§ 50101. Definitions

In this chapter:

• (1) The term “commercial provider” means any person providing space transportation services or other space-related activities, primary control of which is held by persons other than Federal, State, local, and foreign governments.
• (2) The term “payload” means anything that a person undertakes to transport to, from, or within outer space, or in suborbital trajectory, by means of a space transportation vehicle, but does not include the space transportation vehicle itself except for its components which are specifically designed or adapted for that payload.
• (3) The term “space-related activities” includes research and development, manufacturing, processing, service, and other associated and support activities.
• (4) The term “space transportation services” means the preparation of a space transportation vehicle and its payloads for transportation to, from, or within outer space, or in suborbital trajectory, and the conduct of transporting a payload to, from, or within outer space, or in suborbital trajectory.
• (5) The term “space transportation vehicle” means any vehicle constructed for the purpose of operating in, or transporting a payload to, from, or within, outer space, or in suborbital trajectory, and includes any component of such vehicle not specifically designed or adapted for a payload.
• (6) The term “State” means each of the several States of the Union, 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.
• (7) The term “United States commercial provider” means a commercial provider, organized under the laws of the United States or of a State, that is—
  • (A) more than 50 percent owned by United States nationals; or
  • (B) a subsidiary of a foreign company and the Secretary of Transportation 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 chapter;
      • (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).

§ 50111. Commercialization of Space Station

• (a) Congress declares that a priority goal of constructing the International Space Station is the economic development of Earth orbital space. Congress further declares that free and competitive markets create the most efficient conditions for promoting economic development, and should therefore govern the economic development of Earth orbital space. Congress further declares that the use of free market principles in operating, servicing, allocating the use of, and adding capabilities to the Space Station, and the resulting fullest possible engagement of commercial providers and participation of commercial users, will reduce Space Station operational costs for all partners and the Federal Government’s share of the United States burden to fund operations.
• (b)
  • (1) In order to stimulate commercial use of space, help maximize the utility and productivity of the International Space Station, and enable a commercial means of providing crew transfer and crew rescue services for the International Space Station, the Administration shall—
    • (A) make use of United States commercially provided International Space Station crew transfer and crew rescue services to the maximum extent practicable, if those commercial services have demonstrated the capability to meet Administration-specified ascent, entry, and International Space Station proximity operations safety requirements;
    • (B) limit, to the maximum extent practicable, the use of the Crew Exploration Vehicle to missions carrying astronauts beyond low Earth orbit once commercial crew transfer and crew rescue services that meet safety requirements become operational;
    • (C) facilitate, to the maximum extent practicable, the transfer of Administration-developed technologies to potential United States commercial crew transfer and rescue service providers, consistent with United States law; and
    • (D) issue a notice of intent, not later than 180 days after October 15, 2008 , to enter into a funded, competitively awarded Space Act Agreement with 2 or more commercial entities for a Phase 1 Commercial Orbital Transportation Services crewed vehicle demonstration program.
  • (2) It is the intent of Congress that funding for the program described in paragraph (1)(D) shall not come at the expense of full funding of the amounts authorized under section 101(3)(A) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008 ( Public Law 110–422 , 122 Stat. 4783 ), and for future fiscal years, for Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle development, Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle development, or International Space Station cargo delivery.
  • (3) The Administration shall make International Space Station-compatible docking adaptors and other relevant technologies available to the commercial crew providers selected to service the International Space Station.
  • (4) If a commercial provider demonstrates the capability to provide International Space Station crew transfer and crew rescue services and to satisfy Administration ascent, entry, and International Space Station proximity operations safety requirements, the Administration shall enter into an International Space Station crew transfer and crew rescue services contract with that commercial provider for a portion of the Administration’s anticipated International Space Station crew transfer and crew rescue requirements from the time the commercial provider commences operations under contract with the Administration through calendar year 2016, with an option to extend the period of performance through calendar year 2020.
• (c)
  • (1) The Administrator, in coordination with the ISS management entity (as defined in section 2 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017), ISS partners, the scientific user community, and the commercial space sector, shall develop a plan to transition in a step-wise approach from the current regime that relies heavily on NASA sponsorship to a regime where NASA could be one of many customers of a low-Earth orbit non-governmental human space flight enterprise.
  • (2) Not later than December 1, 2017 , and biennially thereafter until 2023, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report that includes—
    • (A) a description of the progress in achieving the Administration’s deep space human exploration objectives on ISS and prospects for accomplishing future mission requirements, space exploration objectives, and other research objectives on future commercially supplied low-Earth orbit platforms or migration of those objectives to cis-lunar space;
    • (B) the steps NASA is taking and will take, including demonstrations that could be conducted on the ISS, to stimulate and facilitate commercial demand and supply of products and services in low-Earth orbit;
    • (C) an identification of barriers preventing the commercialization of low-Earth orbit, including issues relating to policy, regulations, commercial intellectual property, data, and confidentiality, that could inhibit the use of the ISS as a commercial incubator;
    • (D) the criteria for defining the ISS as a research success;
    • (E) the criteria used to determine whether the ISS is meeting the objective under section 301(b)(2) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017;
    • (F) an assessment of whether the criteria under subparagraphs (D) and (E) are consistent with the research areas defined in, and recommendations and schedules under, the current National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Decadal Survey on Biological and Physical Sciences in Space;
    • (G) any necessary contributions that ISS extension would make to enabling execution of the human exploration roadmap under section 432 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017;
    • (H) the cost estimates for operating the ISS to achieve the criteria required under subparagraphs (D) and (E) and the contributions identified under subparagraph (G);
    • (I) the cost estimates for extending operations of the ISS to 2024, 2028, and 2030;
    • (J) an evaluation of the feasible and preferred service life of the ISS beyond the period described in section 503 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18353 ), through at least 2028, as a unique scientific, commercial, and space exploration-related facility, including—
      • (i) a general discussion of international partner capabilities and prospects for extending the partnership;
      • (ii) the cost associated with extending the service life;
      • (iii) an assessment on the technical limiting factors of the service life of the ISS, including a list of critical components and their expected service life and availability; and
      • (iv) such other information as may be necessary to fully describe the justification for and feasibility of extending the service life of the ISS, including the potential scientific or technological benefits to the Federal Government, public, or to academic or commercial entities;
    • (K) an identification of the necessary actions and an estimate of the costs to deorbit the ISS once it has reached the end of its service life;
    • (L) the impact on deep space exploration capabilities, including a crewed mission to Mars in the 2030s, if the preferred service life of the ISS is extended beyond 2024 and NASA maintains a flat budget profile; and
    • (M) an evaluation of the functions, roles, and responsibilities for management and operation of the ISS and a determination of—
      • (i) those functions, roles, and responsibilities the Federal Government should retain during the lifecycle of the ISS;
      • (ii) those functions, roles, and responsibilities that could be transferred to the commercial space sector;
      • (iii) the metrics that would indicate the commercial space sector’s readiness and ability to assume the functions, roles, and responsibilities described in clause (ii); and
      • (iv) any necessary changes to any agreements or other documents and the law to enable the activities described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).
  • (3) If additional Government crew, power, and transportation resources are available after meeting the Administration’s requirements for ISS activities defined in the human exploration roadmap and related research, demonstrations identified under paragraph (2) may—
    • (A) test the capabilities needed to meet future mission requirements, space exploration objectives, and other research objectives described in paragraph (2)(A); and
    • (B) demonstrate or test capabilities, including commercial modules or deep space habitats, Environmental Control and Life Support Systems, orbital satellite assembly, exploration space suits, a node that enables a wide variety of activity, including multiple commercial modules and airlocks, additional docking or berthing ports for commercial crew and cargo, opportunities for the commercial space sector to cost share for transportation and other services on the ISS, other commercial activities, or services obtained through alternate acquisition approaches.

