NASA-SpaceX Starlink Agreement Final
NASA-SpaceX Starlink Agreement Final
NASA-SpaceX Starlink Agreement Final
BETWEEN
THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
AND
SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP
FOR FLIGHT SAFETY COORDINATION WITH NASA ASSETS
In accordance with the National Aeronautics and Space Act (51 U.S.C. § 20113(e)), this Agreement is
entered into by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, located at 300 E Street SW,
Washington, DC 20546 (hereinafter referred to as "NASA") and SPACE EXPLORATION
TECHNOLOGIES CORP located at 1 Rocket Road, Hawthorne , CA 90250-6844 (hereinafter referred to
as "Partner" or "SPACEX"). NASA and Partner may be individually referred to as a "Party" and
collectively referred to as the "Parties."
ARTICLE 2. PURPOSE
The standard Conjunction Assessment (CA) process used by NASA and other operators is based on
services provided by the U.S. Air Force 18th Space Control Squadron (18 SPCS) at Vandenberg Air
Force Base. Users send predicted trajectory information through a file exchange website, Space-
Track.org, as ephemeris files that contain modelling of future planned maneuvers to 18 SPCS. 18 SPCS
then screens that trajectory data against the space object catalog that they maintain, as well as against the
orbit trajectory information that they produce themselves for the spacecraft based on tracking data from
their Space Surveillance Network (SSN), which does not contain planned maneuvers. Results from both
screenings are sent in the form of a set of Conjunction Data Messages (CDMs) to the Owner/Operator
(O/O), who performs a risk assessment, determines the need for a mitigation maneuver, and executes such
a maneuver if needed. Trajectory data is examined approximately one week in the future to allow
sufficient time to accurately predict the close approaches and develop and execute a mitigation plan. The
Trajectory Operations Officer (TOPO) at NASA Johnson Space Center performs the risk assessment of
close approaches for NASA human spaceflight missions, such as the International Space Station (ISS)
and Visiting Vehicles (VVs), while the NASA Conjunction Assessment Risk Analysis (CARA) program
at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center performs the function for all Agency non-human spaceflight
missions.
Starlink is a large constellation of spacecraft launched and operated by SpaceX. The goal is to have
approximately 1,500 individual spacecraft in an orbit of 550 km by calendar year 2021, with over 600
assets currently in orbit. The Starlink spacecraft are equipped with an autonomous maneuvering
capability. Consequently, increased interaction and partnership between NASA and SpaceX is needed to
ensure continued safe on-orbit operations and avoidance of conjunctions between agencies satellites and
human missions.
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Both parties acknowledge that the information shared under this Agreement, through reasonable efforts,
furthers the primary goal of avoiding a conjunction. NASA has agreed to not maneuver in the event of a
potential conjunction to ensure the parties do not inadvertently maneuver into one another. NASA will
operate on the basis that the autonomous maneuvering capability of the Starlink satellites will attempt to
maneuver to avoid conjunction with NASA assets, and that NASA will maintain its planned trajectory
unless otherwise informed by SpaceX. There may be cases, such as a launch anomaly or other on-orbit
Starlink guidance, navigation and control or propulsion system anomalies, where Starlink satellites
maneuvering around NASA assets may not be a feasible option and NASA assets would have to
maneuver. The veracity and timeliness of the communications between both parties is critical to maintain
safe on-orbit operations. All of the activities described in this paragraph are subject to Article 8.
Further, NASA and SpaceX recognize the importance of mitigating spacecraft light interference to
ground-based and space-based astronomical observations, as well as leveraging commercially available
space situational awareness data and information to support safe spacecraft operations.
The purpose of this Agreement is to define and enable the arrangement, responsibilities, and procedures
for flight safety coordination, including CA and launch collision avoidance (COLA), between NASA
protected assets and the SpaceX Starlink satellites and related rideshare missions.
ARTICLE 3. RESPONSIBILITIES
1) Provide accurate ephemeris and covariance information regarding both human spaceflight assets and
CARA-supported assets (together hereinafter referred to as “NASA-protected assets”) to the 18 SPCS in
order to execute CA screenings against Starlink satellites. 18 SPCS will provide the results of these
screenings to SpaceX, enabling SpaceX to construct Conjunction Data Messages (CDMs) and upload
them to the Starlink constellation for use in onboard CA calculations.
