51 USC § 70503 - Ground-based analog capabilities

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t51/s70503"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "51 USC § 70503 - Ground-based analog capabilities"
title_number: 51
title_name: "NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS"
section_number: "70503"
section_name: "Ground-based analog capabilities"
chapter_number: 705
chapter_name: "EXPLORATION INITIATIVES"
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. 3430.)"
---


# § 70503. Ground-based analog capabilities

**(a)** **In General.—** The Administrator may establish a ground-based analog capability in remote United States locations in order to assist in the development of lunar operations, life support, and in-situ resource utilization experience and capabilities.

**(b)** **Environmental Characteristics.—** The Administrator shall select locations for the activities described in subsection (a) that—

**(1)** are regularly accessible;

**(2)** have significant temperature extremes and range; and

**(3)** have access to energy and natural resources (including geothermal, permafrost, volcanic, or other potential resources).

**(c)** **Involvement of Local Populations and Private Sector Partners.—** In carrying out this section, the Administrator shall involve local populations, academia, and industrial partners as much as possible to ensure that ground-based benefits and applications are encouraged and developed.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3430.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 70503 | 42 U.S.C. 16764. | Pub. L. 109–155, title V, § 504, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2929. |