51 USC § 50909 - Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches, operation of launch sites and reentry sites, and reentries

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t51/s50909"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "51 USC § 50909 - Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches, operation of launch sites and reentry sites, and reentries"
title_number: 51
title_name: "NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS"
section_number: "50909"
section_name: "Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches, operation of launch sites and reentry sites, and reentries"
chapter_number: 509
chapter_name: "COMMERCIAL SPACE LAUNCH ACTIVITIES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1334, § 70108 of title 49; Pub. L. 105–303, title I, § 102(a)(8), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2848; renumbered § 70108 then § 50909 of title 51 and amended Pub. L. 111–314, § 4(d)(2), (3)(I), (5)(L), Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3440–3442.)"
---


# § 50909. Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches, operation of launch sites and reentry sites, and reentries

**(a)** **General Authority.—** The Secretary of Transportation may prohibit, suspend, or end immediately the launch of a launch vehicle or the operation of a launch site or reentry site, or reentry of a reentry vehicle, licensed under this chapter if the Secretary decides the launch or operation or reentry is detrimental to the public health and safety, the safety of property, or a national security or foreign policy interest of the United States.

**(b)** **Effective Periods of Orders.—** An order under this section takes effect immediately and remains in effect during a review under section 50912 of this title.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1334, § 70108 of title 49; Pub. L. 105–303, title I, § 102(a)(8), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2848; renumbered § 70108 then § 50909 of title 51 and amended Pub. L. 111–314, § 4(d)(2), (3)(I), (5)(L), Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3440–3442.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 70108(a) | 49 App.:2610(a). | Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–575, § 11, 98 Stat. 3059. |
| 70108(b) | 49 App.:2610(b). |  |

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2010—, (3)(I), successively renumbered  and  as this section.

Subsec. (b). , substituted “section 50912” for “section 70110”.

1998—, substituted “Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches, operation of launch sites and reentry sites, and reentries” for “Prohibition, suspension, and end of launches and operation of launch sites” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). , inserted “or reentry site, or reentry of a reentry vehicle,” after “operation of a launch site” and “or reentry” after “launch or operation”.