Us Code § 50904 - Restrictions on launches, operations, and reentries
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 50904 — Restrictions on launches, operations, and reentries, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 50904. Restrictions on launches, operations, and reentries
(a)
(1) for a person to launch a launch vehicle or to operate a launch site or reentry site, or to reenter a reentry vehicle, in the United States.
(2) for a citizen of the United States (as defined in section 50902(1)(A) or (B) of this title) to launch a launch vehicle or to operate a launch site or reentry site, or to reenter a reentry vehicle, outside the United States.
(3) for a citizen of the United States (as defined in section 50902(1)(C) of this title) to launch a launch vehicle or to operate a launch site or reentry site, or to reenter a reentry vehicle, outside the United States and outside the territory of a foreign country unless there is an agreement between the United States Government and the government of the foreign country providing that the government of the foreign country has jurisdiction over the launch or operation or reentry.
(4) for a citizen of the United States (as defined in section 50902(1)(C) of this title) to launch a launch vehicle or to operate a launch site or reentry site, or to reenter a reentry vehicle, in the territory of a foreign country if there is an agreement between the United States Government and the government of the foreign country providing that the United States Government has jurisdiction over the launch or operation or reentry.
Notwithstanding this subsection, a permit shall not authorize a person to operate a launch site or reentry site.
(b)
(c)
(d)
(Pub. L. 103–272, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1332, §70104 of title 49; Pub. L. 105–303, title I, §102(a)(5), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2847; Pub. L. 108–492, §2(c)(3)–(5), Dec. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 3976; renumbered §70104 then §50904 of title 51 and amended Pub. L. 111–314, §4(d)(2), (3)(D), (5)(C)–(E), Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3440, 3441; Pub. L. 114–90, title I, §112(k), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 713.)
| Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 70104(a) | 49 App.:2605(a). | Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–575, §6(a), (b), 98 Stat. 3057. |
| 70104(b) | 49 App.:2605(b)(1) (1st sentence). | |
| 70104(c) | 49 App.:2605(b)(1) (last sentence), (2). |
In subsection (a)(2)–(4), the cross-reference is to section 70102(1) of the revised title (restating 49 App.:2603(12)) rather than to section 70102(11) (restating 49 App.:2603(11)) to correct a mistake. Section 3(2) of the Commercial Space Launch Act Amendments of 1988 (Public Law 100–657, 102 Stat. 3900) redesignated 49 App.:2603(11) as 49 App.:2603(12) but did not amend the cross-reference in 49 App.:2605(a).
In subsection (a)(3) and (4), the words "the government of" are added for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. The words "in force" are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (a)(3), the words "at any place which is both" are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (a)(4), the text of 49 App.:2605(a)(3)(B)(i) is omitted as surplus.
In subsection (c), the words "by Federal law", "which is to be launched", "by any Federal law", "take such action under this chapter as the Secretary deems necessary to", and "of a payload by a holder of a launch license under this chapter" are omitted as surplus.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2015—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–90 substituted "activities involving crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants" for "activities involving crew or space flight participants".
2010—Pub. L. 111–314, §4(d)(2), (3)(D), successively renumbered section 70104 of title 49 and section 70104 of this title as this section.
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 111–314, §4(d)(5)(C), substituted "section 50902(1)(A) or (B)" for "section 70102(1)(A) or (B)".
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 111–314, §4(d)(5)(D), substituted "section 50902(1)(C)" for "section 70102(1)(C)".
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 111–314, §4(d)(5)(E), substituted "section 50902(1)(C)" for "section 70102(1)(C)".
2004—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–492, §2(c)(3), substituted "Requirement" for "License Requirement" in heading and "A license issued or transferred under this chapter, or a permit," for "A license issued or transferred under this chapter" in introductory provisions and inserted concluding provisions.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–492, §2(c)(4), inserted "or permit" after "holder of a license".
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–492, §2(c)(5), added subsec. (d).
1998—Pub. L. 105–303, §102(a)(5)(A), substituted "Restrictions on launches, operations, and reentries" for "Restrictions on launches and operations" in section catchline.
Subsec. (a)(1), (2). Pub. L. 105–303, §102(a)(5)(B), inserted "or reentry site, or to reenter a reentry vehicle," after "operate a launch site".
Subsec. (a)(3), (4). Pub. L. 105–303, §102(a)(5)(B), (C), inserted "or reentry site, or to reenter a reentry vehicle," after "operate a launch site" and "or reentry" after "launch or operation".
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–303, §102(a)(5)(D), struck out "launch" before "license" and inserted "or reenter" after "may launch" and "or reentering" after "related to launching".
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–303, §102(a)(5)(E), substituted "Preventing Launches and Reentries" for "Preventing Launches" in heading and inserted "or reentry" after "prevent the launch" and after "decides the launch" in second sentence.
About This Section
51 U.S.C. § 50904 is part of Title 51 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
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