Title 51 — National and Commercial Space ProgramsRelease 119-73
§40904 Microgravity research
Title 51 › Subtitle Subtitle IV— - Aeronautics and Space Research and Education › Chapter CHAPTER 409— - MISCELLANEOUS › § 40904
Summary
NASA must support ground research that leads to space-based basic and applied science when microgravity and space offer national benefits. As much as possible, it must run basic, applied, and commercial ISS research in areas like crystal growth and cellular biotechnology to sustain U.S. microgravity expertise.
Full Legal Text
Title 51, §40904
National and Commercial Space Programs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Administrator shall—
(1)ensure the capacity to support ground-based research leading to space-based basic and applied scientific research in a variety of disciplines with potential direct national benefits and applications that can be advanced significantly from the uniqueness of microgravity and the space environment; and
(2)carry out, to the maximum extent practicable, basic, applied, and commercial International Space Station research in fields such as molecular crystal growth, animal research, basic fluid physics, combustion research, cellular biotechnology, low-temperature physics, and cellular research at a level that will sustain the existing United States scientific expertise and research capability in microgravity research.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 40904(1)42 U.S.C. 16655(2).Pub. L. 109–155, title III, § 305(2), (3), Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2918. 40904(2)42 U.S.C. 16655(3).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
51 U.S.C. § 40904
Title 51 — National and Commercial Space Programs
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73