51 U.S.C. § 70905 — National laboratory designation

(a) Definition of United States Segment of the International Space Station. In this section, “United States segment of the International Space Station” means station elements made by the United States or made for the United States by other nations in exchange for money or launch services. This section does not define the term “national laboratory.”

(b) Designation. To further the policy in section 70501(a), the United States segment is designated a national laboratory.

(c) Management. (1) Partnerships. The Administrator^* must seek to increase use of the station by other Federal entities and the private sector through partnerships, cost-sharing agreements, and other arrangements that add to Administration^* funding. (2) Contracting. The Administrator may contract with a nongovernmental entity to operate the station’s national laboratory, subject to all applicable Federal laws and regulations.