§50902 — Title 51 National and Commercial Space Programs | U.S. Code

Summary

Defines key words used in the chapter. "Citizen of the United States" covers a U.S. person, a U.S. company, or a foreign company controlled by a U.S. person or company (controlling interest as the Secretary of Transportation defines it). "Crew" is an employee who works directly on launching, reentry, or operating a vehicle that carries people. "Executive agency" is the same as in section 105 of title 5. "Government astronaut" is a NASA-designated person carried on a launch or reentry who is a U.S. government employee (including military) doing a federal job, or an international partner astronaut. "International partner astronaut" is someone another ISS partner (not the U.S.) names under Article 11 of the International Space Station Intergovernmental Agreement. "International Space Station Intergovernmental Agreement" means the Agreement Concerning Cooperation on the International Space Station, signed at Washington January 29, 1998 (TIAS 12927). "Launch" means placing or trying to place a vehicle, payload, or person from Earth into a suborbital path, Earth orbit, or otherwise into outer space. "Launch property" is an item made for or used in launch preparation or launch. "Launch services" are the activities to prepare and carry out a launch, including preparing vehicle, payload, crew, government astronaut, or space flight participant. "Launch site" is the Earth location and its needed facilities from which a launch occurs, as a license defines. "Launch vehicle" is a vehicle built to operate in or put payloads or people into outer space, including suborbital rockets. "Obtrusive space advertising" is advertising in space that a person on Earth can see without a telescope or other device. "Payload" is an object someone plans to put in space with a launch or reentry vehicle, including parts made for it. Except in section 50904(c), "permit" means an experimental permit under section 50906. "Person" means an individual or an organization set up under state or foreign law. "Reenter" and "reentry" mean returning or trying to return a reentry vehicle and its contents from orbit or outer space to Earth. "Reentry services" are the activities to prepare and carry out a reentry, including preparing vehicle, payload, crew, government astronaut, or space flight participant. "Reentry site" is the Earth location a reentry vehicle is meant to return to, as a license defines. "Reentry vehicle" is a vehicle designed to return substantially intact from orbit or outer space to Earth, including reusable launch vehicles that do so. "Space flight participant" is a person on a launch or reentry vehicle who is not crew or a government astronaut. "Space support vehicle flight" is an air flight that is not a launch or reentry but is done by a space support vehicle. "Space support vehicle" is a launch vehicle, a reentry vehicle, or a component of one. "State" and "United States" include the U.S. States, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories and possessions. Until regulations take effect under section 50922(c)(2), "suborbital rocket" means a rocket-powered vehicle meant for suborbital flight whose thrust is greater than its lift for most of its rocket-powered ascent. "Suborbital trajectory" is a planned flight path whose vacuum instantaneous impact point stays on Earth's surface. "Third party" means anyone other than the U.S. government or its involved contractors, a licensee or transferee under this chapter, their contractors or customers involved in launch or reentry services, the customer's contractors, or crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants.

Title 51, §50902

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

In this chapter—

(1)“citizen of the United States” means—

(A)an individual who is a citizen of the United States;

(B)an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States or a State; or

(C)an entity organized or existing under the laws of a foreign country if the controlling interest (as defined by the Secretary of Transportation) is held by an individual or entity described in subclause (A) or (B) of this clause.

(2)“crew” means any employee of a licensee or transferee, or of a contractor or subcontractor of a licensee or transferee, who performs activities in the course of that employment directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of or in a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle that carries human beings.

(3)“executive agency” has the same meaning given that term in section 105 of title 5.

(4)“government astronaut” means an individual who—

(A)is designated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under section 20113(n);

(B)is carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle in the course of his or her employment, which may include performance of activities directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of the launch vehicle or reentry vehicle; and

(C)is either—

(i)an employee of the United States Government, including the uniformed services, engaged in the performance of a Federal function under authority of law or an Executive act; or

(ii)an international partner astronaut.

