# TITLE 51—NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS


This title was enacted by Pub. L. 111–314, §3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3328


## Subtitle I—General

Chap.

Sec.

101.

Definitions

10101

## Subtitle II—General Program and Policy Provisions

201.

National Aeronautics and Space Program

20101

203.

Responsibilities and Vision

20301

## Subtitle III—Administrative Provisions

301.

Appropriations, Budgets, and Accounting

30101

303.

Contracting and Procurement

30301

305.

Management and Review

30501

307.

International Cooperation and Competition

30701

309.

Awards

30901

311.

Safety

31101

313.

Healthcare

31301

315.

Miscellaneous

31501

## Subtitle IV—Aeronautics and Space Research and Education

401.

Aeronautics

40101

403.

National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program

40301

405.

Biomedical Research in Space

40501

407.

Environmentally Friendly Aircraft

40701

409.

Miscellaneous

40901

## Subtitle V—Programs Targeting Commercial Opportunities

501.

Space Commerce

50101

503.

Commercial Reusable In-Space Transportation

50301

505.

Commercial Space Competitiveness

50501

507.

Office of Space Commerce

50701

509.

Commercial Space Launch Activities

50901

511.

Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching Grants

51101

513.

Space resource commercial exploration and utilization [1](#_1_target)

51301

515.

Office of Spaceports

51501

## Subtitle VI—Earth Observations

601.

Land Remote Sensing Policy

60101

603.

Remote Sensing

60301

605.

Earth Science

60501

606.

Space Weather

60601

## Subtitle VII—Access to Space

701.

Use of space launch system or alternatives [2](#_2_target)

70101

[703.

Repealed.]

705.

Exploration Initiatives

70501

707.

Human Space Flight Independent Investigation Commission

70701

709.

International Space Station

70901

711.

Near-Earth Objects

71101

713.

Cooperation for Safety Among Spacefaring Nations

71301


#### **Editorial Notes**


#### Amendments

**2020**—Pub. L. 116–181, §2(c)(1), Oct. 21, 2020, 134 Stat. 892, added item for chapter 606.

**2018**—Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title V, §580(b)(2), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3396, added item for chapter 515.

**2017**—Pub. L. 115–10, title IV, §416(b), Mar. 21, 2017, 131 Stat. 35, struck out item for chapter 703 "Shuttle Pricing Policy for Commercial and Foreign Users".

**2015**—Pub. L. 114–90, title I, §117(b)(1), title III, §301(a)(2), title IV, §402(b), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 718, 720, 722, added item for chapter 513 and substituted "Commerce" for "Commercialization" in item for chapter 507 and "Use of space launch system or alternatives" for "Use of Space Shuttle or Alternatives" in item for chapter 701.

**2010**—Pub. L. 111–314, §4(d)(7), Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3443, added items for chapters 509 and 511.

Table I
(Showing disposition of former sections of Title 15)

| *Title 15* Former Sections | *Title 51* New Sections |
| 1511e | 50702 |
| 1535 | 50703 |
| 5601 | 60101 note |
| 5602 | 60101 |
| 5611 | 60111 |
| 5612, 5613 | Rep. |
| 5614 | 60112 |
| 5615(a), (b) | 60113 |
| 5615(c), (d) | Rep. |
| 5621 to 5625 | 60121 to 60125 |
| 5631 | 60131 |
| 5632 | 60132 |
| 5633(a) to (e) | 60133 |
| 5633(f), 5641(a) | Rep. |
| 5641(b), (c) | 60134 |
| 5651 to 5658 | 60141 to 60148 |
| 5671 | 60161 |
| 5672 | 60162 |
| 5801 | 50501 note |
| 5802 | 50501 |
| 5803(a) to (c) | 50502 |
| 5803(d) | Rep. |
| 5805 | Rep. |
| 5806 | 50503 |
| 5807 | 50504 |
| 5808 | 50506 |

Table II
(Showing disposition of former sections of Title 42)

