Title 51, National and Commercial Space ProgramsRelease 119-110
§50132 Acquisition of Commercial Space Transportation Services
Title 51 › Subtitle V — Programs Targeting Commercial Opportunities › CHAPTER 501 — SPACE COMMERCE › SUBCHAPTER III — FEDERAL ACQUISITION OF SPACE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES › § 50132
Summary
Federal agencies must buy space transportation services the same way they buy other commercial services, following applicable acquisition laws and rules, including chapters 201–285, 341–343, and 363 of title 10. The government may still require those services to meet safety standards.
Full Legal Text
Title 51, §50132
National and Commercial Space Programs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Treatment of Commercial Space Transportation Services as Commercial Service Under Acquisition Laws.—
Acquisitions of space transportation services by the Federal Government shall be carried out in accordance with applicable acquisition laws and regulations (including applicable provisions of chapters 201 through 285, 341 through 343, and 363 of title 10). For purposes of such law and regulations, space transportation services shall be considered to be a commercial service.
(b)Safety Standards.—
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Federal Government from requiring compliance with applicable safety standards.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5013242 U.S.C. 14732.Pub. L. 105–303, title II, § 202, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2855.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–81 substituted “including applicable provisions of chapters 201 through 285, 341 through 343, and 363” for “including chapters 137 and 140”. 2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted “Commercial Service” for “Commercial Item” in heading and “commercial service” for “commercial item” in text.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Jan. 1, 2020, subject to a
Savings Provision
, see section 836(h) of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as an
Effective Date
of 2018 Amendment;
Savings Provision
note under section 453b of Title 6, Domestic Security.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
51 U.S.C. § 50132
Title 51, National and Commercial Space Programs
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110