U.S. Code > Title 42 The Public Health and Welfare > CHAPTER 26—NATIONAL SPACE PROGRAM > SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS > § 2459l. Recovery and disposition authority

§ 2459l. 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.
(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 2458b (f)(1) of this title, 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.