2) Regularly provide to SpaceX a long-term ISS ephemeris file for mission planning with such frequency
as determined by NASA and communicated to SpaceX.
3) Provide to SpaceX the CA screening results in the form of CDMs between NASA-protected assets
and Starlink satellites at least three times daily via Space-Track.org.
4) Contact SpaceX if a NASA mission needs to use a maneuver option within 24 hours of execution that
has not already been screened, and provide to SpaceX updated CDMs that contain screening information
for this new trajectory.
5) Provide at least 8 hours lead-time for emergency trajectory changes (as described in item 4, above).
6) Report results of pre-launch analysis and request Starlink launch window cutouts or other mitigating
actions, if required, by L-2 days. The risk assessment will be based on Monte Carlo trajectories provided
by SpaceX and NASA’s knowledge of its own asset’s mission plans.
7) Share technical expertise and lessons learned to collaborate with SpaceX on developing approaches to
conjunction assessment-related process updates.
8) Provide a list of NASA-protected assets for understanding which injection orbit choices may require
coordination with NASA.
9) Inform SpaceX as soon as possible about any changes to NASA's CA process that impact SpaceX.
10) Work with 18 SPCS and SpaceX to optimize delivery times for SpaceX CDMs.
11) Share technical expertise and lessons learned to collaborate with SpaceX on developing approaches
to monitoring and mitigating photometric brightness.
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B. Partner will use reasonable efforts to:
1) Perform evasive action by on-orbit Starlink satellites to mitigate close approaches and avoid collisions
with all NASA assets. These evasive actions will be performed because Starlink utilizes automated
onboard collision avoidance for risk assessment and maneuver execution.
2) Provide pre-launch, utilize launch window cut-outs or other options based on launch COLA gap
analysis performed by NASA. Using these cut-outs or other options minimizes the threat of collision
between Starlink and NASA assets – including ISS, VVs, and GPM - in the Starlink early-orbit
operations phase, when Starlink automatic collision avoidance is not fully available and Starlink
satellites are not yet catalogued by 18 SPCS. The parties will exchange data necessary to perform the
launch COLA gap analysis.
a. As soon as possible, but no later than L-1 week provide to NASA the launch dates and target orbit
of Starlink spacecraft so that NASA can determine if there is overlap with NASA operations requiring
launch COLA gap analysis.
b. By L-5 days, provide to NASA Monte Carlo dispersed trajectories of Starlink at payload
deployment for use in the assessments described in NASA's line item 6 above.
c. By L-2 days, correspond with NASA to review and confirm launch time options that minimize these
risks with ISS, VVs, GPM, and other NASA assets.
3) Provide ephemerides to 18 SPCS and NASA at least three (3) times daily to enable the CA screening
process to mitigate close approaches and avoid collisions with NASA assets.
4) Update maneuverability status on the 18 SPCS file exchange website, Space-Track.org, as soon as
practical for any Starlink vehicle that has become non-maneuverable.
5) Work with NASA to provide a backup distribution mechanism for ephemeris delivery for redundancy
in case Space-Track.org is unavailable.
6) At NASA's request, accept out-of-cycle CDMs from NASA and upload them to the Starlink
constellation for CA purposes.
7) Perform mission orbit operations in such a way as to avoid any notifiable conjunctions with ISS
(within ±2 x ±25 x ±25 km radial, in-track, cross-track centered on the ISS).
8) Inform NASA as soon as possible of any changes to the Starlink CA process that impact NASA.
9) Choose Starlink launch injection orbits (nominal and dispersed) that are at least 5km in altitude above
or below ISS apogee or perigee.
10) Use best effort to avoid choosing injection orbits within 5 km of ISS or NASA CARA-supported
assets. If injection must be within 5 km of ISS or NASA CARA-supported asset, contact NASA within
one (1) week of official choice of altitude to begin discussions of risk mitigation plans.
11) Use best effort to share with NASA specialized analysis regarding methods to reduce satellite
photometric brightness, to inform Agency guidance development.
