51 U.S.C.
United States Code, 2022 Edition
Title 51 - NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS
Subtitle I - General
CHAPTER 101 - DEFINITIONS
Sec. 10101 - Definitions
From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov

### §10101. Definitions

In this title:

(1) Administration.—The term "Administration" means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

(2) Administrator.—The term "Administrator" means the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

(Pub. L. 111–314, §3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3329.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large)
--- | --- | ---
10101 | (no source) |

Title-wide definitions for the terms "Administration" and "Administrator" are added for clarity and convenience.

#### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

#### Short Title of 2022 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title VII, §10801, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1730, provided that: "This title [amending sections 20145, 40112, 40903, 50111, and 70907 of this title and sections 18351, 18353, and 18354 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, sections 20102, 20113, 20301, 20302, 40102, 40112, 40113, 60501, 70901 of this title, and preceding section 71101 of this title, amending provisions set out as notes under sections 20301 and 20302 of this title and preceding section 71101 of this title] may be cited as the 'National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2022'."

Pub. L. 117–103, div. HH, title II, §201, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 1112, provided that: "This title [amending section 20145 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 20145 of this title] may be cited as the 'NASA Enhanced-Use Leasing Extension Act of 2022'."

#### Short Title of 2020 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–181, §1, Oct. 21, 2020, 134 Stat. 882, provided that: "This Act [enacting chapter 606 of this title, repealing section 18388 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 60601 of this title] may be cited as the 'Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow Act' or the 'PROSWIFT Act'."

#### Short Title of 2019 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–94, div. I, title VI, §601, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3027, provided that: "This title [amending section 20145 of this title] may be cited as the 'NASA Enhanced Use Leasing Extension Act of 2019'."

#### Short Title of 2018 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–403, §1, Dec. 31, 2018, 132 Stat. 5348, provided that: "This Act [amending section 20145 of this title] may be cited as the 'NASA Enhanced Use Leasing Extension Act of 2018'."

#### Short Title of 2017 Amendment

Pub. L. 115–10, §1(a), Mar. 21, 2017, 131 Stat. 18, provided that: "This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017'."

Pub. L. 115–10, title IV, §441, Mar. 21, 2017, 131 Stat. 44, provided that: "This subtitle [subtitle D (§§441–443) of title IV of Pub. L. 115–10, enacting section 20149 of this title and provisions set out as notes under section 20149 of this title] may be cited as the 'To Research, Evaluate, Assess, and Treat Astronauts Act' or the 'TREAT Astronauts Act'."

#### Short Title of 2015 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–90, §1(a), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 704, provided that: "This Act [enacting chapter 513 and sections 60126 and 70104 of this title, amending sections 20113, 50131, 50701, 50702, 50901, 50902, 50904 to 50908, 50914, 50915, 50919, 70101 to 70103, and 70907 of this title and sections 18351, 18353, and 18354 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 20113 and 50918 of this title] may be cited as the 'U.S. Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act'."

Pub. L. 114–90, title I, §101, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 705, provided that: "This title [enacting section 70104 of this title, amending sections 20113, 50131, 50901, 50902, 50904 to 50908, 50914, 50915, 50919, 70101 to 70103, and 70907 of this title and sections 18351, 18353, and 18354 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 20113 and 50918 of this title] may be cited as the 'Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015' or 'SPACE Act of 2015'."

Pub. L. 114–90, title IV, §401, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 720, provided that: "This title [enacting chapter 513 of this title] may be cited as the 'Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act of 2015'."

#### Short Title of 2013 Amendment

Pub. L. 112–273, §1, Jan. 14, 2013, 126 Stat. 2454, provided that: "This Act [amending section 50915 of this title, section 18313 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and provisions set out as a note under section 1701 of Title 50, War and National Defense] may be cited as the 'Space Exploration Sustainability Act'."

#### Short Title of 2008 Act

Pub. L. 110–422, §1(a), Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4779, provided that: "This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008'."

#### Short Title of 2005 Act

Pub. L. 109–155, §1(a), Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2895, provided that: "This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005'."

#### Short Title of 2004 Act

Pub. L. 108–492, §1, Dec. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 3974, provided that: "This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004'."

#### Short Title of 2002 Act

Pub. L. 107–248, title IX, §901, Oct. 23, 2002, 116 Stat. 1573, provided that: "This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Commercial Reusable In-Space Transportation Act of 2002'."

#### Short Title of 2000 Act

Pub. L. 106–405, §1, Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1751, provided that: "This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Commercial Space Transportation Competitiveness Act of 2000'."

#### Short Title of 1998 Act

Pub. L. 105–303, §1(a), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2843, provided that: "This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Commercial Space Act of 1998'."

#### Short Title of 1992 Act

Pub. L. 102–555, §1, Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4163, provided that: "This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992'."

#### Short Title of 1990 Act

Pub. L. 101–611, title II, §201, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3205, provided that: "This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Launch Services Purchase Act of 1990'."

#### Short Title of 1987 Act

Pub. L. 100–147, title II, §201, Oct. 30, 1987, 101 Stat. 869, provided that: "This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'National Space Grant College and Fellowship Act'."

#### Short Title of 1958 Act

Pub. L. 85–568, title I, §101, July 29, 1958, 72 Stat. 426, provided that: "This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958'."

#### Definitions

Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title VII, §10802, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1730, provided that:

"In this title [see Short Title of 2022 Amendment note above]:

"(1) Administration.—The term 'Administration' means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

"(2) Administrator.—The term 'Administrator' means the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

"(3) Appropriate committees of congress.—Except as otherwise expressly provided, the term 'appropriate committees of Congress' means—

"(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and

"(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.

