---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 18374"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "18374"
heading: "Instrument test-beds and venture class missions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/18374"
units:
  - "Chapter 159 — Space Exploration, Technology, and Science"
  - "Subchapter VI — Earth Science"
---

# §18374. Instrument test-beds and venture class missions


The [Administrator](/usc/42/18302.md?p=1) shall pursue innovative ways to fly instrument-level payloads for early demonstration or as co-manifested payloads. The Congress encourages the use of the [ISS](/usc/42/18302.md?p=5) as an accessible platform for the conduct of such activities. Additionally, in order to address the cost and schedule challenges associated with large flight systems, [NASA](/usc/42/18302.md?p=6) should pursue smaller systems where practicable and warranted.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–267, title VII, § 706, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2831.)