Deputy Administrator shall not engage in any other business, vocation, or employment while serving as such.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 51 U.S.C. § 20111
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
This chapter may be cited as the “National Aeronautics and Space Act”.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 51 U.S.C. § 20101
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Establishment.—** There is established a United States Space Force as an armed force within the Department of the Air Force.
**(b) Composition.—** The Space Force consists of—
(1) the Regular Space Force;
(2) all persons appointed or enlisted in, or conscripted into, the Space Force, including those not assigned to units, necessary to form the basis for a complete and immediate mobilization for the national defense in the event of a national emergency; and
(3) all Space Force units and other Space Force organizations, including installations and supporting and auxiliary combat, training, administrative, and logistic elements.
**(c) Functions.—** The Space Force shall be organized, trained, and equipped to—
(1) provide freedom of operation for the United States in, from, and to space;
(2) conduct space operations; and
(3) protect the interests of the United States in space.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 9081
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
No civil space station authorized under section 103(a)(1) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1991 (Public Law 101–611, 104 Stat. 3190) may be used to carry or place in orbit any nuclear weapon or any other weapon of mass destruction, to install any such weapon on any celestial body, or to station any such weapon in space in any other manner. This civil space station may be used only for peaceful purposes.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 51 U.S.C. § 70901
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) In General.—** The President, acting through appropriate Federal agencies, shall—
(1) facilitate commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources by United States citizens;
(2) discourage government barriers to the development in the United States of economically viable, safe, and stable industries for commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources in manners consistent with the international obligations of the United States; and
(3) promote the right of United States citizens to engage in commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources free from harmful interference, in accordance with the international obligations of the United States and subject to authorization and continuing supervision by the Federal Government.
**(b) Report.—** Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the President shall submit to Congress a report on commercial exploration for and commercial recovery of space resources by United States citizens that specifies—
(1) the authorities necessary to meet the international obligations of the United States, including authorization and continuing supervision by the Federal Government; and
(2) recommendations for the allocation of responsibilities among Federal agencies for the activities described in paragraph (1).
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 51 U.S.C. § 51302
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
In this chapter:
(1) **Commercial provider.—** — The term “commercial provider” means any person providing space transportation services or other space-related activities, primary control of which is held by persons other than Federal, State, local, and foreign governments.
(2) **Payload.—** — The term “payload” means anything that a person undertakes to transport to, from, or within outer space, or in suborbital trajectory, by means of a space transportation vehicle, but does not include the space transportation vehicle itself except for its components which are specifically designed or adapted for that payload.
(3) **Space-related activities.—** — The term “space-related activities” includes research and development, manufacturing, processing, service, and other associated and support activities.
(4) **Space transportation services.—** — The term “space transportation services” means the preparation of a space transportation vehicle and its payloads for transportation to, from, or within outer space, or in suborbital trajectory, and the conduct of transporting a payload to, from, or within outer space, or in suborbital trajectory.
(5) **Space transportation vehicle.—** — The term “space transportation vehicle” means any vehicle constructed for the purpose of operating in, or transporting a payload to, from, or within, outer space, or in suborbital trajectory, and includes any component of such vehicle not specifically designed or adapted for a payload.
(6) **State.—** — The term “State” means each of the several States of the Union, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
(7) **
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 51 U.S.C. § 50101
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
### Statutory Notes
#### Codification
The authority provided under sections 621 to 629, comprising subchapter XVI of this chapter, terminated on July 27, 2023, pursuant to section 5 of Pub. L. 113–254, set out as a note below.
Section 621, Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, § 2101, as added Pub. L. 113–254, § 2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2898, provided definitions for this subchapter.
Section 622, Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, § 2102, as added Pub. L. 113–254, § 2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2900; amended Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(8)(A), Nov. 16, 2018, 132 Stat. 4180, established a Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Section 623, Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, § 2103, as added Pub. L. 113–254, § 2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2911, related to protection and sharing of information.
Section 624, Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, § 2104, as added Pub. L. 113–254, § 2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2912; amended Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(8)(B), Nov. 16, 2018, 132 Stat. 4180; Pub. L. 117–263, div. G, title LXXI, § 7143(c)(4), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3663, related to civil enforcement.
Section 625, Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, § 2105, as added Pub. L. 113–254, § 2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2914, related to whistleblower protections.
Section 626, Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, § 2106, as added Pub. L. 113–254, § 2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2915, related to relationship of provisions of this subchapter to other laws.
Section 627, Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, § 2107, as added Pub. L. 113–254, § 2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2916, related to CFATS regulations.
Section 628, Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, § 2108, as added Pub. L. 113–254, § 2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2916, related to small covered chemical faciliti
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 6 U.S.C. § 651
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
The Administrator shall, in consultation with other agencies of the Federal Government as the Administrator considers appropriate, initiate discussions with the appropriate representatives of spacefaring nations to determine an appropriate frame-work under which information intended to promote safe access into outer space, operations in outer space, and return from outer space to Earth free from physical or radio-frequency interference can be shared among the nations.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 51 U.S.C. § 71302
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
### Statutory Notes
#### Codification
Section 17701, Pub. L. 110–422, § 2, Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4781, which related to congressional findings on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was transferred and is set out as a note under [section 20102 of Title 51](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title51-section20102&num=0&edition=prelim), National and Commercial Space Programs.
Section 17702, Pub. L. 110–422, § 3, Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4782, which related to definitions, was transferred and is set out as a note under [section 10101 of Title 51](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title51-section10101&num=0&edition=prelim).
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 17711
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
### Statutory Notes
Section 2451, Pub. L. 85–568, title I, § 102, July 29, 1958, 72 Stat. 426; Pub. L. 94–413, § 15(a), (b), Sept. 17, 1976, 90 Stat. 1270; Pub. L. 95–238, title III, § 311, Feb. 25, 1978, 92 Stat. 83; Pub. L. 95–401, § 7, Sept. 30, 1978, 92 Stat. 860; Pub. L. 98–361, title I, § 110, July 16, 1984, 98 Stat. 426; Pub. L. 100–685, title II, § 214, Nov. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 4093; Pub. L. 106–391, title III, § 302(a), Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1591; Pub. L. 109–155, title III, § 321(d)(2), Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2923, related to congressional declaration of policy and purpose. See [section 20102 of Title 51](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title51-section20102&num=0&edition=prelim), National and Commercial Space Programs.
Section 2452, Pub. L. 85–568, title I, § 103, July 29, 1958, 72 Stat. 427; Pub. L. 98–52, title I, § 108, July 15, 1983, 97 Stat. 285, related to definitions. See [section 20103 of Title 51](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title51-section20103&num=0&edition=prelim).
Section 2453, Pub. L. 85–568, title III, § 302, July 29, 1958, 72 Stat. 433, provided authorization to transfer related functions of other Federal agencies to Administration during a four-year period after July 29, 1958.
Section 2454, Pub. L. 85–568, title III, § 303, July 29, 1958, 72 Stat. 433; Pub. L. 102–588, title V, § 509, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5129, related to access to information obtained or developed by the Administrator. See [section 20131 of Title 51](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title51-section20131&num=0&edition=prelim).
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 42 U.S.C. § 2451 to 2454
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