Us Code § 50910 - Preemption of scheduled launches or reentries

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 50910 — Preemption of scheduled launches or reentries, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 50910. Preemption of scheduled launches or reentries

(a) General.—With the cooperation of the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Secretary of Transportation shall act to ensure that a launch or reentry of a payload is not preempted from access to a United States Government launch site, reentry site, or launch property, except for imperative national need, when a launch date commitment or reentry date commitment from the Government has been obtained for a launch or reentry licensed under this chapter. A licensee or transferee preempted from access to a launch site, reentry site, or launch property does not have to pay the Government any amount for launch services, or services related to a reentry, attributable only to the scheduled launch or reentry prevented by the preemption.

(b) Imperative National Need Decisions.—In consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Defense or the Administrator shall decide when an imperative national need requires preemption under subsection (a) of this section. That decision may not be delegated.

(c) Reports.—In cooperation with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Defense or the Administrator, as appropriate, shall submit to Congress not later than 7 days after a decision to preempt under subsection (a) of this section, a report that includes an explanation of the circumstances justifying the decision and a schedule for ensuring the prompt launching or reentry of a preempted payload.

(Pub. L. 103–272, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1335, §70109 of title 49; Pub. L. 105–303, title I, §102(a)(9), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2849; renumbered §70109 then §50910 of title 51, Pub. L. 111–314, §4(d)(2), (3)(J), Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3440, 3441.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)
70109(a) 49 App.:2614(b)(4)(A) (1st, last sentences). Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–575, 98 Stat. 3055, §15(b)(4); added Nov. 15, 1988, Pub. L. 100–657, §7, 102 Stat. 3906.
70109(b) 49 App.:2614(b)(4)(A) (2d sentence).
70109(c) 49 App.:2614(b)(4)(B).

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2010—Pub. L. 111–314 successively renumbered section 70109 of title 49 and section 70109 of this title as this section.

1998—Pub. L. 105–303, §102(a)(9)(A), substituted "Preemption of scheduled launches or reentries" for "Preemption of scheduled launches" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–303, §102(a)(9)(B), inserted "or reentry" after "ensure that a launch", ", reentry site," after "United States Government launch site", "or reentry date commitment" after "launch date commitment", "or reentry" after "obtained for a launch", ", reentry site," after "access to a launch site", ", or services related to a reentry," after "amount for launch services", and "or reentry" after "the scheduled launch".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–303, §102(a)(9)(C), inserted "or reentry" after "prompt launching".

About This Section

51 U.S.C. § 50910 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.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 51 U.S.C. § 50910. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

How to Read This Statute

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 50910

What does United States Code § 50910 cover?

Section 50910 ("Preemption of scheduled launches or reentries") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Us Code § 50910?

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Is this the official text of Us Code law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Us Code official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

How does Us Code § 50910 apply to my situation?

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Sources & Verification

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