51 USC § 20147 - Recovery and disposition authority

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t51/s20147"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "51 USC § 20147 - Recovery and disposition authority"
title_number: 51
title_name: "NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS"
section_number: "20147"
section_name: "Recovery and disposition authority"
chapter_number: 201
chapter_name: "NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE PROGRAM"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS"
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. 3353.)"
---


# § 20147. Recovery and disposition authority

**(a)** **Definitions.—** In this section:

**(1)** **Administration human space flight vehicle.—** The term “Administration human space flight vehicle” means a space vehicle, as defined in section 20138(a) of this title, that—

**(A)** is intended to transport one or more persons;

**(B)** is designed to operate in outer space; and

**(C)** is either—

**(i)** owned by the Administration; or

**(ii)** owned by an Administration contractor or cooperating party and operated as part of an Administration mission or a joint mission with the Administration.

**(2)** **Crewmember.—** The term “crewmember” means an astronaut or other person assigned to an Administration human space flight vehicle.

**(b)** **Control of Remains.—**

**(1)** **In general.—** Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), when there is an accident or mishap resulting in the death of a crewmember of an Administration human space flight vehicle, the Administrator may take control over the remains of the crewmember and order autopsies and other scientific or medical tests.

**(2)** **Treatment.—** Each crewmember shall provide the Administrator with the crewmember’s preferences regarding the treatment accorded to the crewmember’s remains and the Administrator shall, to the extent possible, respect those stated preferences.

**(3)** **Construction.—** This section shall not be construed to permit the Administrator to interfere with any Federal investigation of a mishap or accident.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3353.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 20147 | 42 U.S.C. 2459l. | Pub. L. 85–568, title III, § 317, as added Pub. L. 109–155, title VII, § 705, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2936. |