Title 51 — National and Commercial Space ProgramsRelease 119-73
§70502 Exploration plan and programs
Title 51 › Subtitle Subtitle VII— - Access to Space › Chapter CHAPTER 705— - EXPLORATION INITIATIVES › § 70502
Summary
Administrator must make a flexible human exploration plan not tied to fixed dates; run research under section 20302(b); build in‑space resource use so missions rely less on Earth and reach beyond LEO; and develop automated docking to support ISS.
Full Legal Text
Title 51, §70502
National and Commercial Space Programs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Administrator shall—
(1)construct an architecture and implementation plan for the Administration’s human exploration program that is not critically dependent on the achievement of milestones by fixed dates;
(2)implement an exploration research and technology development program to enable human and robotic operations consistent with section 20302(b) of this title;
(3)conduct an in-situ resource utilization technology program to develop the capability to use space resources to increase independence from Earth, and sustain exploration beyond low-Earth orbit; and
(4)pursue aggressively automated rendezvous and docking capabilities that can support the International Space Station and other mission requirements.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 7050242 U.S.C. 16763.Pub. L. 109–155, title V, § 503, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2929.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2017—Par. (2). Pub. L. 115–10 amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “implement an exploration technology development program to enable lunar human and robotic operations consistent with section 20302(b) of this title, including surface power to use on the Moon and other locations;”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
51 U.S.C. § 70502
Title 51 — National and Commercial Space Programs
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73