---
kind: "section"
citation: "51 U.S.C. § 70905"
title: "51"
title_heading: "National and Commercial Space Programs"
number: "70905"
heading: "National laboratory designation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/51/70905"
units:
  - "Subtitle VII — Access to Space"
  - "Chapter 709 — International Space Station"
---

# §70905. National laboratory designation

- (a) **Definition of United States Segment of the International Space Station.—** In this section the term “United States segment of the International Space Station” means those elements of the International Space Station manufactured—
  - (1) by the United States; or
  - (2) for the United States by other nations in exchange for funds or launch services.
- (b) **Designation.—** To further the policy described in [section 70501(a) of this title](/usc/51/70501.md?p=a), the United States segment of the International Space Station is hereby designated a national laboratory.
- (c) **Management.—**
  - (1) **Partnerships.—** The [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) shall seek to increase the utilization of the International Space Station by other Federal entities and the private sector through partnerships, cost-sharing agreements, and other arrangements that would supplement [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) funding of the International Space Station.
  - (2) **Contracting.—** The [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) may enter into a contract with a nongovernmental entity to operate the International Space Station national laboratory, subject to all applicable Federal laws and regulations.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3437.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 70905(a) | 42 U.S.C. 16767(d). | Pub. L. 109–155, title V, § 507(a), (b), (d), Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2930, 2931. |
| 70905(b) | 42 U.S.C. 16767(a). |  |
| 70905(c) | 42 U.S.C. 16767(b). |  |