{"identifier":"/us/usc/t51/s50902","title":51,"num":"\u00a7\u202f50902.","heading":"Definitions","text":"\u00a7\u202f50902.\nDefinitions\nIn this chapter\u2014\n(1) \u201ccitizen of the United States\u201d means\u2014\n(A) an individual who is a citizen of the United States;\n(B) an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States or a State; or\n(C) an entity organized or existing under the laws of a foreign country if the controlling interest (as defined by the Secretary of Transportation) is held by an individual or entity described in subclause (A) or (B) of this clause.\n(2) \u201ccrew\u201d means any employee of a licensee or transferee, or of a contractor or subcontractor of a licensee or transferee, who performs activities in the course of that employment directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of or in a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle that carries human beings.\n(3) \u201cexecutive agency\u201d has the same meaning given that term in\nsection 105 of title 5\n(4) \u201cgovernment astronaut\u201d means an individual who\u2014\n(A) is designated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under section 20113(n);\n(B) is carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle in the course of his or her employment, which may include performance of activities directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of the launch vehicle or reentry vehicle; and\n(C) is either\u2014\n(i) an employee of the United States Government, including the uniformed services, engaged in the performance of a Federal function under authority of law or an Executive act; or\n(ii) an international partner astronaut.\n(5) \u201cinternational partner astronaut\u201d means an individual designated under Article 11 of the International Space Station Intergovernmental Agreement, by a partner to that agreement other than the United States, as qualified to serve as an International Space Station crew member.\n(6) \u201cInternational Space Station Intergovernmental Agreement\u201d means the Agreement Concerning Cooperation on the International Space Station, signed at Washington\nJanuary 29, 1998\n(7) \u201claunch\u201d means to place or try to place a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle and any payload or human being from Earth\u2014\n(A) in a suborbital trajectory;\n(B) in Earth orbit in outer space; or\n(C) otherwise in outer space,\nincluding activities involved in the preparation of a launch vehicle or payload for launch, when those activities take place at a launch site in the United States.\n(8) \u201claunch property\u201d means an item built for, or used in, the launch preparation or launch of a launch vehicle.\n(9) \u201claunch services\u201d means\u2014\n(A) activities involved in the preparation of a launch vehicle, payload, crew (including crew training), government astronaut, or space flight participant for launch; and\n(B) the conduct of a launch.\n(10) \u201claunch site\u201d means the location on Earth from which a launch takes place (as defined in a license the Secretary issues or transfers under this chapter) and necessary facilities at that location.\n(11) \u201claunch vehicle\u201d means\u2014\n(A) a vehicle built to operate in, or place a payload or human beings in, outer space; and\n(B) a suborbital rocket.\n(12) \u201cobtrusive space advertising\u201d means advertising in outer space that is capable of being recognized by a human being on the surface of the Earth without the aid of a telescope or other technological device.\n(13) \u201cpayload\u201d means an object that a person undertakes to place in outer space by means of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle, including components of the vehicle specifically designed or adapted for that object.\n(14) except in section 50904(c), \u201cpermit\u201d means an experimental permit issued under section 50906.\n(15) \u201cperson\u201d means an individual and an entity organized or existing under the laws of a State or country.\n(16) \u201creenter\u201d and \u201creentry\u201d mean to return or attempt to return, purposefully, a reentry vehicle and its payload or human beings, if any, from Earth orbit or from outer space to Earth.\n(17) \u201creentry services\u201d means\u2014\n(A) activities involved in the preparation of a reentry vehicle and payload, crew (including crew training), government astronaut, or space flight participant, if any, for reentry; and\n(B) the conduct of a reentry.\n(18) \u201creentry site\u201d means the location on Earth to which a reentry vehicle is intended to return (as defined in a license the Secretary issues or transfers under this chapter).\n(19) \u201creentry vehicle\u201d means a vehicle designed to return from Earth orbit or outer space to Earth, or a reusable launch vehicle designed to return from Earth orbit or outer space to Earth, substantially intact.\n(20) \u201cspace flight participant\u201d means an individual, who is not crew or a government astronaut, carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle.\n(21) \u201cspace support vehicle flight\u201d means a flight in the air that\u2014\n(A) is not a launch or reentry; but\n(B) is conducted by a space support vehicle.\n(22) \u201cspace support vehicle\u201d means a vehicle that is\u2014\n(A) a launch vehicle;\n(B) a reentry vehicle; or\n(C) a component of a launch or reentry vehicle.\n(23) \u201cState\u201d means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and a territory or possession of the United States.\n(24) unless and until regulations take effect under section 50922(c)(2), \u201csuborbital rocket\u201d means a vehicle, rocket-propelled in whole or in part, intended for flight on a suborbital trajectory, and the thrust of which is greater than its lift for the majority of the rocket-powered portion of its ascent.\n(25) \u201csuborbital trajectory\u201d means the intentional flight path of a launch vehicle, reentry vehicle, or any portion thereof, whose vacuum instantaneous impact point does not leave the surface of the Earth.\n(26) \u201cthird party\u201d means a person except\u2014\n(A) the United States Government or the Government\u2019s contractors or subcontractors involved in launch services or reentry services;\n(B) a licensee or transferee under this chapter;\n(C) a licensee\u2019s or transferee\u2019s contractors, subcontractors, or customers involved in launch services or reentry services;\n(D) the customer\u2019s contractors or subcontractors involved in launch services or reentry services; or\n(E) crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants.\n(27) \u201cUnited States\u201d means the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and possessions of the United States.","url":"https://projectusc.org/usc/t51/s50902.html","content":[{"t":"sec","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902","children":[{"t":"num","text":"\u00a7\u202f50902."