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ARTICLE 4. SCHEDULE AND MILESTONES
The planned major milestones for the activities defined in the "Responsibilities" Article are as follows:
SpaceX provides to NASA the launch dates and target orbit of Starlink
As soon as possible but
spacecraft so that NASA can determine if there is overlap with NASA
no later than by L-1 week
operations requiring launch COLA gap analysis.
NASA performs COLA gap analysis of received Monte Carlo trajectories. By L-2 days
SpaceX and NASA correspond to review NASA COLA gap analysis results
L-2 days
and choose safe launch time options asset apogee or perigee.
NASA provides SpaceX with updated list of assets to include in Starlink Yearly on January 30 and
injection orbit protection process. as needed
There will be no transfer of funds between the Parties under this Agreement and each Party will fund its
own participation. All activities under or pursuant to this Agreement are subject to the availability of
funds, and no provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted to require obligation or payment of funds
in violation of the Anti-Deficiency Act, (31 U.S.C. § 1341).
Any schedule or milestone in this Agreement is estimated based upon the Parties’ current understanding
of the projected availability of either party’s goods, services, facilities, or equipment. In the event that
NASA’s or SpaceX’s projected availability changes, the other party shall be given reasonable notice of
that change, so that the schedule and milestones may be adjusted accordingly. The Parties agree that
either party’s use of the goods, services, facilities, or equipment shall have priority over the use planned
in this Agreement. Should a conflict arise, either party in its sole discretion shall determine whether to
exercise that priority. Likewise, should a conflict arise as between two or more non-NASA Partners,
NASA, in its sole discretion, shall determine the priority as between those Partners. This Agreement does
not obligate NASA to seek alternative government property or services under the jurisdiction of NASA at
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other locations.
ARTICLE 7. NONEXCLUSIVITY
This Agreement is not exclusive; accordingly, NASA or SpaceX may enter into similar agreements for
the same or similar purpose with other private or public entities.
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8. The Data rights herein apply to the employees and Related Entities of Partner. Partner shall ensure that
its employees and Related Entity employees know about and are bound by the obligations under this
Article.
9. Disclaimer of Liability: NASA is not restricted in, or liable for, the use, disclosure, or reproduction of
Data without a restrictive notice or for Data Partner gives, or is required to give, the U.S. Government
without restriction.
10. Partner may use the following or a similar restrictive notice: Proprietary Data Notice - The data herein
include Proprietary Data and are restricted under the Data Rights provisions of Space Act Agreement
[provide applicable identifying information]. Partner should also mark each page containing Proprietary
Data with the following or a similar legend: “Proprietary Data – Use And Disclose Only Under the Notice
on the Title or Cover Page.”
B. Data First Produced by Partner Under this Agreement
If Data first produced by Partner or its Related Entities under this Agreement is given to NASA, and the
Data is Proprietary Data, and it includes a restrictive notice, NASA will use reasonable efforts to protect
it. The Data will be disclosed and used (under suitable protective conditions) only for U.S. Government
purposes.
C. Data First Produced by NASA Under this Agreement
If Partner requests that Data first produced by NASA under this Agreement be protected, and NASA
determines it would be Proprietary Data if obtained from Partner, NASA will mark it with a restrictive
notice and use reasonable efforts to protect it for five years after its development. During this restricted
period the Data may be disclosed and used (under suitable protective conditions) for U.S. Government
purposes only, and thereafter for any purpose. Partner must not disclose the Data without NASA’s written
approval during the restricted period. The restrictions placed on NASA do not apply to Data disclosing a
NASA owned invention for which patent protection is being considered.
D. Publication of Results
The National Aeronautics and Space Act (51 U.S.C. § 20112) requires NASA to provide for the widest
practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning its activities and the results thereof.
As such, NASA may publish unclassified and non-Proprietary Data resulting from work performed under
this Agreement. The Parties will coordinate publication of results allowing a reasonable time to review
and comment.
E. Data Disclosing an Invention
If the Parties exchange Data disclosing an invention for which patent protection is being considered, and
the furnishing Party identifies the Data as such when providing it to the Receiving Party, the Receiving
Party shall withhold it from public disclosure for a reasonable time one (1) year unless otherwise agreed
or the Data is restricted for a longer period herein).
