14 CFR § 1214.701 - Definitions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t14/s1214.701"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "14 CFR § 1214.701 - Definitions."
title_number: 14
title_name: "Aeronautics and Space"
section_number: "1214.701"
section_name: "Definitions."
chapter_name: "NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION"
part_number: "1214"
part_name: "SPACE FLIGHT"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "Pub. L. 111-314, sec. 3, 124 Stat. 3328 (51 U.S.C. 20101, )."
regulatory_source: "57 FR 4545, Feb. 6, 1992, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1214"
---


# 1214.701 Definitions.

(a) The *flight crew* consists of the NASA Commander, astronaut crew members, and [any] other persons aboard the spacecraft.

(b) A *mission* is the period including the flight-phases from launch to landing on the surface of the Earth—a single round trip. (In the case of a forced landing, the NASA Commander's authority continues until a competent authority takes over the responsibility for the persons and property aboard).

(c) The *flight-phases* consist of launch, in orbit/transit, extraterrestrial mission, deorbit, entry, and landing, and post-landing back on Earth.

(d) A *payload* is a specific complement of instruments, space equipment, and support hardware/software carried into space to accomplish a scientific mission or discrete activity.