---
kind: "section"
citation: "51 U.S.C. § 60502"
title: "51"
title_heading: "National and Commercial Space Programs"
number: "60502"
heading: "Transitioning experimental research into operational services"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/51/60502"
units:
  - "Subtitle VI — Earth Observations"
  - "Chapter 605 — Earth Science"
---

# §60502. Transitioning experimental research into operational services

- (a) **Interagency Process.—** The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2), the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1), and other relevant stakeholders, shall develop a process to transition, when appropriate, [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) Earth science and space weather missions or sensors into operational status. The process shall include coordination of annual agency budget requests as required to execute the transitions.
- (b) **Responsible Agency Official.—** The [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) and the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) shall each designate an agency official who shall have the responsibility for and authority to lead the [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1)’s and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1)’s transition activities and interagency coordination.
- (c) **Plan.—** For each mission or sensor that is determined to be appropriate for transition under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) shall transmit to Congress a joint plan for conducting the transition. The plan shall include the strategy, milestones, and budget required to execute the transition. The transition plan shall be transmitted to Congress no later than 60 days after the successful completion of the mission or sensor critical design review.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3425.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 60502(a) | 42 U.S.C. 17712(b). | Pub. L. 110–422, title II, § 204(b), (c), (d), Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4785. |
| 60502(b) | 42 U.S.C. 17712(c). |  |
| 60502(c) | 42 U.S.C. 17712(d). |  |