51 U.S.C. § 50903 General Authority

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-21 (published on www.congress.gov on 11/13/2023)

(a) GENERAL.-The Secretary of Transportation shall carry out this chapter.

(b) FACILITATING COMMERCIAL LAUNCHES AND REENTRIES.-In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary shall-

(1) encourage, facilitate, and promote commercial space launches and reentries by the private sector, including those involving space flight participants; and

(2) take actions to facilitate private sector involvement in commercial space transportation activity, and to promote public-private partnerships involving the United States Government, State governments, and the private sector to build, expand, modernize, or operate a space launch and reentry infrastructure.

(c) SAFETY.-In carrying out the responsibilities under subsection (b), the Secretary shall encourage, facilitate, and promote the continuous improvement of the safety of launch vehicles designed to carry humans, and the Secretary may, consistent with this chapter, promulgate regulations to carry out this subsection.

(d) EXECUTIVE AGENCY ASSISTANCE.-When necessary, the head of an executive agency shall assist the Secretary in carrying out this chapter.

Cite as 51 U.S.C. § 50903

Source: Pub. L. 103-272, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1332, §70103 of title 49; Pub. L. 105-303, title I, §102(a)(4), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2847; Pub. L. 108-492, §2(c)(1), (2), Dec. 23, 2004, 118 Stat. 3976; renumbered §70103 then §50903 of title 51, Pub. L. 111-314, §4(d)(2), (3) (C), Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3440.

current through 5/22/2023

<TABLE> <TR><TD colspan="3">HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD>Revised <para>Section</para> </TD> <TD>Source (U.S. Code)</TD> <TD>Source (Statutes at Large)</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD>70103(a)</TD> <TD>49 App.:2604(a) (1st-10th words).</TD> <TD>Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98-575, §5(a) (1st-10th words, (b)), 98 Stat. 3057.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD>70103(b)</TD> <TD>49 App.:2604(a) (11th-15th words, cls. (1), (3)).</TD> <TD>Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98-575, §5(a) (11th-15th words, cls. (1), (3)), 98 Stat. 3057; Nov. 16, <actcitation href="" statecd="US" sessionyear="1990" actaltid="101-611"><sessionyear>1990</sessionyear>, Pub. L. <actid>101-611</actid></actcitation>, <actseccitation href="" statecd="US" sessionyear="1990" actaltid="101-611">§<actsec>117</actsec>(e)(1), (3)</actseccitation>, 104 Stat. 3203.</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD>70103(c)</TD> <TD>49 App.:2604(b).</TD> <TD/> </TR> </TABLE>

In subsection (a), the words "be responsible for" are omitted as surplus.