(2) AVAILABILITY AND USE OF FUNDS FOR OPERATING PLAN.—The 
availability and use of funds received under this section for the Admin-
istration’s operating plan. 
(g) SUNSET.—The authority to enter into leases under this section shall 
expire 10 years after December 26, 2007. The expiration under this sub-
section of authority to enter into leases under this section shall not affect 
the validity or term of leases or the Administration’s retention of proceeds 
from leases entered into under this section before the expiration of the au-
thority. 
§ 20146. Retrocession of jurisdiction 
(a) DEFINITION OF STATE.—In this section, the term ‘‘State’’ means any 
of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the North-
ern Mariana Islands, and any other commonwealth, territory, or possession 
of the United States. 
(b) RELINQUISHING LEGISLATIVE JURISDICTION.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, the Administrator may relinquish to a State all or 
part of the legislative jurisdiction of the United States over lands or inter-
ests under the control of the Administrator in that State. 
§ 20147. Recovery and disposition authority 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ADMINISTRATION HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT VEHICLE.—The term 
‘‘Administration human space flight vehicle’’ means a space vehicle, as 
defined in section 20138(a) of this title, that— 
(A) is intended to transport one or more persons; 
(B) is designed to operate in outer space; and 
(C) is either— 
(i) owned by the Administration; or 
(ii) owned by an Administration contractor or cooperating 
party and operated as part of an Administration mission or 
a joint mission with the Administration. 
(2) CREWMEMBER.—The term ‘‘crewmember’’ means an astronaut 
or other person assigned to an Administration human space flight vehi-
cle. 
(b) CONTROL OF REMAINS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), when there is 
an accident or mishap resulting in the death of a crewmember of an 
Administration human space flight vehicle, the Administrator may take 
control over the remains of the crewmember and order autopsies and 
other scientific or medical tests. 
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(2) TREATMENT.—Each crewmember shall provide the Adminis-
trator with the crewmember’s preferences regarding the treatment ac-
corded to the crewmember’s remains and the Administrator shall, to 
the extent possible, respect those stated preferences. 
(3) CONSTRUCTION.—This section shall not be construed to permit 
the Administrator to interfere with any Federal investigation of a mis-
hap or accident. 
SUBCHAPTER IV—UPPER ATMOSPHERE RESEARCH 
§ 20161. Congressional declaration of purpose and policy 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this subchapter is to authorize and direct 
the Administration to develop and carry out a comprehensive program of 
research, technology, and monitoring of the phenomena of the upper atmos-
phere so as to provide for an understanding of and to maintain the chemical 
and physical integrity of the Earth’s upper atmosphere. 
(b) POLICY.—Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States 
to undertake an immediate and appropriate research, technology, and moni-
toring program that will provide for understanding the physics and chem-
istry of the Earth’s upper atmosphere. 
§ 20162. Definition of upper atmosphere 
In this subchapter, the term ‘‘upper atmosphere’’ means that portion of 
the Earth’s sensible atmosphere above the troposphere. 
§ 20163. Program authorized 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to carry out the purposes of this subchapter, 
the Administration, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, shall initiate 
and carry out a program of research, technology, monitoring, and other ap-
propriate activities directed to understand the physics and chemistry of the 
upper atmosphere. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out the provisions of this subchapter, the 
Administration shall— 
(1) arrange for participation by the scientific and engineering com-
munity, of both the Nation’s industrial organizations and institutions 
of higher education, in planning and carrying out appropriate research, 
in developing necessary technology, and in making necessary observa-
tions and measurements; 
(2) provide, by way of grant, contract, scholarships, or other ar-
rangements, to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with 
other laws, for the widest practicable and appropriate participation of 
the scientific and engineering community in the program authorized by 
this subchapter; and 
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(3) make all results of the program authorized by this subchapter 
available to the appropriate regulatory agencies and provide for the 
widest practicable dissemination of such results. 
§ 20164. International cooperation 
In carrying out the provisions of this subchapter, the Administration, sub-
ject to the direction of the President and after consultation with the Sec-
retary of State, shall make every effort to enlist the support and cooperation 
of appropriate scientists and engineers of other countries and international 
organizations. 
CHAPTER 203—RESPONSIBILITIES AND VISION 
Sec. 
20301.
General responsibilities. 
20302.
Vision for space exploration. 
20303.
Contribution to innovation. 
20304.
Basic research enhancement. 
20305.
National Academies decadal surveys. 
§ 20301. General responsibilities 
(a) PROGRAMS.—The Administrator shall ensure that the Administration 
carries out a balanced set of programs that shall include, at a minimum, 
programs in— 
(1) human space flight, in accordance with section 20302 of this 
title; 
(2) aeronautics research and development; and 
(3) scientific research, which shall include, at a minimum— 
(A) robotic missions to study the Moon and other planets and 
their moons, and to deepen understanding of astronomy, astro-
physics, and other areas of science that can be productively stud-
ied from space; 
(B) Earth science research and research on the Sun-Earth con-
nection through the development and operation of research sat-
ellites and other means; 
(C) support of university research in space science, Earth 
science, and microgravity science; and 
(D) research on microgravity, including research that is not di-
rectly related to human exploration. 
(b) CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION.—In carrying out the programs 
of the Administration, the Administrator shall— 
(1) consult and coordinate to the extent appropriate with other rel-
evant Federal agencies, including through the National Science and 
Technology Council; 
(2) work closely with the private sector, including by— 
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(A) encouraging the work of entrepreneurs who are seeking to 
develop new means to launch satellites, crew, or cargo; 
(B) contracting with the private sector for crew and cargo serv-
ices, including to the International Space Station, to the extent 
practicable; 
(C) using commercially available products (including software) 
and services to the extent practicable to support all Administration 
activities; and 
(D) encouraging commercial use and development of space to 
the greatest extent practicable; and 
(3) involve other nations to the extent appropriate. 
§ 20302. Vision for space exploration 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall establish a program to de-
velop a sustained human presence on the Moon, including a robust pre-
cursor program, to promote exploration, science, commerce, and United 
States preeminence in space, and as a stepping-stone to future exploration 
of Mars and other destinations. The Administrator is further authorized to 
develop and conduct appropriate international collaborations in pursuit of 
these goals. 
(b) MILESTONES.—The Administrator shall manage human space flight 
programs to strive to achieve the following milestones (in conformity with 
section 70502 of this title): 
(1) Returning Americans to the Moon no later than 2020. 
(2) Launching the Crew Exploration Vehicle as close to 2010 as pos-
sible. 
(3) Increasing knowledge of the impacts of long duration stays in 
space on the human body using the most appropriate facilities avail-
able, including the International Space Station. 
(4) Enabling humans to land on and return from Mars and other 
destinations on a timetable that is technically and fiscally possible. 
§ 20303. Contribution to innovation 
(a) PARTICIPATION IN INTERAGENCY ACTIVITIES.—The Administration 
shall be a full participant in any interagency effort to promote innovation 
and economic competitiveness through near-term and long-term basic sci-
entific research and development and the promotion of science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics education, consistent with the Administra-
tion’s mission, including authorized activities. 
(b) HISTORIC FOUNDATION.—In order to carry out the participation de-
scribed in subsection (a), the Administrator shall build on the historic role 
of the Administration in stimulating excellence in the advancement of phys-
ical science and engineering disciplines and in providing opportunities and 
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