(5)“international partner astronaut” means an individual designated under Article 11 of the International Space Station Intergovernmental Agreement, by a partner to that agreement other than the United States, as qualified to serve as an International Space Station crew member.

(6)“International Space Station Intergovernmental Agreement” means the Agreement Concerning Cooperation on the International Space Station, signed at Washington January 29, 1998 (TIAS 12927).

(7)“launch” means to place or try to place a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle and any payload or human being from Earth—

(A)in a suborbital trajectory;

(B)in Earth orbit in outer space; or

(C)otherwise in outer space,

(8)“launch property” means an item built for, or used in, the launch preparation or launch of a launch vehicle.

(9)“launch services” means—

(A)activities involved in the preparation of a launch vehicle, payload, crew (including crew training), government astronaut, or space flight participant for launch; and

(B)the conduct of a launch.

(10)“launch site” means the location on Earth from which a launch takes place (as defined in a license the Secretary issues or transfers under this chapter) and necessary facilities at that location.

(11)“launch vehicle” means—

(A)a vehicle built to operate in, or place a payload or human beings in, outer space; and

(B)a suborbital rocket.

(12)“obtrusive space advertising” means advertising in outer space that is capable of being recognized by a human being on the surface of the Earth without the aid of a telescope or other technological device.

(13)“payload” means an object that a person undertakes to place in outer space by means of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle, including components of the vehicle specifically designed or adapted for that object.

(14)except in section 50904(c), “permit” means an experimental permit issued under section 50906.

(15)“person” means an individual and an entity organized or existing under the laws of a State or country.

(16)“reenter” and “reentry” mean to return or attempt to return, purposefully, a reentry vehicle and its payload or human beings, if any, from Earth orbit or from outer space to Earth.

(17)“reentry services” means—

(A)activities involved in the preparation of a reentry vehicle and payload, crew (including crew training), government astronaut, or space flight participant, if any, for reentry; and

(B)the conduct of a reentry.

(18)“reentry site” means the location on Earth to which a reentry vehicle is intended to return (as defined in a license the Secretary issues or transfers under this chapter).

(19)“reentry vehicle” means a vehicle designed to return from Earth orbit or outer space to Earth, or a reusable launch vehicle designed to return from Earth orbit or outer space to Earth, substantially intact.

(20)“space flight participant” means an individual, who is not crew or a government astronaut, carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle.

(21)“space support vehicle flight” means a flight in the air that—

(A)is not a launch or reentry; but

(B)is conducted by a space support vehicle.

(22)“space support vehicle” means a vehicle that is—

(A)a launch vehicle;

(B)a reentry vehicle; or

(C)a component of a launch or reentry vehicle.

(23)“State” means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and a territory or possession of the United States.

(24)unless and until regulations take effect under section 50922(c)(2), “suborbital rocket” means a vehicle, rocket-propelled in whole or in part, intended for flight on a suborbital trajectory, and the thrust of which is greater than its lift for the majority of the rocket-powered portion of its ascent.

(25)“suborbital trajectory” means the intentional flight path of a launch vehicle, reentry vehicle, or any portion thereof, whose vacuum instantaneous impact point does not leave the surface of the Earth.

(26)“third party” means a person except—

(A)the United States Government or the Government’s contractors or subcontractors involved in launch services or reentry services;

(B)a licensee or transferee under this chapter;

(C)a licensee’s or transferee’s contractors, subcontractors, or customers involved in launch services or reentry services;

(D)the customer’s contractors or subcontractors involved in launch services or reentry services; or

(E)crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants.

