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Title 51 — National and Commercial Space ProgramsRelease 119-73not60

§20163 Program Authorized

Title 51 › Subtitle Subtitle II— General Program and Policy Provisions › Chapter 201— NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE PROGRAM › Subchapter IV— UPPER ATMOSPHERE RESEARCH › § 20163

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Administration must start and run a research program, working with other federal agencies, to study how the upper atmosphere works — its physics and chemistry. It must involve scientists and engineers from industry and colleges in planning, research, technology, and observations. It must use grants, contracts, scholarships, or other support when allowed by law to get wide participation, and must give results to regulators and share them broadly.

Full Legal Text

Title 51, §20163

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

(a)In order to carry out the purposes of this subchapter, the Administration, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, shall initiate and carry out a program of research, technology, monitoring, and other appropriate activities directed to understand the physics and chemistry of the upper atmosphere.
(b)In carrying out the provisions of this subchapter, the Administration shall—
(1)arrange for participation by the scientific and engineering community, of both the Nation’s industrial organizations and institutions of higher education, in planning and carrying out appropriate research, in developing necessary technology, and in making necessary observations and measurements;
(2)provide, by way of grant, contract, scholarships, or other arrangements, to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with other laws, for the widest practicable and appropriate participation of the scientific and engineering community in the program authorized by this subchapter; and
(3)make all results of the program authorized by this subchapter available to the appropriate regulatory agencies and provide for the widest practicable dissemination of such results.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 2016342 U.S.C. 2483.Pub. L. 85–568, title IV, § 403, as added Pub. L. 94–39, § 8, June 19, 1975, 89 Stat. 222.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

51 U.S.C. § 20163

Title 51 — National and Commercial Space Programs

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60