§70702 — Title 51 National and Commercial Space Programs | U.S. Code

Summary

The President must set up an independent, nonpartisan Commission inside the executive branch within 7 days to investigate any incident that causes the loss of a space shuttle; the International Space Station or its ability to operate; any government-owned or government-used crewed orbital or suborbital vehicle carrying a government astronaut or a researcher paid by the federal government; or a crew member or passenger of those vehicles. Terms — "government astronaut": the legal term defined in section 50902. "Space Act Agreement": an agreement the Administration makes under section 20113(e).

Title 51, §70702

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

(a)The President shall establish an independent, nonpartisan Commission within the executive branch to investigate any incident that results in the loss of—

(1)a space shuttle;

(2)the International Space Station or its operational viability;

(3)any other orbital or suborbital space vehicle carrying humans that is—

(A)owned by the Federal Government; or

(B)being used pursuant to a contract or Space Act Agreement with the Federal Government for carrying a government astronaut or a researcher funded by the Federal Government; or

(4)a crew member or passenger of any space vehicle described in this subsection.

(b)The President shall establish a Commission within 7 days after an incident specified in subsection (a).

(c)In this section:

(1)The term “government astronaut” has the meaning given the term in section 50902.

(2)The term “Space Act Agreement” means an agreement entered into by the Administration pursuant to its other transactions authority under section 20113(e).

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 7070242 U.S.C. 16842.Pub. L. 109–155, title VIII, § 822, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2941.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2017—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 115–10, § 838(1), amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: “any other United States space vehicle carrying humans that is owned by the Federal Government or that is being used pursuant to a contract with the Federal Government; or”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–10, § 838(2), added subsec. (c).

§70702 Establishment of Commission