F. Copyright
Data exchanged with a copyright notice and with no restrictive notice is presumed to be published. The
following royalty-free licenses apply.
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1. If indicated on the Data that it was produced outside of this Agreement, it may be reproduced,
distributed, and used to prepare derivative works only for carrying out the Receiving Party’s
responsibilities under this Agreement.
2. Data without the indication of 1. is presumed to be first produced under this Agreement. Except as
otherwise provided in paragraph E. of this Article, and in the Invention and Patent Rights Article of this
Agreement for protection of reported inventions, the Data may be reproduced, distributed, and used to
prepare derivative works for any purpose.
G. Data Subject to Export Control
Whether or not marked, technical data subject to the export laws and regulations of the United States
provided to Partner under this Agreement must not be given to foreign persons or transmitted outside the
United States without proper U.S. Government authorization.
H. Handling of Background, Third Party Proprietary, and Controlled Government Data
1. NASA or Partner (as Disclosing Party) may provide the other Party or its Related Entities (as
Receiving Party): a. Proprietary Data developed at Disclosing Party’s expense outside of this Agreement
(referred to as Background Data); b. Proprietary Data of third parties that Disclosing Party has agreed to
protect or is required to protect under the Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. § 1905) (referred to as Third Party
Proprietary Data); and c. U.S. Government Data, including software and related Data, Disclosing Party
intends to control (referred to as Controlled Government Data).
2. All Background, Third Party Proprietary and Controlled Government Data provided by Disclosing
Party to Receiving Party shall be marked by Disclosing Party with a restrictive notice and protected by
Receiving Party in accordance with this Article.
3. Disclosing Party provides the following Data to Receiving Party. The lists below may not be
comprehensive, are subject to change, and do not supersede any restrictive notice on the Data.
a. Background Data: The Disclosing Party’s Background Data, if any, will be identified in a
separate technical document.
b. Third Party Proprietary Data: The Disclosing Party’s Third Party Proprietary Data, if any, will
be identified in a separate technical document.
c. Controlled Government Data: The Disclosing Party’s Controlled Government Data, if any, will
be identified in a separate technical document.
d. NASA software and related Data will be provided to Partner under a separate Software Usage
Agreement (SUA). Partner shall use and protect the related Data in accordance with this Article.
Unless the SUA authorizes retention, or Partner enters into a license under 37 C.F.R. Part 404, the
related Data shall be disposed of as NASA directs: N/A
4. For such Data with a restrictive notice pursuant to H.2. or such Data identified in this Article,
Receiving Party shall:
a. Use, disclose, or reproduce such Data only as necessary under this Agreement;
b. Safeguard such Data from unauthorized use and disclosure;
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c. Allow access to such Data only to its employees and any Related Entity requiring access under
this Agreement;
d. Except as otherwise indicated in 4.c., preclude disclosure outside Receiving Party’s
organization;
e. Notify its employees with access about their obligations under this Article and ensure their
compliance, and notify any Related Entity with access about their obligations under this Article;
and
f. Dispose of such Data as Disclosing Party directs.
I. Oral and visual information
If Partner discloses Proprietary Data orally or visually, NASA will have no duty to restrict, or liability for
disclosure or use, unless Partner:
1. Orally informs NASA before initial disclosure that the Data is Proprietary Data, and
2. Reduces the Data to tangible form with a restrictive notice and gives it to NASA within ten (10)
calendar days after disclosure.
A. “Related Entity” as used in this Invention and Patent Rights Article means a contractor, subcontractor,
grantee, or other entity having a legal relationship with NASA or Partner assigned, tasked, or contracted
with to perform activities under this Agreement.
B. The invention and patent rights herein apply to employees and Related Entities of Partner. Partner shall
ensure that its employees and Related Entity employees know about and are bound by the obligations
under this Article.
C. NASA has determined that 51 U.S.C. § 20135(b) does not apply to this Agreement. Therefore, title to
inventions made (conceived or first actually reduced to practice) under this Agreement remain with the
respective inventing party(ies). No invention or patent rights are exchanged or granted under this
Agreement. NASA and Partner will use reasonable efforts to report inventions made jointly by their
employees (including employees of their Related Entities). The Parties will consult and agree on the
responsibilities and actions to establish and maintain patent protection for joint invention, and on the
terms and conditions of any license or other rights exchanged or granted between them.