| *Title 42* Former Sections | *Title 51* New Sections |
| 2451 | 20102 |
| 2452 | 20103 |
| 2453 | Rep. |
| 2454 | 20131 |
| 2455(a) | 20132 |
| 2455(b) | 20132 note |
| 2456 | 20133 |
| 2456a | 20134 |
| 2457 | 20135 |
| 2458 to 2458c | 20136 to 20139 |
| 2459 | 20140 |
| 2459a | Elim. |
| 2459b | 20141 |
| 2459c | 20142 |
| 2459d | 30301 |
| 2459e | 30302 |
| 2459f | 20143 |
| 2459f–1 | 20144 |
| 2459g | 30307 |
| 2459h | 30308(b) |
| 2459i | 30102 |
| 2459j | 20145 |
| 2459j–1 | 20145 note |
| 2459k | 20146 |
| 2459*l* | 20147 |
| 2460 | 30101 |
| 2461 | 30901 |
| 2463 | 30303 |
| 2464 | 70101 |
| 2464a | Elim. |
| 2465a(a) | 70102(a) |
| 2465a(b) | Rep. |
| 2465a(c) | 70102(b) |
| 2465a(d) | 70102(c) |
| 2465c | 70103(a) |
| 2465f | 70103(b) |
| 2466 to 2466c | 70301 to 70304 |
| 2467 | 40901 |
| 2467a | 40902 |
| 2467b(a), (b) | 40903(b), (c) |
| 2467b(c) | 40903(a) |
| 2471, 2471a | 20111 notes |
| 2472 | 20111 |
| 2473(a), (b) | 20112 |
| 2473(c) | 20113 |
| 2473b (1st par.) | 30304 |
| 2473b (last par.), 2473c(a) | Rep. |
| 2473c(b) | 31102 note |
| 2473c(c) to (h) | 31102 |
| 2473d | 30309 |
| 2474(a) | Rep. |
| 2474(b), (c) | 20114(a), (b) |
| 2474(d) | Rep. |
| 2475 | 20115 |
| 2475a(a), (b) | 30701(a), (b)(2) |
| 2475b | 30702 |
| 2476 | 20116 |
| 2476a | 20117 |
| 2476b | Rep. |
| 2477 | 31101 |
| 2481 to 2484 | 20161 to 20164 |
| 2486 | 40301 note |
| 2486a to 2486i | 40301 to 40309 |
| 2486k | 40310 |
| 2486*l* | Rep. |
| 2487 | 40501 note |
| 2487a to 2487c | 40501 to 40503 |
| 2487e | 40504 |
| 2487f | 40505 |
| 2487g | Rep. |
| 14701 | 50101 |
| 14711(a) | 50111(a) |
| 14711(b) | Rep. |
| 14712(a) | 50112 note |
| 14712(b) | 50112 |
| 14713 | 50113 |
| 14714 | 50114 |
| 14715(a), (b) | 50115(a), (b) |
| 14715(c) | Rep. |
| 14715(d), (e) | 50115(c), (d) |
| 14731 | 50131 |
| 14732 | 50132 |
| 14733(a) | 50133 |
| 14733(b), (c) | Rep. |
| 14734 | 50134 |
| 14735 | Rep. |
| 14751 | 50301 note |
| 14752 | 50302 |
| 14753 | 50301 |
| 16601 | 10101 note |
| 16611(a) | 20301 |
| 16611(b) | 20302 |
| 16611(c) to (g) | Elim. |
| 16611(h)(1) | 30103(a) |
| 16611(h)(2) | Elim. |
| 16611(i) | 30103(b) |
| 16611(j) | Elim. |
| 16611a(a) to (c) | 20303(a) to (c) |
| 16611a(d) | Elim. |
| 16611a(e) | 20303(d) |
| 16611a(f) | Elim. |
| 16611b | 30103(c) |
| 16611b note (Pub. L. 111–8, div. B, title III, 123 Stat. 589) | 30103(d) |
| 16612 | note prec. 40901 |
| 16613 | 30104 |
| 16614 | 30703 |
| 16615 | 30501 |
| 16616, 16617 | Elim. |
| 16618 | 30502 |
| 16631, 16632 | Rep. |
| 16633 | 70902 |
| 16634 | 50505 |
| 16635, 16636 | Elim. |
| 16651 | 30503 |
| 16652, 16653 | Elim. |
| 16654(a) (matter before par. (1)) | 30504(a) |
| 16654(a)(1) | Elim. |
| 16654(a)(2) | 30504(b) |
| 16654(b), 16655(1) | Elim. |
| 16655(2), (3) | 40904 |
| 16656 | 60505 |
| 16657 | Elim. |
| 16658 | 20304 |
| 16671 to 16676 | 60301 to 60306 |
| 16691 | note prec. 71101 |
| 16701 | 40101 |
| 16711 | 40102 |
| 16712(a) | Elim. |
| 16712(b) | 40103 |
| 16721(a), (b) | 40111 |
| 16721(c), (d) | Rep. |
| 16722(a) | 40701 |
| 16722(b) to (g) | 40112(a) to (f) |
| 16723 to 16725 | 40113 to 40115 |
| 16726 | Rep. |
| 16727 | 40116 |
| 16741 | 40131 |
| 16751 | 40141 |
| 16761(a), (b) | 70501(a), (b) |
| 16761(c) | Elim. |
| 16762 | 70501 note |
| 16763 | 70502 |
| 16764 | 70503 |
| 16765 | 70904 |
| 16766(1), (2) | 70903 |
| 16766(3) | Elim. |
| 16767(a), (b) | 70905(b), (c) |
| 16767(c) | Elim. |
| 16767(d) | 70905(a) |
| 16781 | 31501 |
| 16782 | 70304 note |
| 16791 | 40905 |
| 16792 | 30902 |
| 16793 | Elim. |
| 16794 | 40906 |
| 16795 | 40907 |
| 16796 | note prec. 40901 |
| 16797 | 40908 |
| 16798(a) | Elim. |
| 16798(b) | 40909 |
| 16811 | 50116 |
| 16821 | 30306 |
| 16822 | 31301 |
| 16823 | 30704 |
| 16824 | Elim. |
| 16831 | T. 42 §1886a |
| 16832 | Elim. |
| 16841 to 16850 | 70701 to 70710 |
| 17701 | 20102 note |
| 17702 | 10101 note |
| 17711 | 60501 |
| 17712(a) | Elim. |
| 17712(b) to (d) | 60502(a) to (c) |
| 17713(a) | 60503 |
| 17713(b) | Elim. |
| 17714 | 60504 |
| 17721 | 40702 |
| 17722 | 40703 |
| 17723(a) | 40704 note |
| 17723(b), (c) | 40704(a), (b) |
| 17724 | 40104 |
| 17731 | 70504 |
| 17732(a), (b) | 70505(a), (b) |
| 17732(c) | Elim. |
| 17733(a) | 70506 note |
| 17733(b) | 70506 |
| 17734 | 71301 |
| 17741 | 70507 |
| 17742 | 70508 |
| 17751(a) | 70907 |
| 17751(b) | Elim. |
| 17752 | 70906 |
| 17753 | Elim. |
| 17761 | 70501 note |
| 17771 | 50903 note |
| 17781(a) | Elim. |
| 17781(b) | 40903(d) |
| 17781(c) | 40311 |
| 17791(a) | 71101 |
| 17791(b) | Elim. |
| 17792 | 71101 note |
| 17793 to 17795 | 71102 to 71104 |
| 17801 | 50111(b) |
| 17811(a) | 31502 |
| 17811(b), (c) | Elim. |
| 17812(a) | 31503 |
| 17812(b) | Elim. |
| 17821(a) | 71302 note |
| 17821(b) | 71302 |
| 17822 | 31302 |
| 17823 | 20305 |
| 17824 | 30305 |
| 17825(a), (b) | Elim. |
| 17825(c) | 60506 |
| 17826 | Elim. |
| 17827 | 30310 |
| 17828 | 31504 |
| 17829 | 31505 |


