Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§18401 Aeronautics Research Goals

Title 42 › CHAPTER 159 — SPACE EXPLORATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND SCIENCE › SUBCHAPTER VIII — AERONAUTICS AND SPACE TECHNOLOGY › § 18401

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Administrator must make sure NASA keeps a strong aeronautics research program that covers basic science through systems work. The program must study airspace capacity for the Next Generation Air Transportation System, including handling up to 3 times today’s travel demand by 2025. It must work to cut noise, emissions, and fuel use and study alternative fuels while keeping safety high. It must also tackle safety problems for new and current aircraft and for future air operations.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §18401

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Administrator should ensure that NASA maintains a strong aeronautics research portfolio ranging from fundamental research through systems research with specific research goals, including the following:

(1)Airspace capacity

NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate shall address research needs of the Next Generation Air Transportation System, including the ability of the National Airspace System to handle up to 3 times the current travel demand by 2025.

(2)Environmental sustainability

The Directorate shall consider and pursue concepts to reduce noise, emissions, and fuel consumption while maintaining high safety standards and shall pursue research related to alternative fuels.

(3)Aviation safety

The Directorate shall proactively address safety challenges with new and current air vehicles and with operations in the Nation’s current and future air transportation system.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 18401

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110