42 USC § 18401 - Aeronautics research goals

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s18401"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 18401 - Aeronautics research goals"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "18401"
section_name: "Aeronautics research goals"
chapter_number: 159
chapter_name: "SPACE EXPLORATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND SCIENCE"
subchapter_number: "VIII"
subchapter_name: "AERONAUTICS AND SPACE TECHNOLOGY"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 111–267, title IX, § 902, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2835.)"
---


# § 18401. Aeronautics research goals

The Administrator should ensure that NASA maintains a strong aeronautics research portfolio ranging from fundamental research through systems research with specific research goals, including the following:

**(1)** **Airspace capacity** NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate shall address research needs of the Next Generation Air Transportation System, including the ability of the National Airspace System to handle up to 3 times the current travel demand by 2025.

**(2)** **Environmental sustainability** The Directorate shall consider and pursue concepts to reduce noise, emissions, and fuel consumption while maintaining high safety standards and shall pursue research related to alternative fuels.

**(3)** **Aviation safety** The Directorate shall proactively address safety challenges with new and current air vehicles and with operations in the Nation’s current and future air transportation system.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 111–267, title IX, § 902, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2835.)