Files
Fabio 76b8ec33a7 Legal corpus: the complete U.S. Code (59,740 sections, all 53 titles)
Ingested titles 12–51 and 54 from OLRC USLM XML @119-100 (the whole Code
now, uniform edition; Title 53 is reserved/empty). LegalText 11,221 ->
59,740; repo total 105,704 records. Deterministic (byte-identical rerun,
verified on Title 42's 8,356 sections); make check green. make
legal-us-code default now covers every title.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-07-06 10:51:44 -04:00

4.1 KiB
Raw Permalink Blame History

type, title, description, jurisdiction, corpus, kind, title_number, title_name, chapter_number, chapter_name, section, citation, status, release_point, release_date, source, source_url, source_identifier, source_file, source_hash, raw_snapshot_hash, text_hash, retrieved_at, confidence, tags
type title description jurisdiction corpus kind title_number title_name chapter_number chapter_name section citation status release_point release_date source source_url source_identifier source_file source_hash raw_snapshot_hash text_hash retrieved_at confidence tags
LegalText 42 U.S.C. § 18322 Space Launch System as follow-on launch vehicle to the Space Shuttle us united_states_code code_section 42 THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE 159 SPACE EXPLORATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND SCIENCE 18322 42 U.S.C. § 18322 current 119-100 2026-06-26 official https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc42@119-100.zip /us/usc/t42/s18322 data/legal/raw/us/code/title-42/usc42.xml 5bc1b20466a3d5ac5383d6737944a63a7ffe969877e9b442d3d8fd8f124398a4 644321055a08eb1f260a6a3e31ac157fa024756abf612a9fd6857e7e400cf24e 9ea4969afe3c150485c3abe956392b89209d13dcc561e3becdd5ba61b5c15d15 2026-07-04 official
legal
us-code

42 U.S.C. § 18322 - Space Launch System as follow-on launch vehicle to the Space Shuttle

Text

(a) United States policy It is the policy of the United States that NASA develop a Space Launch System as a follow-on to the Space Shuttle that can access cis-lunar space and the regions of space beyond low-Earth orbit in order to enable the United States to participate in global efforts to access and develop this increasingly strategic region.

(b) Initiation of development (1) In general The Administrator shall, as soon as practicable after October 11, 2010, initiate development of a Space Launch System meeting the minimum capabilities requirements specified in subsection (c).

(2) Modification of current contracts In order to limit NASAs termination liability costs and support critical capabilities, the Administrator shall, to the extent practicable, extend or modify existing vehicle development and associated contracts necessary to meet the requirements in paragraph (1), including contracts for ground testing of solid rocket motors, if necessary, to ensure their availability for development of the Space Launch System.

(c) Minimum capability requirements (1) In general.— The Space Launch System developed pursuant to subsection (b) shall be designed to have, at a minimum, the following:

(A) The initial capability of the core elements, without an upper stage, of lifting payloads weighing between 70 tons and 100 tons into low-Earth orbit in preparation for transit for missions beyond low-Earth orbit.

(B) The capability to carry an integrated upper Earth departure stage bringing the total lift capability of the Space Launch System to 130 tons or more.

(C) The capability to lift the multipurpose crew vehicle.

(D) The capability to serve as a backup system for supplying and supporting ISS cargo requirements or crew delivery requirements not otherwise met by available commercial or partner-supplied vehicles.

(2) Flexibility.— The Space Launch System shall be designed from inception as a fully-integrated vehicle capable of carrying a total payload of 130 tons or more into low-Earth orbit in preparation for transit for missions beyond low-Earth orbit. The Space Launch System shall, to the extent practicable, incorporate capabilities for evolutionary growth to carry heavier payloads. Developmental work and testing of the core elements and the upper stage should proceed in parallel subject to appropriations. Priority should be placed on the core elements with the goal for operational capability for the core elements not later than December 31, 2016.

(3) Transition needs.— The Administrator shall ensure critical skills and capabilities are retained, modified, and developed, as appropriate, in areas related to solid and liquid engines, large diameter fuel tanks, rocket propulsion, and other ground test capabilities for an effective transition to the follow-on Space Launch System.

(4) The capacity for efficient and timely evolution, including the incorporation of new technologies, competition of sub-elements, and commercial operations.

(Pub. L. 111267, title III, § 302, Oct. 11, 2010, 124 Stat. 2814.)