---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 18352"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "18352"
heading: "Maximum utilization of the International Space Station"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/18352"
units:
  - "Chapter 159 — Space Exploration, Technology, and Science"
  - "Subchapter IV — Continuation, Support, and Evolution of the International Space Station"
---

# §18352. Maximum utilization of the International Space Station

- (a) **In general—** With assembly of the [ISS](/usc/42/18302.md?p=5) complete, [NASA](/usc/42/18302.md?p=6) shall take steps to maximize the productivity and use of the [ISS](/usc/42/18302.md?p=5) with respect to scientific and technological research and development, advancement of space exploration, and international collaboration.
- (b) **NASA actions—** In carrying out [subsection (a)](#a), [NASA](/usc/42/18302.md?p=6) shall, at a minimum, undertake the following:
  - (1) **Innovative use of U.S. segment—** The United States segment of the [ISS](/usc/42/18302.md?p=5), which has been designated as a National Laboratory, shall be developed, managed and utilized in a manner that enables the effective and innovative use of such facility, as provided in [section 18354 of this title](/usc/42/18354.md).
  - (2) **International cooperation—** The [ISS](/usc/42/18302.md?p=5) shall continue to be utilized as a key component of international efforts to build missions and capabilities that further the development of a human presence beyond [near-Earth space](/usc/42/18302.md?p=7) and advance United States security and economic goals. The [Administrator](/usc/42/18302.md?p=1) shall actively seek ways to encourage and enable the use of [ISS](/usc/42/18302.md?p=5) capabilities to support these efforts.
  - (3) **Domestic collaboration—** The operations, management, and utilization of the [ISS](/usc/42/18302.md?p=5) shall be conducted in a manner that provides opportunities for collaboration with other research programs and objectives of the United States Government in cooperation with commercial suppliers, users, and developers.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–267, title V, § 502, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2823.)