§ 50112. Promotion of United States Global Positioning System standards

In order to support and sustain the Global Positioning System in a manner that will most effectively contribute to the national security, public safety, scientific, and economic interests of the United States, Congress encourages the President to—

• (1) ensure the operation of the Global Positioning System on a continuous worldwide basis free of direct user fees;
• (2) enter into international agreements that promote cooperation with foreign governments and international organizations to—
  • (A) establish the Global Positioning System and its augmentations as an acceptable international standard; and
  • (B) eliminate any foreign barriers to applications of the Global Positioning System worldwide; and
• (3) provide clear direction and adequate resources to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information so that on an international basis the Assistant Secretary can—
  • (A) achieve and sustain efficient management of the electromagnetic spectrum used by the Global Positioning System; and
  • (B) protect that spectrum from disruption and interference.

§ 50113. Acquisition of space science data

• (a) In this section, the term “space science data” includes scientific data concerning—
  • (1) the elemental and mineralogical resources of the moon, asteroids, planets and their moons, and comets;
  • (2) microgravity acceleration; and
  • (3) solar storm monitoring.
• (b) The Administrator shall, to the extent possible and while satisfying the scientific or educational requirements of the Administration, and where appropriate, of other Federal agencies and scientific researchers, acquire, where cost effective, space science data from a commercial provider.
• (c) Acquisitions of space science data by the Administrator shall be carried out in accordance with applicable acquisition laws and regulations (including chapters 137 and 140 of title 10). For purposes of such law and regulations, space science data shall be considered to be a commercial product or commercial service. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to preclude the United States from acquiring, through contracts with commercial providers, sufficient rights in data to meet the needs of the scientific and educational community or the needs of other government activities.
• (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Federal Government from requiring compliance with applicable safety standards.
• (e) This section does not authorize the Administration to provide financial assistance for the development of commercial systems for the collection of space science data.

§ 50114. Administration of commercial space centers

The Administrator shall administer the Commercial Space Center program in a coordinated manner from Administration headquarters in Washington, D.C.

