[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 14, Volume 5] [Revised as of January 1, 2008] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 14CFR1203.400] [Page 16-17] TITLE 14--AERONAUTICS AND SPACE SPACE ADMINISTRATION PART 1203_INFORMATION SECURITY PROGRAM--Table of Contents Subpart D_Guides for Original Classification Sec. 1203.400 Specific classifying guidance. Technological and operational information and material, and in some exceptional cases scientific information falling within any one or more of the following categories, must be classified if its unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause damage to the national security. In cases where it is believed that a contrary course of action would better serve the national interests, the matter should be referred to the Chairperson, NASA Information Security Program Committee, for a determination. It is not intended that this list be exclusive; original classifiers are responsible for initially classifying any other type of information which, in their judgment, requires protection under ``the Order.'' (a) Information which provides the United States, in comparison with other nations, with a significant scientific, engineering, technical, operational, intelligence, strategic, tactical or economic advantage related to national security. (b) Information which, if disclosed, would significantly diminish the technological lead of the United States in any military system, subsystem or component, and would result in damage to such a system, subsystem or component. (c) Scientific or technological information in an area where an advanced military application that would in itself be classified is foreseen during exploratory development. (d) Information which, if known, would: (1) Provide a foreign nation with an insight into the defense application or the war or defense plans or posture of the United States; (2) Allow a foreign nation to develop, improve or refine a similar item of defense application; (3) Provide a foreign nation with a base upon which to develop effective countermeasures; (4) Weaken or nullify the effectiveness of a defense or military plan, operation, project, weapon system or activity which is vital to the national security. (e) Information or material which is important to the national security of the United States in relation to other nations when there is sound reason to believe that those nations are unaware that the United States has or is capable of obtaining the information or material; i.e., through intelligence activities, sources, or methods. (f) Information which if disclosed could be exploited in a manner prejudicial to the national security posture of the United States by discrediting its technological power, capability or intentions. (g) Information which reveals an unusually significant scientific or technological ``breakthrough'' which there is sound reason to believe is not known to or within the state-of-the-art capability of other nations. If the ``breakthrough'' supplies the United States with an important advantage of a technological nature, classification also would be appropriate if the potential application of the information, although not specifically visualized, would afford the United States a significant national security advantage in terms of technological lead time or an [[Page 17]] economic advantage relating to national security. (h) Information of such nature that an unfriendly government in possession of it would be expected to use it for purposes prejudicial to U.S. national security and which, if classified, could not be obtained by an unfriendly power without a considerable expenditure of resources. (i) Information which if disclosed to a foreign government would enhance its military research and development programs to the detriment of U.S. counterpart or competitive programs. (j) Operational information pertaining to the command and control of space vehicles, the possession of which would facilitate malicious interference with any U.S. space mission, that might result in damage to the national security. (k) Information which if disclosed could jeopardize the foreign relations or activities of the United States; for example, the premature or unauthorized release of information relating to the subject matter of international negotiations, foreign government information or information regarding the placement or withdrawal of NASA tracking stations on foreign territory. (l) United States Government programs for safeguarding nuclear materials or facilities. (m) Other categories of information which are related to national security and which require protection against unauthorized disclosure as may be determined by the Administrator. The Chairperson, NASA Information Security Program Committee, will promptly inform the Director, Information Security Oversight Office, General Services Administration (GSA) of such determinations. [44 FR 34913, June 18, 1979, as amended at 48 FR 5890, Feb. 9, 1983]