Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§19069 Astronomy and satellite constellations

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 163— - RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, COMPETITION, AND INNOVATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE › Part Part E— - Fundamental Research › § 19069

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Director must fund research and test ways to reduce how satellite constellations could harm the Foundation’s scientific programs. This includes giving competitive awards to study effects on ground-based optical, infrared, and radio astronomy (including SWIFT and the Spectrum Innovation Initiative), supporting work at Foundation-supported Federally Funded Research and Development Centers or major multiuser research facilities under section 1862s–2(g), and backing workshops on impacts and possible benefits.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §19069

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Director shall support research into and the design, development, and testing of mitigation measures to address the potential impact of satellite constellations on Foundation scientific programs by—

(1)making awards on a competitive basis to support study of the potential impacts of satellite constellations on ground-based optical, infrared, and radio astronomy, including through existing programs such Spectrum and Wireless Innovation enabled by Future Technologies (SWIFT) and the Spectrum Innovation Initiative;

(2)supporting research on potential satellite impacts and benefits and mitigation strategies to be carried out at one or more Foundation supported Federally Funded Research and Development Centers or major multiuser research facilities as defined in section 1862s–2(g) of this title, as appropriate; and

(3)supporting workshops related to the potential impact of satellite constellations on scientific research and how those constellations could be used to improve scientific research.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 19069

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73