§ 50115. Sources of Earth science data

• (a) The Administrator shall, to the extent possible and while satisfying the scientific or educational requirements of the Administration, and where appropriate, of other Federal agencies and scientific researchers, acquire, where cost-effective, space-based and airborne Earth remote sensing data, services, distribution, and applications from a commercial provider.
• (b) Acquisitions by the Administrator of the data, services, distribution, and applications referred to in subsection (a) shall be carried out in accordance with applicable acquisition laws and regulations (including chapters 137 and 140 of title 10). For purposes of such law and regulations, such data, services, distribution, and applications shall be considered to be a commercial product or commercial service. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to preclude the United States from acquiring, through contracts with commercial providers, sufficient rights in data to meet the needs of the scientific and educational community or the needs of other government activities.
• (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Federal Government from requiring compliance with applicable safety standards.
• (d) This section shall be carried out as part of the Commercial Remote Sensing Program at the Stennis Space Center.

§ 50116. Commercial technology transfer program

• (a) The Administrator shall execute a commercial technology transfer program with the goal of facilitating the exchange of services, products, and intellectual property between the Administration and the private sector. This program shall place at least as much emphasis on encouraging the transfer of Administration technology to the private sector (“spinning out”) as on encouraging use of private sector technology by the Administration. This program shall be maintained in a manner that provides clear benefits for the Administration, the domestic economy, and the research community, while protecting national security.
• (b) In carrying out the program described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall provide program participants with at least 45 days notice of any proposed changes to the structure of the Administration’s technology transfer and commercialization organizations that is in effect as of December 30, 2005 .

§ 50131. Requirement to procure commercial space transportation services

• (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section or in section 70102, the Federal Government shall acquire space transportation services from United States commercial providers whenever such services are required in the course of its activities. To the maximum extent practicable, the Federal Government shall plan missions to accommodate the space transportation services capabilities of United States commercial providers.
• (b) The Federal Government shall not be required to acquire space transportation services under subsection (a) if, on a case-by-case basis, the Administrator or, in the case of a national security issue, the Secretary of the Air Force, determines that—
  • (1) a payload requires the unique capabilities of the space shuttle;
  • (2) cost effective space transportation services that meet specific mission requirements would not be reasonably available from United States commercial providers when required;
  • (3) the use of space transportation services from United States commercial providers poses an unacceptable risk of loss of a unique scientific opportunity;
  • (4) the use of space transportation services from United States commercial providers is inconsistent with national security objectives;
  • (5) the use of space transportation services from United States commercial providers is inconsistent with international agreements for international collaborative efforts relating to science and technology;
  • (6) it is more cost effective to transport a payload in conjunction with a test or demonstration of a space transportation vehicle owned by the Federal Government; or
  • (7) a payload can make use of the available cargo space on a space shuttle mission as a secondary payload, and such payload is consistent with the requirements of research, development, demonstration, scientific, commercial, and educational programs authorized by the Administrator.
• (c) Nothing in this section shall prevent the Administrator from planning or negotiating agreements with foreign entities for the launch of Federal Government payloads for international collaborative efforts relating to science and technology.
• (d) Subsection (a) shall not apply to space transportation services and space transportation vehicles acquired or owned by the Federal Government before October 28, 1998 , or with respect to which a contract for such acquisition or ownership has been entered into before October 28, 1998 .
• (e) This section shall not be construed to prohibit the Federal Government from acquiring, owning, or maintaining space transportation vehicles solely for historical display purposes.

§ 50132. Acquisition of commercial space transportation services

• (a) Acquisitions of space transportation services by the Federal Government shall be carried out in accordance with applicable acquisition laws and regulations (including chapters 137 and 140 of title 10). For purposes of such law and regulations, space transportation services shall be considered to be a commercial service.
• (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Federal Government from requiring compliance with applicable safety standards.

§ 50134. Use of excess intercontinental ballistic missiles

• (a) The Federal Government shall not—
  • (1) convert any missile described in subsection (c) to a space transportation vehicle configuration; or
  • (2) transfer ownership of any such missile to another person, except as provided in subsection (b).
• (b)
  • (1) A missile described in subsection (c) may be converted for use as a space transportation vehicle by the Federal Government if, except as provided in paragraph (2) and at least 30 days before such conversion, the agency seeking to use the missile as a space transportation vehicle transmits to the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, a certification that the use of such missile—
    • (A) would result in cost savings to the Federal Government when compared to the cost of acquiring space transportation services from United States commercial providers;
    • (B) meets all mission requirements of the agency, including performance, schedule, and risk requirements;
    • (C) is consistent with international obligations of the United States; and
    • (D) is approved by the Secretary of Defense or the designee of the Secretary of Defense.
  • (2) The requirement under paragraph (1) that the certification described in that paragraph must be transmitted at least 30 days before conversion of the missile shall not apply if the Secretary of Defense determines that compliance with that requirement would be inconsistent with meeting immediate national security requirements.
• (c) The missiles referred to in this section are missiles owned by the United States that—
  • (1) were formerly used by the Department of Defense for national defense purposes as intercontinental ballistic missiles; and
  • (2) have been declared excess to United States national defense needs and are in compliance with international obligations of the United States.