---
kind: "section"
citation: "51 U.S.C. § 51103"
title: "51"
title_heading: "National and Commercial Space Programs"
number: "51103"
heading: "Grant applications"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/51/51103"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Programs Targeting Commercial Opportunities"
  - "Chapter 511 — Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching Grants"
---

# §51103. Grant applications

- (a) **General.—** A [sponsor](/usc/51/51101.md?p=6) may submit to the [Secretary](/usc/51/50301.md?p=5) of Transportation an application for a [project grant](/usc/51/51101.md?p=4). The application must [state](/usc/51/50101.md?p=6) the [project](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3) to be undertaken and be in the form and contain the information the [Secretary](/usc/51/50301.md?p=5) requires.
- (b) **Considerations and Consultation.—**
  - (1) In selecting proposed [projects](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3) for grants under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/51/50301.md?p=5) of Transportation shall consider—
    - (A) the contribution of the [project](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3) to industry capabilities that serve the [United States](/usc/51/50501.md?p=14) Government’s space transportation needs;
    - (B) the extent of industry’s financial contribution to the [project](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3);
    - (C) the extent of industry’s participation in the [project](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3);
    - (D) the positive impact of the [project](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3) on the international competitiveness of the [United States](/usc/51/50501.md?p=14) space transportation industry;
    - (E) the extent of [State](/usc/51/50101.md?p=6) contributions to the [project](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3); and
    - (F) the impact of the [project](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3) on [launch](/usc/51/50501.md?p=5) operations and other activities at Government [launch](/usc/51/50501.md?p=5) ranges.
  - (2) The [Secretary](/usc/51/50301.md?p=5) of Transportation shall consult with the [Secretary](/usc/51/50301.md?p=5) of Defense, the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) of the National Space and Aeronautics [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1), and the heads of other appropriate [agencies](/usc/51/50501.md?p=1) of the Government about paragraph (1)(A) and (F) of this subsection.
- (c) **Requirements.—** The [Secretary](/usc/51/50301.md?p=5) of Transportation may approve an application only if the [Secretary](/usc/51/50301.md?p=5) is satisfied that—
  - (1) the [project](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3) will contribute to the purposes of this chapter;
  - (2) the [project](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3) is reasonably consistent with plans (existing at the time of approval of the [project](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3)) of [public agencies](/usc/51/51101.md?p=5) that are—
    - (A) authorized by the [State](/usc/51/50101.md?p=6) in which the [project](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3) is located; and
    - (B) responsible for the development of the area surrounding the [project](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3) site;
  - (3) if the application proposes to use Government property, the specific consent of the head of the appropriate [agency](/usc/51/50501.md?p=1) has been obtained;
  - (4) the [project](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3) will be completed without unreasonable delay;
  - (5) the [sponsor](/usc/51/51101.md?p=6) submitting the application has the legal authority to engage in the [project](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3); and
  - (6) any additional requirements prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/51/50301.md?p=5) have been met.
- (d) **Preference for Industry Contributions.—** The [Secretary](/usc/51/50301.md?p=5) of Transportation shall give preference to applications for [projects](/usc/51/51101.md?p=3) for which there will be greater industry financial contributions, all other factors being equal.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1344, § 70303 of title 49; renumbered § 70303 then § 51103 of title 51, Pub. L. 111–314, § 4(d)(2), (4)(C), Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3440, 3441.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 70303(a) | 15:5804(d)(1). | Nov. 4, 1992, Pub. L. 102–588, § 505(c), (d), 106 Stat. 5125. |
| 70303(b)(1) | 15:5804(c)(1). |  |
| 70303(b)(2) | 15:5804(c)(2). |  |
| 70303(c) | 15:5804(d)(2). |  |
| 70303(d) | 15:5804(c)(3). |  |

In subsection (a), the words “for one or more projects” are omitted as unnecessary because of the definition of “project” in section 70301 of the revised title.

In subsection (c)(5), the words “as proposed” are omitted as surplus.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2010—Pub. L. 111–314 successively renumbered section 70303 of title 49 and section 70303 of this title as this section.