51 USC § 20162 - Definition of upper atmosphere

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t51/s20162"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "51 USC § 20162 - Definition of upper atmosphere"
title_number: 51
title_name: "NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS"
section_number: "20162"
section_name: "Definition of upper atmosphere"
chapter_number: 201
chapter_name: "NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE PROGRAM"
subchapter_number: "IV"
subchapter_name: "UPPER ATMOSPHERE RESEARCH"
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. 3354.)"
---


# § 20162. Definition of upper atmosphere

In this subchapter, the term “upper atmosphere” means that portion of the Earth’s sensible atmosphere above the troposphere.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3354.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 20162 | 42 U.S.C. 2482. | Pub. L. 85–568, title IV, § 402, as added Pub. L. 94–39, § 8, June 19, 1975, 89 Stat. 222. |