Title 51 — National and Commercial Space ProgramsRelease 119-73

§20103 Definitions

Title 51 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - General Program and Policy Provisions › Chapter CHAPTER 201— - NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE PROGRAM › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - SHORT TITLE, DECLARATION OF POLICY, AND DEFINITIONS › § 20103

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines two key terms used in this chapter. "Aeronautical and space activities" means research about flight inside and outside Earth's atmosphere; making, testing, and using aircraft and spacecraft for research; running space transport systems (for example, the space shuttle, upper stages, and space platforms); and other work needed to explore space. "Aeronautical and space vehicles" means aircraft, missiles, satellites, and other crewed or uncrewed space vehicles, plus their equipment, parts, and components.

Full Legal Text

Title 51, §20103

National and Commercial Space Programs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In this chapter:

(1)The term “aeronautical and space activities” means—

(A)research into, and the solution of, problems of flight within and outside the Earth’s atmosphere;

(B)the development, construction, testing, and operation for research purposes of aeronautical and space vehicles;

(C)the operation of a space transportation system including the space shuttle, upper stages, space platforms, and related equipment; and

(D)such other activities as may be required for the exploration of space.

(2)The term “aeronautical and space vehicles” means aircraft, missiles, satellites, and other space vehicles, manned and unmanned, together with related equipment, devices, components, and parts.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 2010342 U.S.C. 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. In paragraph (1)(A), the word “Earth’s” is capitalized for consistency in title 51.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

51 U.S.C. § 20103

Title 51 — National and Commercial Space Programs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73