Pub. L. 109-155, tit. VII, subtit. A, sec. 705

RECOVERY AND DISPOSITION AUTHORITY.

EnactedYear: 2005Length: 232 wordsOfficial source
SEC. 705. RECOVERY AND DISPOSITION AUTHORITY. Title III of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended by section 701 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:“SEC. 317. RECOVERY AND DISPOSITION AUTHORITY.“(a) In General.—“(1) Control of remains.—Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), when there is an accident or mishap resulting in the death of a crewmember of a NASA human space flight vehicle, the Administrator may take control over the remains of the crewmember and order autopsies and other scientific or medical tests.119 STAT. 2937“(2) Treatment.—Each crewmember shall provide the Administrator with his or her preferences regarding the treatment accorded to his or her 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.“(b) Definitions.—In this section:“(1) Crewmember.—The term ‘crewmember’ means an astronaut or other person assigned to a NASA human space flight vehicle.“(2) NASA human space flight vehicle.—The term ‘NASA human space flight vehicle’ means a space vehicle, as defined in section 308(f)(1), that“(A) is intended to transport 1 or more persons;“(B) is designed to operate in outer space; and“(C) is either owned by NASA, or owned by a NASA contractor or cooperating party and operated as part of a NASA mission or a joint mission with NASA.” .