A. NASA Name and Initials: Partner shall not use “National Aeronautics and Space Administration” or
“NASA” in a way that creates the impression that a product or service has the authorization, support,
sponsorship, or endorsement of NASA, which does not, in fact, exist. Except for releases under the
“Release of General Information to the Public and Media” Article, Partner must submit any proposed
public use of the NASA name or initials (including press releases and all promotional and advertising use)
to the NASA Associate Administrator for the Office of Communications or designee (“NASA
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Communications”) for review and approval. Approval by NASA Office of Communications shall be
based on applicable law and policy governing the use of the NASA name and initials.
B. NASA Emblems Use of NASA emblems (i.e., NASA Seal, NASA Insignia, NASA logotype, NASA
Program Identifiers, and the NASA Flag) is governed by 14 C.F.R. Part 1221. Partner must submit any
proposed use of the emblems to NASA Communications for review and approval.
NASA or Partner may, consistent with Federal law and this Agreement release general information
regarding its own participation in this Agreement as desired. The party proposing such publication or
disclosure shall provide a summary or description of the relevant information to the other party prior to
publication.
Pursuant to Section 841(d) of the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017, Public Law 115-10 (the
“NTAA”), NASA is obligated to publicly disclose copies of all agreements conducted pursuant to
NASA’s 51 U.S.C. §20113(e) authority in a searchable format on the NASA website within 60 days after
the agreement is signed by the Parties. The Parties acknowledge that a copy of this Agreement will be
disclosed, without redactions, in accordance with the NTAA.
Goods, services, facilities, or equipment provided by NASA or SpaceX under this Agreement are
provided “as is.” NASA and SpaceX make no express or implied warranty as to the condition of any such
goods, services, facilities, or equipment, or as to the condition of any research or information generated
under this Agreement, or as to any products made or developed under or as a result of this Agreement
including as a result of the use of information generated hereunder, or as to the merchantability or fitness
for a particular purpose of such research, information, or resulting product, or that the goods, services,
facilities or equipment provided will accomplish the intended results or are safe for any purpose including
the intended purpose, or that any of the above will not interfere with privately-owned rights of others.
Neither the government, SpaceX, nor its contractors shall be liable for special, consequential or incidental
damages attributed to such equipment, facilities, technical information, or services provided under this
Agreement or such research, information, or resulting products made or developed under or as a result of
this Agreement.
NASA does not endorse or sponsor any commercial product, service, or activity. NASA’s participation in
this Agreement or provision of goods, services, facilities or equipment under this Agreement does not
constitute endorsement by NASA. Partner agrees that nothing in this Agreement will be construed to
imply that NASA authorizes, supports, endorses, or sponsors any product or service of Partner resulting
from activities conducted under this Agreement, regardless of the fact that such product or service may
employ NASA-developed technology.
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ARTICLE 15. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS
A. The Parties shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations including, but not limited to, safety;
security; export control; environmental; and suspension and debarment laws and regulations. Access by a
Partner to NASA facilities or property, or to a NASA Information Technology (IT) system or application,
is contingent upon compliance with NASA security and safety policies and guidelines including, but not
limited to, standards on badging, credentials, and facility and IT system/application access. Access by
NASA to Partner facilities or property, or to a Partner Information Technology (IT) system or application,
is contingent upon compliance with Partner security and safety policies and guidelines including, but not
limited to, standards on badging, credentials, and facility and IT system/application access.
B. With respect to any export control requirements:
1. The Parties will comply with all U.S. export control laws and regulations, including the International
Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 C.F.R. Parts 120 through 130, and the Export Administration
Regulations (EAR), 15 C.F.R. Parts 730 through 799, in performing work under this Agreement or any
Annex to this Agreement. In the absence of available license exemptions or exceptions, the Partner shall
be responsible for obtaining the appropriate licenses or other approvals, if required, for exports of
hardware, technical data and software, or for the provision of technical assistance.
2. The Partner shall be responsible for obtaining export licenses, if required, before utilizing foreign
persons in the performance of work under this Agreement or any Annex under this Agreement, including
instances where the work is to be performed on-site at NASA and where the foreign person will have
access to export-controlled technical data or software.
