# 51 U.S.C. § 70504: Stepping stone approach to exploration

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70504

## Section

- **Citation:** 51 U.S.C. § 70504
- **Heading:** Stepping stone approach to exploration
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** April 17, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 51—NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS > Subtitle VII—Access to Space > CHAPTER 705—EXPLORATION INITIATIVES

## Text

may conduct missions to intermediate destinations in sustainable steps in accordance with section 20302(b) of this title , and on a timetable determined by the availability of funding, in order to achieve the objective of human exploration of Mars specified in section 202(b)(5) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 18312(b)(5) ); and

( Pub. L. 111–314, § 3 , Dec. 18, 2010 , 124 Stat. 3431 ; Pub. L. 115–10, title IV, § 414 , Mar. 21, 2017 , 131 Stat. 34 .)

## Nearby sections

- [51 U.S.C. § 70101 Recovery of fair value of placing Department of Defense payloads in orbit with space launch system](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70101.md)
- [51 U.S.C. § 70102 Space launch system use policy](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70102.md)
- [51 U.S.C. § 70103 Commercial payloads on space launch system](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70103.md)
- [51 U.S.C. § 70104 Definition of Space Launch System](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70104.md)
- [51 U.S.C. § 70301 to 70304 Repealed. Pub. L. 115–10, title IV, § 416(b) , Mar. 21, 2017 , 131 Stat. 35 ]](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70301...70304.md)
- [51 U.S.C. § 70501 Space shuttle follow-on](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70501.md)
- [51 U.S.C. § 70502 Exploration plan and programs](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70502.md)
- [51 U.S.C. § 70503 Ground-based analog capabilities](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70503.md)
- [51 U.S.C. § 70504 Stepping stone approach to exploration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70504.md)
- [51 U.S.C. § 70505 Lunar outpost](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70505.md)
- [51 U.S.C. § 70506 Exploration technology research](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70506.md)
- [51 U.S.C. § 70507 Technology development](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70507.md)
- [51 U.S.C. § 70508 Robotic or human servicing of spacecraft](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70508.md)
- [51 U.S.C. § 70701 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70701.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t51_s70504. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.