Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102
§18383 In-space Servicing
Title 42 › CHAPTER 159 — SPACE EXPLORATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND SCIENCE › SUBCHAPTER VII — SPACE SCIENCE › § 18383
Summary
The Administrator must ensure observatory-class spacecraft destined for Earth orbit or Lagrange points can be serviced or repaired in space when practical, and must have NASA’s technology, robotics, and human-flight plans include these capabilities.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §18383
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Administrator shall continue to take all necessary steps to ensure that provisions are made for in-space or human servicing and repair of all future observatory-class scientific spacecraft intended to be deployed in Earth-orbit or at a Lagrangian point to the extent practicable and appropriate. The Administrator should ensure that agency investments and future capabilities for space technology, robotics, and human space flight take the ability to service and repair these spacecraft into account, where appropriate, and incorporate such capabilities into design and operational plans.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 18383
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102