#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Enactment of Title

Pub. L. 111–314, §3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3328, provided in part that: "Title 51, United States Code, 'National and Commercial Space Programs', is enacted as follows".

#### Purpose; Conformity With Original Intent

Pub. L. 111–314, §2, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3328, provided that:

"(a) Purpose.—The purpose of this Act [see Tables for classification] is to codify certain existing laws related to national and commercial space programs as a positive law title of the United States Code.

"(b) Conformity With Original Intent.—In the codification of laws by this Act, the intent is to conform to the understood policy, intent, and purpose of Congress in the original enactments, with such amendments and corrections as will remove ambiguities, contradictions, and other imperfections, in accordance with section 205(c)(1) of House Resolution No. 988, 93d Congress, as enacted into law by Public Law 93–554 (2 U.S.C. 285b(1))."


#### Transitional and Savings Provisions

Pub. L. 111–314, §5, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3443, provided that:

"(a) Definitions.—In this section:

"(1) Source provision.—The term 'source provision' means a provision of law that is replaced by a title 51 provision.

"(2) Title 51 provision.—The term 'title 51 provision' means a provision of title 51, United States Code, that is enacted by section 3.

"(b) Cutoff Date.—The title 51 provisions replace certain provisions of law enacted on or before July 1, 2009. If a law enacted after that date amends or repeals a source provision, that law is deemed to amend or repeal, as the case may be, the corresponding title 51 provision. If a law enacted after that date is otherwise inconsistent with a title 51 provision or a provision of this Act [see Tables for classification], that law supersedes the title 51 provision or provision of this Act to the extent of the inconsistency.

"(c) Original Date of Enactment Unchanged.—For purposes of determining whether one provision of law supersedes another based on enactment later in time, a title 51 provision is deemed to have been enacted on the date of enactment of the corresponding source provision.

"(d) References to Title 51 Provisions.—A reference to a title 51 provision is deemed to refer to the corresponding source provision.

"(e) References to Source Provisions.—A reference to a source provision, including a reference in a regulation, order, or other law, is deemed to refer to the corresponding title 51 provision.

"(f) Regulations, Orders, and Other Administrative Actions.—A regulation, order, or other administrative action in effect under a source provision continues in effect under the corresponding title 51 provision.

"(g) Actions Taken and Offenses Committed.—An action taken or an offense committed under a source provision is deemed to have been taken or committed under the corresponding title 51 provision."


#### Repeals

Pub. L. 111–314, §6, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3444, repealed specified laws relating to national and commercial space programs, except with respect to rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, or proceedings that were begun before Dec. 18, 2010.


[1 So in original. Probably should be "Space Resource Commercial Exploration and Utilization".](#_1)


[2 So in original. Probably should be "Use of Space Launch System or Alternatives".](#_2)