---
kind: "section"
citation: "51 U.S.C. § 20147"
title: "51"
title_heading: "National and Commercial Space Programs"
number: "20147"
heading: "Recovery and disposition authority"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/51/20147"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — General Program and Policy Provisions"
  - "Chapter 201 — National Aeronautics and Space Program"
  - "Subchapter III — General Administrative Provisions"
---

# §20147. Recovery and disposition authority

- (a) **Definitions.—** In this section:
  - (1) **Administration human space flight vehicle.—** The term “[Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) human space flight vehicle” means a space vehicle, as defined in [section 20138(a) of this title](/usc/51/20138.md?p=a), that—
    - (A) is intended to transport one or more persons;
    - (B) is designed to operate in outer space; and
    - (C) is either—
      - (i) owned by the [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1); or
      - (ii) owned by an [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) contractor or cooperating party and operated as part of an [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) mission or a joint mission with the [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1).
  - (2) **Crewmember.—** The term “crewmember” means an astronaut or other person assigned to an [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) human space flight vehicle.
- (b) **Control of Remains.—**
  - (1) **In general.—** Subject to paragraphs [(2)](#b-2) and [(3)](#b-3), when there is an accident or mishap resulting in the death of a crewmember of an [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) human space flight vehicle, the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) may take control over the remains of the crewmember and order autopsies and other scientific or medical tests.
  - (2) **Treatment.—** Each crewmember shall provide the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) with the crewmember’s preferences regarding the treatment accorded to the crewmember’s remains and the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) shall, to the extent possible, respect those stated preferences.
  - (3) **Construction.—** This section shall not be construed to permit the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) to interfere with any Federal investigation of a mishap or accident.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3353.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 20147 | 42 U.S.C. 2459l. | Pub. L. 85–568, title III, § 317, as added Pub. L. 109–155, title VII, § 705, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2936. |