(27)“United States” means the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and possessions of the United States.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Pub. L. 103–272 Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 70102(1)49 App.:2603(9).Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–575, § 4(1)–(9), 98 Stat. 3056. 49 App.:2603(12).Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–575, § 4(12), 98 Stat. 3056; Nov. 15, 1988, Pub. L. 100–657, § 3(2), 102 Stat. 3900. 70102(2)–(9)49 App.:2603(1)–(8). 70102(10)49 App.:2603(10).Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–575, § 4(10), 98 Stat. 3056; Nov. 15, 1988, Pub. L. 100–657, § 3(1), 102 Stat. 3900. 70102(11)49 App.:2603(11).Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–575, 98 Stat. 3055, § 4(11); added Nov. 15, 1988, Pub. L. 100–657, § 3(3), 102 Stat. 3900. 70102(12)49 App.:2603(10). In this chapter, the word “country” is substituted for “nation” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. In clause (1), before subclause (A), the text of 49 App.:2603(9) is omitted as surplus because the complete name of the Secretary of Transportation is used the first time the term appears in a section. In subclauses (B) and (C), the words “corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, or other” are omitted as surplus. In subclause (C), the words “in

Regulations

” and “in such entity” are omitted as surplus. In clause (4), the words “propellants, launch vehicles and components thereof, and other physical” are omitted as surplus. In clause (6), the words “includes all . . . located on a launch site which are . . . to conduct a launch” are omitted as surplus. In clause (9), the words “corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, or other” are omitted as surplus. Clauses (10) and (12) are substituted for 49 App.:2603(10) to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (11), before subclause (A), the words “or entity” are omitted as surplus. In subclause (A), the words “its agencies” are omitted as surplus. Pub. L. 104–287This amends 49:70102(6) to correct an error in the codification enacted by section 1 of the Act of July 5, 1994 (Public Law 103–272, 108 Stat. 1331).

