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Title 51 — National and Commercial Space ProgramsRelease 119-73

§20142 Contracts regarding expendable launch vehicles

Title 51 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - General Program and Policy Provisions › Chapter CHAPTER 201— - NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE PROGRAM › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › § 20142

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Administrator may make contracts for expendable launch vehicle services that can run past the time current funds are available. These contracts can include advance payments for building or buying vehicles and equipment, and can cover payments the Government must make if it cancels for convenience, as long as payments do not exceed amounts Congress provides in advance. Contracts may be limited to U.S. sources when that is in the public interest. If there are no funds to keep a contract going, the Government must end it for convenience and pay the costs from the appropriation originally available for the contract, from other unobligated appropriations available for procuring launch services, or from funds appropriated for those payments.

Full Legal Text

Title 51, §20142

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

(a)The Administrator may enter into contracts for expendable launch vehicle services that are for periods in excess of the period for which funds are otherwise available for obligation, provide for the payment for contingent liability which may accrue in excess of available appropriations in the event the Federal Government for its convenience terminates such contracts, and provide for advance payments reasonably related to launch vehicle and related equipment, fabrication, and acquisition costs, if any such contract limits the amount of the payments that the Government is allowed to make under such contract to amounts provided in advance in appropriation Acts. Such contracts may be limited to sources within the United States when the Administrator determines that such limitation is in the public interest.
(b)If funds are not available to continue any such contract, the contract shall be terminated for the convenience of the Government, and the costs of such contract shall be paid from appropriations originally available for performance of the contract, from other unobligated appropriations currently available for the procurement of launch services, or from funds appropriated for such payments.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 2014242 U.S.C. 2459c.Pub. L. 85–568, title III, § 312, formerly § 311, as added Pub. L. 100–147, title I, § 117, Oct. 30, 1987, 101 Stat. 867; renumbered § 312, Pub. L. 106–391, title III, § 324(a)(1), Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1599. In subsection (a), the word “expendable” is substituted for “expendabe” to correct an error in the law.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

51 U.S.C. § 20142

Title 51 — National and Commercial Space Programs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73