--- kind: "section" citation: "51 U.S.C. § 50919" title: "51" title_heading: "National and Commercial Space Programs" number: "50919" heading: "Relationship to other executive agencies, laws, and international obligations" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/51/50919" units: - "Subtitle V — Programs Targeting Commercial Opportunities" - "Chapter 509 — Commercial Space Launch Activities" --- # §50919. Relationship to other executive agencies, laws, and international obligations - (a) **Executive Agencies.—** Except as provided in this chapter, a [person](/usc/51/50902.md?p=15) is not required to obtain from an executive [agency](/usc/51/50501.md?p=1) a license, approval, waiver, or exemption to [launch](/usc/51/50501.md?p=5) a [launch vehicle](/usc/51/50501.md?p=8) or operate a [launch site](/usc/51/50902.md?p=10) or [reentry site](/usc/51/50902.md?p=18), or to reenter a [reentry vehicle](/usc/51/50902.md?p=19). - (b) **Federal Communications Commission and Secretary of Commerce.—** This chapter does not affect the authority of— - (1) the Federal Communications Commission under the Communications Act of 1934 ([47 U.S.C. 151](/usc/47/151.md) et seq.); or - (2) the [Secretary](/usc/51/50301.md?p=5) of Commerce under [chapter 601](/usc/51/chstVI/ch601.md) of this title. - (c) **States and Political Subdivisions.—** A [State](/usc/51/50101.md?p=6) or political subdivision of a [State](/usc/51/50101.md?p=6)— - (1) may not adopt or have in effect a law, regulation, standard, or order inconsistent with this chapter; but - (2) may adopt or have in effect a law, regulation, standard, or order consistent with this chapter that is in addition to or more stringent than a requirement of, or regulation prescribed under, this chapter. - (d) **Consultation.—** The [Secretary](/usc/51/50301.md?p=5) of Transportation is encouraged to consult with a [State](/usc/51/50101.md?p=6) to simplify and expedite the approval of a space [launch](/usc/51/50501.md?p=5) or reentry activity. - (e) **Foreign Countries.—** The [Secretary](/usc/51/50301.md?p=5) of Transportation shall— - (1) carry out this chapter consistent with an obligation the [United States](/usc/51/50501.md?p=14) Government assumes in a treaty, convention, or agreement in force between the Government and the government of a foreign country; and - (2) consider applicable laws and requirements of a foreign country when carrying out this chapter. - (f) **Launch Not an Export; Reentry Not an Import.—** A [launch vehicle](/usc/51/50501.md?p=8), [reentry vehicle](/usc/51/50902.md?p=19), or [payload](/usc/51/50101.md?p=2) that is launched or reentered is not, because of the [launch](/usc/51/50501.md?p=5) or reentry, an export or import, respectively, for purposes of a law controlling exports or imports, except that [payloads](/usc/51/50101.md?p=2) launched pursuant to foreign trade zone procedures as provided for under the Foreign Trade Zones Act ([19 U.S.C. 81a–81u](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(/us/usc/t19/s81a–81u))) shall be considered exports with regard to customs entry. - (g) **Nonapplication.—** - (1) **In general.—** This chapter does not apply to— - (A) a [launch](/usc/51/50501.md?p=5), reentry, operation of a [launch vehicle](/usc/51/50501.md?p=8) or [reentry vehicle](/usc/51/50902.md?p=19), operation of a [launch site](/usc/51/50902.md?p=10) or [reentry site](/usc/51/50902.md?p=18), or other space activity the Government carries out for the Government; or - (B) planning or policies related to the [launch](/usc/51/50501.md?p=5), reentry, operation, or activity under [subparagraph (A)](#g-1-A). - (2) **Rule of construction.—** The following activities are not space activities the Government carries out for the Government under [paragraph (1)](#g-1): - (A) A [government astronaut](/usc/51/50902.md?p=4) being carried within a [launch vehicle](/usc/51/50501.md?p=8) or [reentry vehicle](/usc/51/50902.md?p=19) under this chapter. - (B) A [government astronaut](/usc/51/50902.md?p=4) performing activities directly relating to the [launch](/usc/51/50501.md?p=5), reentry, or other operation of the [launch vehicle](/usc/51/50501.md?p=8) or [reentry vehicle](/usc/51/50902.md?p=19) under this chapter. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1342, § 70117 of title 49; Pub. L. 104–287, § 5(95), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3398; Pub. L. 105–303, title I, § 102(a)(15), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2850; renumbered § 70117 then § 50919 of title 51 and amended Pub. L. 111–314, § 4(d)(2), (3)(S), (5)(T), Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3440–3442; Pub. L. 114–90, title I, § 112(o), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 713.) ## Notes | Historical and Revision Notes | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Pub. L. 103–272 | | | | Revised
Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) | | 70117(a) | 49 App.:2605(c)(1). | Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–575, §§ 6(c), 21, 98 Stat. 3058, 3063. | | 70117(b) | 49 App.:2605(c)(2). | | | 70117(c) | 49 App.:2620(a) (1st, 2d sentences). | | | 70117(d) | 49 App.:2620(a) (last sentence). | | | 70117(e) | 49 App.:2620(d). | | | 70117(f) | 49 App.:2620(b). | | | 70117(g) | 49 App.:2620(c). | | In subsection (e)(1), the words “government of a foreign country” are substituted for “foreign nation” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. ### Pub. L. 104–287 This amends 49:70117(b)(2) by updating a cross-reference. Section 4 of the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–555, 106 Stat. 4166) repealed the Land Remote-Sensing Commercialization Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.). The substantive provisions of the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992, which replaced the Land Remote-Sensing Commercialization Act of 1984, were classified to the United States Code at 15 U.S.C. 5601 et seq. ### Editorial Notes ### References in Text The Communications Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, which is classified principally to section 151 et seq. of Title 47, Telecommunications. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of Title 47 and Tables. The Foreign Trade Zones Act, referred to in subsec. (f), is act June 18, 1934, ch. 590, 48 Stat. 998, which is classified generally to chapter 1A (§ 81a et seq.) of Title 19, Customs Duties. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables. ### Amendments 2015—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 114–90 amended subsec. (g) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “This chapter does not apply to— “(1) a launch, reentry, operation of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle, operation of a launch site or reentry site, or other space activity the Government carries out for the Government; or “(2) planning or policies related to the launch, reentry, operation, or activity.” 2010—Pub. L. 111–314, § 4(d)(2), (3)(S), successively renumbered section 70117 of title 49 and section 70117 of this title as this section. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 111–314, § 4(d)(5)(T), substituted “chapter 601 of this title” for “the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992 (15 U.S.C. 5601 et seq.)”. 1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(15)(A), inserted “or reentry site, or to reenter a reentry vehicle” after “operate a launch site”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(15)(B), inserted “or reentry” after “approval of a space launch”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(15)(C), amended heading and text of subsec. (f) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A launch vehicle or payload that is launched is not, because of the launch, an export for purposes of a law controlling exports.” Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(15)(D)(i), substituted “reentry, operation of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle, operation of a launch site or reentry site,” for “operation of a launch vehicle or launch site,”. Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 105–303, § 102(a)(15)(D)(ii), inserted “reentry,” after “launch,”. 1996—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 104–287 substituted “Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992 (15 U.S.C. 5601 et seq.)” for “Land Remote-Sensing Commercialization Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.)”.