§70102. Definitions

In this chapter-

(1) "citizen of the United States" means-

(A) an individual who is a citizen of the United States;

(B) an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States or a State; or

(C) an entity organized or existing under the laws of a foreign country if the controlling interest (as defined by the Secretary of Transportation) is held by an individual or entity described in subclause (A) or (B) of this clause.

(2) "executive agency" has the same meaning given that term in section 105 of title 5.

(3) "launch" means to place or try to place a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle and any payload from Earth-

(A) in a suborbital trajectory;

(B) in Earth orbit in outer space; or

(C) otherwise in outer space,

including activities involved in the preparation of a launch vehicle or payload for launch, when those activities take place at a launch site in the United States.

(4) "launch property" means an item built for, or used in, the launch preparation or launch of a launch vehicle.

(5) "launch services" means-

(A) activities involved in the preparation of a launch vehicle and payload for launch; and

(B) the conduct of a launch.

(6) "launch site" means the location on Earth from which a launch takes place (as defined in a license the Secretary issues or transfers under this chapter) and necessary facilities at that location.

(7) "launch vehicle" means-

(A) a vehicle built to operate in, or place a payload in, outer space; and

(B) a suborbital rocket.

(8) "obtrusive space advertising" means advertising in outer space that is capable of being recognized by a human being on the surface of the Earth without the aid of a telescope or other technological device.

(9) "payload" means an object that a person undertakes to place in outer space by means of a launch vehicle or reentry vehicle, including components of the vehicle specifically designed or adapted for that object.

(10) "person" means an individual and an entity organized or existing under the laws of a State or country.

(11) "reenter" and "reentry" mean to return or attempt to return, purposefully, a reentry vehicle and its payload, if any, from Earth orbit or from outer space to Earth.

(12) "reentry services" means-

(A) activities involved in the preparation of a reentry vehicle and its payload, if any, for reentry; and

(B) the conduct of a reentry.

(13) "reentry site" means the location on Earth to which a reentry vehicle is intended to return (as defined in a license the Secretary issues or transfers under this chapter).

(14) "reentry vehicle" means a vehicle designed to return from Earth orbit or outer space to Earth, or a reusable launch vehicle designed to return from Earth orbit or outer space to Earth, substantially intact.

(15) "State" means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and a territory or possession of the United States.

(16) "third party" means a person except-

(A) the United States Government or the Government's contractors or subcontractors involved in launch services or reentry services;

(B) a licensee or transferee under this chapter;

(C) a licensee's or transferee's contractors, subcontractors, or customers involved in launch services or reentry services; or

(D) the customer's contractors or subcontractors involved in launch services or reentry services.

(17) "United States" means the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and possessions of the United States.

( Pub. L. 103–272, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1331 ; Pub. L. 104–287, §5(92), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3398 ; Pub. L. 105–303, title I, §102(a)(3), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2846 ; Pub. L. 106–391, title III, §322(a), Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1598 .)

Historical and Revision Notes
Pub. L. 103–272

Revised Section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
70102(1)	49 App.:2603(9).	Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–575, §4(1)–(9), 98 Stat. 3056 .
	49 App.:2603(12).	Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–575, §4(12), 98 Stat. 3056 ; Nov. 15, 1988, Pub. L. 100–657, §3(2), 102 Stat. 3900 .
70102(2)–(9)	49 App.:2603(1)–(8).
70102(10)	49 App.:2603(10).	Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–575, §4(10), 98 Stat. 3056 ; Nov. 15, 1988, Pub. L. 100–657, §3(1), 102 Stat. 3900 .
70102(11)	49 App.:2603(11).	Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–575, 98 Stat. 3055 , §4(11); added Nov. 15, 1988, Pub. L. 100–657, §3(3), 102 Stat. 3900 .
70102(12)	49 App.:2603(10).

In this chapter, the word "country" is substituted for "nation" for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.

In clause (1), before subclause (A), the text of 49 App.:2603(9) is omitted as surplus because the complete name of the Secretary of Transportation is used the first time the term appears in a section. In subclauses (B) and (C), the words "corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, or other" are omitted as surplus. In subclause (C), the words "in regulations" and "in such entity" are omitted as surplus.

In clause (4), the words "propellants, launch vehicles and components thereof, and other physical" are omitted as surplus.

In clause (6), the words "includes all . . . located on a launch site which are . . . to conduct a launch" are omitted as surplus.

In clause (9), the words "corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, or other" are omitted as surplus.

Clauses (10) and (12) are substituted for 49 App.:2603(10) to eliminate unnecessary words.

In clause (11), before subclause (A), the words "or entity" are omitted as surplus. In subclause (A), the words "its agencies" are omitted as surplus.

Pub. L. 104–287

This amends 49:70102(6) to correct an error in the codification enacted by section 1 of the Act of July 5, 1994 (Public Law 103–272, 108 Stat. 1331).

Amendments

2000-Pars. (8) to (17). Pub. L. 106–391 added par. (8) and redesignated former pars. (8) to (16) as (9) to (17), respectively.

1998-Par. (3). Pub. L. 105–303, §102(a)(3)(A), substituted "or reentry vehicle and any payload from Earth" for "and any payload" in introductory provisions and a comma for the period at end of subpar. (C) and inserted concluding provisions.

Par. (8). Pub. L. 105–303, §102(a)(3)(B), inserted "or reentry vehicle" after "means of a launch vehicle".

Pars. (10) to (13). Pub. L. 105–303, §102(a)(3)(D), added pars. (10) to (13). Former pars. (10) to (12) redesignated (14) to (16), respectively.

Par. (14). Pub. L. 105–303, §102(a)(3)(C), redesignated par. (10) as (14).

Par. (15). Pub. L. 105–303, §102(a)(3)(C), (E), redesignated par. (11) as (15) and inserted "or reentry services" after "launch services" wherever appearing.

Par. (16). Pub. L. 105–303, §102(a)(3)(C), redesignated par. (12) as (16).

1996-Par. (6). Pub. L. 104–287 substituted "facilities at that location" for "facilities".

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 104–287 effective July 5, 1994, see section 8(1) of Pub. L. 104–287, set out as a note under section 5303 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 70104 of this title.