---
kind: "section"
citation: "51 U.S.C. § 31501"
title: "51"
title_heading: "National and Commercial Space Programs"
number: "31501"
heading: "Orbital debris"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/51/31501"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — Administrative Provisions"
  - "Chapter 315 — Miscellaneous"
---

# §31501. Orbital debris


The [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2), in conjunction with the heads of other Federal agencies, shall take steps to develop or acquire technologies that will enable the [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) to decrease the risks associated with orbital debris.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3377.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 31501 | 42 U.S.C. 16781. | Pub. L. 109–155, title VI, § 601, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2931. |