[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 126, 112th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 112-185
112th Congress

An Act


 
To confirm full ownership rights for certain United States astronauts to
artifacts from the astronauts' space missions. <>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DEFINITION OF ARTIFACT.

For purposes of this Act, the term ``artifact'' means, with respect
to an astronaut described in section 2(a), any expendable item utilized
in missions for the Mercury, Gemini, or Apollo programs through the
completion of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project not expressly required to be
returned to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration at the
completion of the mission and other expendable, disposable, or personal-
use items utilized by such astronaut during participation in any such
program. The term includes personal logs, checklists, flight manuals,
prototype and proof test articles used in training, and disposable
flight hardware salvaged from jettisoned lunar modules. The term does
not include lunar rocks and other lunar material.
SEC. 2. FULL OWNERSHIP OF ARTIFACTS.

(a) In General.--A United States astronaut who participated in any
of the Mercury, Gemini, or Apollo programs through the completion of the
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, who received an artifact during his
participation in any such program, shall have full ownership of and
clear title to such artifact.
(b) No Federal Government Claim.--The Federal Government shall have
no claim or right to ownership, control, or use of any artifact in
possession of an astronaut as described in subsection (a) or any such
artifact that was subsequently transferred,

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sold, or assigned to a third party by an astronaut described in
subsection (a).

Approved October 5, 2012.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 4158:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 158 (2012):
Sept. 19, considered and passed House.
Sept. 21, considered and passed Senate.