},{"t":"heading","text":"Definitions","tail":"\n"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"In this chapter\u2014"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" \u201ccitizen of the United States\u201d means\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/1/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" an individual who is a citizen of the United States;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/1/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States or a State; or","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/1/C","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(C)"},{"t":"content","text":" an entity organized or existing under the laws of a foreign country if the controlling interest (as defined by the Secretary of Transportation) is held by an individual or entity described in subclause (A) or (B) of this clause.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201ccrew\u201d means any employee of a licensee or transferee, or of a contractor or subcontractor of a licensee or transferee, who performs activities in the course of that employment directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of or in a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle that carries human beings.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/3","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(3)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201cexecutive agency\u201d has the same meaning given that term in ","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"section 105 of title 5","href":"/us/usc/t5/s105","tail":"."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/4","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(4)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" \u201cgovernment astronaut\u201d means an individual who\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/4/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" is designated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under section 20113(n);","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/4/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" is carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle in the course of his or her employment, which may include performance of activities directly relating to the launch, reentry, or other operation of the launch vehicle or reentry vehicle; and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/4/C","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(C)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" is either\u2014"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/4/C/i","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(i)"},{"t":"content","text":" an employee of the United States Government, including the uniformed services, engaged in the performance of a Federal function under authority of law or an Executive act; or","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"clause","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/4/C/ii","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(ii)"},{"t":"content","text":" an international partner astronaut.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/5","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(5)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201cinternational partner astronaut\u201d means an individual designated under Article 11 of the International Space Station Intergovernmental Agreement, by a partner to that agreement other than the United States, as qualified to serve as an International Space Station crew member.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/6","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(6)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201cInternational Space Station Intergovernmental Agreement\u201d means the Agreement Concerning Cooperation on the International Space Station, signed at Washington ","children":[{"t":"text","text":"January 29, 1998","tail":" (TIAS 12927)."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/7","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(7)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" \u201claunch\u201d means to place or try to place a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle and any payload or human being from Earth\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/7/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" in a suborbital trajectory;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/7/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" in Earth orbit in outer space; or","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/7/C","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(C)"},{"t":"content","text":" otherwise in outer space,","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n\n"},{"t":"continuation","text":"including activities involved in the preparation of a launch vehicle or payload for launch, when those activities take place at a launch site in the United States.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/8","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(8)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201claunch property\u201d means an item built for, or used in, the launch preparation or launch of a launch vehicle.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/9","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(9)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" \u201claunch services\u201d means\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/9/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" activities involved in the preparation of a launch vehicle, payload, crew (including crew training), government astronaut, or space flight participant for launch; and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/9/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" the conduct of a launch.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/10","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(10)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201claunch site\u201d means the location on Earth from which a launch takes place (as defined in a license the Secretary issues or transfers under this chapter) and necessary facilities at that location.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/11","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(11)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" \u201claunch vehicle\u201d means\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/11/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" a vehicle built to operate in, or place a payload or human beings in, outer space; and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/11/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" a suborbital rocket.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/12","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(12)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201cobtrusive space advertising\u201d means advertising in outer space that is capable of being recognized by a human being on the surface of the Earth without the aid of a telescope or other technological device.