§50909 — Title 51 National and Commercial Space Programs | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary of Transportation can immediately ban, pause, or stop a licensed rocket launch, the use of a launch site or reentry site, or a vehicle coming back to Earth if they decide it would harm public health, safety, property, or a U.S. national security or foreign policy interest. That order takes effect right away and stays in place while a review under section 50912 is happening.

Title 51, §50909

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

(a)The Secretary of Transportation may prohibit, suspend, or end immediately the launch of a launch vehicle or the operation of a launch site or reentry site, or reentry of a reentry vehicle, licensed under this chapter if the Secretary decides the launch or operation or reentry is detrimental to the public health and safety, the safety of property, or a national security or foreign policy interest of the United States.

(b)An order under this section takes effect immediately and remains in effect during a review under section 50912 of this title.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 70108(a)49 App.:2610(a).Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–575, § 11, 98 Stat. 3059. 70108(b)49 App.:2610(b).

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2010—Pub. L. 111–314, § 4(d)(2), (3)(I), successively renumbered section 70108 of title 49 and section 70108 of this title as this section. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–314, § 4(d)(5)(L), substituted “section 50912” for “section 70110”. 1998—Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(8)(A), substituted “Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches, operation of launch sites and reentry sites, and reentries” for “Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches and operation of launch sites” in section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(8)(B), inserted “or reentry site, or reentry of a reentry vehicle,” after “operation of a launch site” and “or reentry” after “launch or operation”.

§50909 Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches, operation of launch sites and reentry sites, and reentries