"(4) Cislunar space.—The term 'cislunar space' means the region of space beyond low-Earth orbit out to and including the region around the surface of the Moon.

"(5) Deep space.—The term 'deep space' means the region of space beyond low-Earth orbit, including cislunar space.

"(6) Development cost.—The term 'development cost' has the meaning given the term in section 30104 of title 51, United States Code.

"(7) Government astronaut.—The term 'government astronaut' has the meaning given the term in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code.

"(8) ISS.—The term 'ISS' means the International Space Station.

"(9) Low-enriched uranium.—The term 'low-enriched uranium' means uranium having an assay greater than the assay for natural uranium but less than 20 percent of the uranium–235 isotope.

"(10) NASA.—The term 'NASA' means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

"(11) Orion.—The term 'Orion' means the multipurpose crew vehicle described in section 303 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18323).

"(12) OSTP.—The term 'OSTP' means the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

"(13) Space flight participant.—The term 'space flight participant' has the meaning given the term in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code.

"(14) Space launch system.—The term 'Space Launch System' means the Space Launch System authorized under section 302 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration [Authorization] Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18322).

"(15) Unmanned aircraft; unmanned aircraft system.—The terms 'unmanned aircraft' and 'unmanned aircraft system' have the meanings given those terms in section 44801 of title 49, United States Code."

Pub. L. 115–10, §2, Mar. 21, 2017, 131 Stat. 19, provided that: "In this Act [see Tables for classification]:

"(1) Administration.—The term 'Administration' means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

"(2) Administrator.—The term 'Administrator' means the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

"(3) Appropriate committees of congress.—The term 'appropriate committees of Congress' means—

"(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and

"(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.

"(4) Cis-lunar space.—The term 'cis-lunar space' means the region of space from the Earth out to and including the region around the surface of the Moon.

"(5) Deep space.—The term 'deep space' means the region of space beyond low-Earth orbit, to include cis-lunar space.

"(6) Government astronaut.—The term 'government astronaut' has the meaning given the term in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code.

"(7) ISS.—The term 'ISS' means the International Space Station.

"(8) ISS management entity.—The term 'ISS management entity' means the organization with which the Administrator has a cooperative agreement under section 504(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18354(a)).

"(9) NASA.—The term 'NASA' means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

"(10) Orion.—The term 'Orion' means the multipurpose crew vehicle described under section 303 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18323).

"(11) Space launch system.—The term 'Space Launch System' has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18302).

"(12) United states government astronaut.—The term 'United States government astronaut' has the meaning given the term 'government astronaut' in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code, except it does not include an individual who is an international partner astronaut."

Pub. L. 111–358, title II, §206, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3996, provided that: "In this title [amending section 18421 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 20303 of this title, preceding sections 30501 and 40901 of this title, and under section 18421 of Title 42]:

"(1) Administrator.—The term 'Administrator' means the Administrator of NASA.

"(2) NASA.—The term 'NASA' means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration."

Pub. L. 110–422, §3, Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4782, provided that: "In this Act [see Short Title of 2008 Act note above]:

"(1) Administrator.—The term 'Administrator' means the Administrator of NASA.

"(2) NASA.—The term 'NASA' means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

"(3) NOAA.—The term 'NOAA' means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"(4) OSTP.—The term 'OSTP' means the Office of Science and Technology Policy."

Pub. L. 109–155, §2, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2897, provided that: "In this Act [see Short Title of 2005 Act note above]:

"(1) Administrator.—The term 'Administrator' means the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

"(2) ISS.—The term 'ISS' means the International Space Station.

"(3) NASA.—The term 'NASA' means the National Aeronautics and Space Administration."

Pub. L. 106–391, §3, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1579, provided that: "For purposes of this Act [see Tables for classification]—

"(1) the term 'Administrator' means the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;

"(2) the term 'commercial provider' means any person providing space transportation services or other space-related activities, the primary control of which is held by persons other than a Federal, State, local, or foreign government;

"(3) the term 'critical path' means the sequence of events of a schedule of events under which a delay in any event causes a delay in the overall schedule;

"(4) the term 'grant agreement' has the meaning given that term in section 6302(2) of title 31, United States Code;

"(5) the term 'institution of higher education' has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001);

"(6) the term 'State' means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States; and

"(7) the term 'United States commercial provider' means a commercial provider, organized under the laws of the United States or of a State, which is—

"(A) more than 50 percent owned by United States nationals; or

"(B) a subsidiary of a foreign company and the Secretary of Commerce finds that—

"(i) such subsidiary has in the past evidenced a substantial commitment to the United States market through—

"(I) investments in the United States in long-term research, development, and manufacturing (including the manufacture of major components and subassemblies); and

"(II) significant contributions to employment in the United States; and

"(ii) the country or countries in which such foreign company is incorporated or organized, and, if appropriate, in which it principally conducts its business, affords reciprocal treatment to companies described in subparagraph (A) comparable to that afforded to such foreign company's subsidiary in the United States, as evidenced by—

"(I) providing comparable opportunities for companies described in subparagraph (A) to participate in Government sponsored research and development similar to that authorized under this Act;

"(II) providing no barriers to companies described in subparagraph (A) with respect to local investment opportunities that are not provided to foreign companies in the United States; and

"(III) providing adequate and effective protection for the intellectual property rights of companies described in subparagraph (A)."