---
kind: "section"
citation: "51 U.S.C. § 50132"
title: "51"
title_heading: "National and Commercial Space Programs"
number: "50132"
heading: "Acquisition of commercial space transportation services"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/51/50132"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Programs Targeting Commercial Opportunities"
  - "Chapter 501 — Space Commerce"
  - "Subchapter III — Federal Acquisition of Space Transportation Services"
---

# §50132. Acquisition of commercial space transportation services

- (a) **Treatment of Commercial Space Transportation Services as Commercial Service Under Acquisition Laws.—** Acquisitions of [space transportation services](/usc/51/50101.md?p=4) by the Federal Government shall be carried out in accordance with applicable acquisition laws and regulations (including applicable provisions of chapters [201](/usc/10/chstA/ptV/sptA/ch201.md) through 285, [341](/usc/10/chstA/ptV/sptG/ch341.md) through [343](/usc/10/chstA/ptV/sptG/ch343.md), and [363](/usc/10/chstA/ptV/sptH/ch363.md) of title 10). For purposes of such law and regulations, [space transportation services](/usc/51/50101.md?p=4) shall be considered to be a [commercial](/usc/51/50501.md?p=3) service.
- (b) **Safety Standards.—** Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Federal Government from requiring compliance with applicable safety standards.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3400; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 836(g)(10)(C), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1874; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1702(l)(10), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2161.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 50132 | 42 U.S.C. 14732. | Pub. L. 105–303, title II, § 202, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2855. |

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–81 substituted “including applicable provisions of chapters 201 through 285, 341 through 343, and 363” for “including chapters 137 and 140”.

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–232 substituted “Commercial Service” for “Commercial Item” in heading and “commercial service” for “commercial item” in text.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–232 effective Jan. 1, 2020, subject to a savings provision, see section 836(h) of Pub. L. 115–232, set out as an Effective Date of 2018 Amendment; Savings Provision note under section 453b of Title 6, Domestic Security.