51 USC § 20103 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t51/s20103"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "51 USC § 20103 - Definitions"
title_number: 51
title_name: "NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS"
section_number: "20103"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 201
chapter_name: "NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE PROGRAM"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "SHORT TITLE, DECLARATION OF POLICY, AND DEFINITIONS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3332.)"
---


# § 20103. Definitions

In this chapter:

**(1)** **Aeronautical and space activities.—** The term “aeronautical and space activities” means—

**(A)** research into, and the solution of, problems of flight within and outside the Earth’s atmosphere;

**(B)** the development, construction, testing, and operation for research purposes of aeronautical and space vehicles;

**(C)** the operation of a space transportation system including the space shuttle, upper stages, space platforms, and related equipment; and

**(D)** such other activities as may be required for the exploration of space.

**(2)** **Aeronautical and space vehicles.—** The term “aeronautical and space vehicles” means aircraft, missiles, satellites, and other space vehicles, manned and unmanned, together with related equipment, devices, components, and parts.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3332.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 20103 | 42 U.S.C. 2452. | Pub. L. 85–568, title I, § 103, July 29, 1958, 72 Stat. 427; Pub. L. 98–52, title I, § 108, July 15, 1983, 97 Stat. 285. |

In paragraph (1)(A), the word “Earth’s” is capitalized for consistency in title 51.