51 U.S.C. § 50909

Current through P.L. 118-106 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/04/2024)

Section 50909 - Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches, operation of launch sites and reentry sites, and reentries

(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.-The Secretary of Transportation may prohibit, suspend, or end immediately the launch of a launch vehicle or the operation of a launch site or reentry site, or reentry of a reentry vehicle, licensed under this chapter if the Secretary decides the launch or operation or reentry is detrimental to the public health and safety, the safety of property, or a national security or foreign policy interest of the United States.

(b) EFFECTIVE PERIODS OF ORDERS.-An order under this section takes effect immediately and remains in effect during a review under section 50912 of this title.

51 U.S.C. § 50909

Pub. L. 103-272, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1334, §70108 of title 49; Pub. L. 105-303, title I, §102(a)(8), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2848; renumbered §70108 then §50909 of title 51 and amended Pub. L. 111-314, §4(d)(2), (3)(I), (5)(L), Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3440-3442.

HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES
Revised Section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
70108(a)	49 App.:2610(a).	Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98-575, §11, 98 Stat. 3059.
70108(b)	49 App.:2610(b).

EDITORIAL NOTES

AMENDMENTS2010-Pub. L. 111-314, §4(d)(2), (3)(I), successively renumbered section 70108 of title 49 and section 70108 of this title as this section.Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111-314, §4(d)(5)(L), substituted "section 50912" for "section 70110".1998-Pub. L. 105-303, §102(a)(8)(A), substituted "Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches, operation of launch sites and reentry sites, and reentries" for "Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches and operation of launch sites" in section catchline.Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105-303, §102(a)(8)(B), inserted "or reentry site, or reentry of a reentry vehicle," after "operation of a launch site" and "or reentry" after "launch or operation".

United States: "United States" means the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and possessions of the United States.
launch site: "launch site" 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.
launch vehicle: "launch vehicle" means-(A) a vehicle built to operate in, or place a payload or human beings in, outer space; and(B) a suborbital rocket.
launch: "launch" means to place or try to place a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle and any payload or human being from Earth-(A) in a suborbital trajectory;(B) in Earth orbit in outer space; or(C) otherwise in outer space,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.
reentry: "reenter" and "reentry" 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.
reentry site: "reentry site" 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).
reentry vehicle: "reentry vehicle" 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.