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/13","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(13)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201cpayload\u201d means an object that a person undertakes to place in outer space by means of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle, including components of the vehicle specifically designed or adapted for that object.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/14","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(14)"},{"t":"content","text":" except in section 50904(c), \u201cpermit\u201d means an experimental permit issued under section 50906.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/15","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(15)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201cperson\u201d means an individual and an entity organized or existing under the laws of a State or country.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/16","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(16)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201creenter\u201d and \u201creentry\u201d mean to return or attempt to return, purposefully, a reentry vehicle and its payload or human beings, if any, from Earth orbit or from outer space to Earth.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/17","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(17)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" \u201creentry services\u201d means\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/17/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" activities involved in the preparation of a reentry vehicle and payload, crew (including crew training), government astronaut, or space flight participant, if any, for reentry; and","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/17/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" the conduct of a reentry.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/18","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(18)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201creentry site\u201d means the location on Earth to which a reentry vehicle is intended to return (as defined in a license the Secretary issues or transfers under this chapter).","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/19","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(19)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201creentry vehicle\u201d means a vehicle designed to return from Earth orbit or outer space to Earth, or a reusable launch vehicle designed to return from Earth orbit or outer space to Earth, substantially intact.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/20","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(20)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201cspace flight participant\u201d means an individual, who is not crew or a government astronaut, carried within a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/21","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(21)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" \u201cspace support vehicle flight\u201d means a flight in the air that\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/21/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" is not a launch or reentry; but","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/21/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" is conducted by a space support vehicle.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/22","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(22)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" \u201cspace support vehicle\u201d means a vehicle that is\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/22/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" a launch vehicle;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/22/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" a reentry vehicle; or","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/22/C","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(C)"},{"t":"content","text":" a component of a launch or reentry vehicle.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/23","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(23)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201cState\u201d means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and a territory or possession of the United States.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/24","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(24)"},{"t":"content","text":" unless and until regulations take effect under section 50922(c)(2), \u201csuborbital rocket\u201d means a vehicle, rocket-propelled in whole or in part, intended for flight on a suborbital trajectory, and the thrust of which is greater than its lift for the majority of the rocket-powered portion of its ascent.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/25","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(25)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201csuborbital trajectory\u201d means the intentional flight path of a launch vehicle, reentry vehicle, or any portion thereof, whose vacuum instantaneous impact point does not leave the surface of the Earth.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/26","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(26)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" \u201cthird party\u201d means a person except\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/26/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" the United States Government or the Government\u2019s contractors or subcontractors involved in launch services or reentry services;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/26/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" a licensee or transferee under this chapter;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/26/C","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(C)"},{"t":"content","text":" a licensee\u2019s or transferee\u2019s contractors, subcontractors, or customers involved in launch services or reentry services;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/26/D","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(D)"},{"t":"content","text":" the customer\u2019s contractors or subcontractors involved in launch services or reentry services; or","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/26/E","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(E)"},{"t":"content","text":" crew, government astronauts, or space flight participants.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t51/s50902/27","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(27)"},{"t":"content","text":" \u201cUnited States\u201d means the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and possessions of the United States.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"text","text":"\n"},{"t":"text","text":"\n"}]}]}