§ 50919. Relationship to other executive agencies, laws, and international obligations

• (a) Except as provided in this chapter, a person is not required to obtain from an executive agency a license, approval, waiver, or exemption to launch a launch vehicle or operate a launch site or reentry site, or to reenter a reentry vehicle.
• (b) This chapter does not affect the authority of—
  • (1) the Federal Communications Commission under the Communications Act of 1934 ( 47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.); or
  • (2) the Secretary of Commerce under chapter 601 of this title.
• (c) A State or political subdivision of a State—
  • (1) may not adopt or have in effect a law, regulation, standard, or order inconsistent with this chapter; but
  • (2) may adopt or have in effect a law, regulation, standard, or order consistent with this chapter that is in addition to or more stringent than a requirement of, or regulation prescribed under, this chapter.
• (d) The Secretary of Transportation is encouraged to consult with a State to simplify and expedite the approval of a space launch or reentry activity.
• (e) The Secretary of Transportation shall—
  • (1) carry out this chapter consistent with an obligation the United States Government assumes in a treaty, convention, or agreement in force between the Government and the government of a foreign country; and
  • (2) consider applicable laws and requirements of a foreign country when carrying out this chapter.
• (f) A launch vehicle, reentry vehicle, or payload that is launched or reentered is not, because of the launch or reentry, an export or import, respectively, for purposes of a law controlling exports or imports, except that payloads launched pursuant to foreign trade zone procedures as provided for under the Foreign Trade Zones Act ( 19 U.S.C. 81a–81u ) shall be considered exports with regard to customs entry.
• (g)
  • (1) This chapter does not apply to—
    • (A) a launch, reentry, operation of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle, operation of a launch site or reentry site, or other space activity the Government carries out for the Government; or
    • (B) planning or policies related to the launch, reentry, operation, or activity under subparagraph (A).
  • (2) The following activities are not space activities the Government carries out for the Government under paragraph (1):
    • (A) A government astronaut being carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle under this chapter.
    • (B) A government astronaut performing activities directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of the launch vehicle or reentry vehicle under this chapter.