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Pars. (21) to (27). Pub. L. 115–254 added pars. (21) and (22) and redesignated former pars. (21) to (25) as (23) to (27), respectively. 2015—Pars. (4) to (6). Pub. L. 114–90, § 112(c)(2), added pars. (4) to (6). Former pars. (4) to (6) redesignated (7) to (9), respectively. Par. (7). Pub. L. 114–90, § 112(c)(1), (e), redesignated par. (4) as (7) and substituted “and any payload or human being” for “and any payload, crew, or space flight participant” in introductory provisions. Former par. (7) redesignated (10). Par. (8). Pub. L. 114–90, § 112(c)(1), redesignated par. (5) as (8). Former par. (8) redesignated (11). Par. (9). Pub. L. 114–90, § 112(c)(1), (f), redesignated par. (6) as (9) and substituted “payload, crew (including crew training), government astronaut, or space flight participant” for “payload, crew (including crew training), or space flight participant” in subpar. (A). Former par. (9) redesignated (12). Pars. (10) to (15). Pub. L. 114–90, § 112(c)(1), redesignated pars. (7) to (12) as (10) to (15), respectively. Former pars. (10) to (15) redesignated (13) to (18), respectively. Par. (16). Pub. L. 114–90, § 112(c)(1), (g), redesignated par. (13) as (16) and substituted “and its payload or human beings, if any,” for “and its payload, crew, or space flight participants, if any,”. Former par. (16) redesignated (19). Par. (17). Pub. L. 114–90, § 112(c)(1), (h), redesignated par. (14) as (17) and substituted “payload, crew (including crew training), government astronaut, or space flight participant, if any,” for “payload, crew (including crew training), or space flight participant, if any,” in subpar. (A). Former par. (17) redesignated (20). Pars. (18), (19). Pub. L. 114–90, § 112(c)(1), redesignated pars. (15) and (16) as (18) and (19), respectively. Former pars. (18) and (19) redesignated (21) and (22), respectively. Par. (20). Pub. L. 114–90, § 112(c)(1), (i), redesignated par. (17) as (20) and amended it generally. Prior to amendment, par. (20) read as follows: “ ‘space flight participant’ means an individual, who is not crew, carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle.” Pars. (21) to (23). Pub. L. 114–90, § 112(c)(1), redesignated pars. (18) to (20) as (21) to (23), respectively. Former pars. (21) and (22) redesignated (24) and (25), respectively. Par. (24). Pub. L. 114–90, § 112(c)(1), (j), redesignated par. (21) as (24) and inserted “, government astronauts,” after “crew” in subpar. (E). Par. (25). Pub. L. 114–90, § 112(c)(1), redesignated par. (22) as (25). 2010—Pub. L. 111–314, § 4(d)(2), (3)(B), successively renumbered section 70102 of title 49 and section 70102 of this title as this section. Par. (11). Pub. L. 111–314, § 4(d)(5)(A), substituted “section 50904(c)” for “section 70104(c)” and “section 50906” for “section 70105a”. Par. (19). Pub. L. 111–314, § 4(d)(5)(B), substituted “section 50922(c)(2)” for “section 70120(c)(2)”. 2004—Par. (2). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(2), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3). Par. (3). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(1), redesignated par. (2) as (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (4). Par. (4). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(1), (3), redesignated par. (3) as (4) and inserted “, crew, or space flight participant” after “any payload” in introductory provisions. Former par. (4) redesignated (5). Par. (5). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(1), redesignated par. (4) as (5). Former par. (5) redesignated (6). Par. (6). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(1), (4), redesignated par. (5) as (6) and substituted “, payload, crew (including crew training), or space flight participant” for “and payload” in subpar. (A). Former par. (6) redesignated (7). Par. (7). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(1), redesignated par. (6) as (7). Former par. (7) redesignated (8). Par. (8). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(1), (5), redesignated par. (7) as (8) and inserted “or human beings” after “place a payload” in subpar. (A). Former par. (8) redesignated (9). Pars. (9), (10). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(1), redesignated pars. (8) and (9) as (9) and (10), respectively. Former par. (10) redesignated (12). Par. (11). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(6), added par. (11). Former par. (11) redesignated (13). Par. (12). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(1), redesignated par. (10) as (12). Former par. (12) redesignated (14). Par. (13). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(1), (7), redesignated par. (11) as (13) and inserted “crew, or space flight participants,” after “and its payload,”. Former par. (13) redesignated (15). Par. (14). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(1), (8), redesignated par. (12) as (14) and substituted “and payload, crew (including crew training), or space flight participant” for “and its payload” in subpar. (A). Former par. (14) redesignated (16). Pars. (15), (16). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(1), redesignated pars. (13) and (14) as (15) and (16), respectively. Former pars. (15) and (16) redesignated (18) and (21), respectively. Par. (17). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(9), added par. (17). Former par. (17) redesignated (22). Par. (18). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(1), redesignated par. (15) as (18). Pars. (19), (20). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(10), added pars. (19) and (20). Par. (21). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(1), (11), redesignated par. (16) as (21) and added subpar. (E). Par. (22). Pub. L. 108–492, § 2(b)(1), redesignated par. (17) as (22). 2000—Pars. (8) to (17). Pub. L. 106–391 added par. (8) and redesignated former pars. (8) to (16) as (9) to (17), respectively. 1998—Par. (3). Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(3)(A), substituted “or reentry vehicle and any payload from Earth” for “and any payload” in introductory provisions and a comma for the period at end of subpar. (C) and inserted concluding provisions. Par. (8). Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(3)(B), inserted “or reentry vehicle” after “means of a launch vehicle”. Pars. (10) to (13). Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(3)(D), added pars. (10) to (13). Former pars. (10) to (12) redesignated (14) to (16), respectively. Par. (14). Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(3)(C), redesignated par. (10) as (14). Par. (15). Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(3)(C), (E), redesignated par. (11) as (15) and inserted “or reentry services” after “launch services” wherever appearing. Par. (16). Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(3)(C), redesignated par. (12) as (16). 1996—Par. (6). Pub. L. 104–287 substituted “facilities at that location” for “facilities”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–287 effective July 5, 1994, see section 8(1) of Pub. L. 104–287, set out as a note under section 5303 of Title 49, Transportation.

§50902 Definitions