---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 18402"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "18402"
heading: "Research collaboration"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/18402"
units:
  - "Chapter 159 — Space Exploration, Technology, and Science"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Aeronautics and Space Technology"
---

# §18402. Research collaboration

- (a) **Department of Defense—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/18302.md?p=1) shall continue to coordinate with the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Defense, through the National Partnership for Aeronautics Testing, to develop and implement joint plans for those elements of the Nation’s research, development, testing, and engineering infrastructure that are of common interest and use.
- (b) **Federal Aviation Administration—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/18302.md?p=1) shall continue to coordinate with, and work closely with, the [Administrator](/usc/42/18302.md?p=1) of the Federal Aviation Administration, under the framework of the Senior Policy Council, in development of the Next Generation Air Transportation Program. The [Administrator](/usc/42/18302.md?p=1) shall encourage the Council to explore areas for greater collaboration, including areas where [NASA](/usc/42/18302.md?p=6) can help to accelerate the development and demonstration of NextGen technologies.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–267, title IX, § 903, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2835.)