3. The Partner will be responsible for all regulatory record-keeping requirements associated with the use
of licenses and license exemptions or exceptions.
4. The Partner will be responsible for ensuring that the provisions of this Article apply to its Related
Entities.
C. With respect to suspension and debarment requirements:
1. The Partner hereby certifies, to the best of its knowledge and belief, that it has complied, and shall
comply, with 2 C.F.R. Part 180, Subpart C, as supplemented by 2 C.F.R. Part 1880, Subpart C.
2. The Partner shall include language and requirements equivalent to those set forth in subparagraph C.1.,
above, in any lower-tier covered transaction entered into under this Agreement.
This Agreement becomes effective upon the date of the last signature below (“Effective Date”) and shall
remain in effect until the completion of all obligations of both Parties hereto, or ten years from the
Effective Date, whichever comes first.
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ARTICLE 17. RIGHT TO TERMINATE
Either Party may unilaterally terminate this Agreement by providing one hundred eighty days advance
written notice to the other Party.
The rights and obligations of the Parties that, by their nature, would continue beyond the expiration or
termination of this Agreement, e.g., “Liability and Risk of Loss” and “Intellectual Property Rights”-
related clauses shall survive such expiration or termination of this Agreement.
The following personnel are designated as the Points of Contact between the Parties in the performance of
this Agreement.
NASA
Bryan Corley
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ISS TOPO Group Lead
2101 E NASA Parkway
Houston, TX 77058
281-483-8013
Except as otherwise provided in the Article entitled “Priority of Use,” the Article entitled “Intellectual
Property Rights – Invention and Patent Rights” (for those activities governed by 37 C.F.R. Part 404), and
those situations where a pre-existing statutory or regulatory system exists (e.g., under the Freedom of
Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552), all disputes concerning questions of fact or law arising under this
Agreement shall be referred by the claimant in writing to the appropriate person identified in this
Agreement as the “Points of Contact.” The persons identified as the “Points of Contact” for NASA and
the Partner will consult and attempt to resolve all issues arising from the implementation of this
Agreement. If they are unable to come to agreement on any issue, the dispute will be referred to the
signatories to this Agreement, or their designees, for joint resolution. If the Parties remain unable to
resolve the dispute, then the NASA signatory or that person’s designee, as applicable, will issue a written
decision that will be the final agency decision for the purpose of judicial review. Nothing in this Article
limits or prevents either Party from pursuing any other right or remedy available by law upon the issuance
of the final agency decision.
In the case of a close call, mishap or mission failure, the Parties agree to provide assistance to each other
in the conduct of any investigation. For all NASA mishaps or close calls, Partner agrees to comply with
NPR 8621.1, "NASA Procedural Requirements for Mishap and Close Call Reporting, Investigating, and
Recordkeeping."
Any modification to this Agreement shall be executed, in writing, and signed by an authorized
representative of NASA and the Partner.
Neither this Agreement nor any interest arising under it will be assigned by the Partner or NASA without
the express written consent of the officials executing, or successors, or higher- level officials possessing
original or delegated authority to execute this Agreement.
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ARTICLE 24. APPLICABLE LAW
U.S. Federal law governs this Agreement for all purposes, including, but not limited to, determining the
validity of the Agreement, the meaning of its provisions, and the rights, obligations, and any claims or
remedies of the Parties.
ARTICLE 25. INDEPENDENT RELATIONSHIP
This Agreement is not intended to constitute, create, give effect to or otherwise recognize a joint venture,
partnership, or formal business organization, or agency agreement of any kind, and the rights and
obligations of the Parties shall be only those expressly set forth herein.
The parties shall enter into a NASA Form 893, Loan of NASA Equipment, for NASA equipment loaned
to Partner.
The signatories to this Agreement covenant and warrant that they have authority to execute this
Agreement. By signing below, the undersigned agrees to the above terms and conditions.
Digitally signed by
STEPHENJURCZYK
STEPHENJURCZYK Date: 2021.01.15
BY:___________________________
14:05:37 -05'00'
BY:___________________________
Stephen G. Jurczyk Lee Rosen
Associate Administrator Vice President, Customer Operations & Integration
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