Legislation – Space Industry Act 2018

New Search

Introduction

1 Introduction

2 Duties and supplementary powers of the regulator

3 Prohibition of unlicensed spaceflight etc

4 Exemptions from licence requirement

5 Range

6 Range control services

7 Provision of range control services

8 Grant of licences: general

9 Grant of operator licences: safety

10 Grant of spaceport licence

11 Grant of licences: assessments of environmental effects

12 Terms of licences

13 Conditions of licences

14 Licences granted for specified periods

15 Transfer, variation, suspension or termination of licence

16 Power of Secretary of State to appoint person to exercise functions

17 Informed consent

18 Training, qualifications and medical fitness

19 Safety regulations

20 Investigation of accidents

21 Assistance etc with performance of regulator’s safety functions

22 Offences against the safety of spacecraft etc

23 Security regulations

24 Spaceport byelaws

25 Provision of advice and assistance on security matters

26 Monitoring and enforcement by regulator

27 Power to give directions: breach of licence condition etc

28 Power to give directions: safety, security etc

29 Power to give directions: international obligations of the UK

30 Consultation about directions

31 Further provision about directions

32 Warrants authorising entry or direct action

33 Power to authorise entry etc in emergencies

34 Liability of operator for injury or damage etc

35 Power or duty of Secretary of State to indemnify

36 Obligation to indemnify government etc against claims

37 Regulator etc not liable in respect of spaceflight-related actions

38 Insurance

39 Powers to obtain rights over land

40 Orders under section 39: offences

41 Power to restrict use of land temporarily

42 Power of entry for purposes of survey

43 Challenges to and commencement of orders

44 Powers in relation to land: compensation

45 Registration of orders

46 Special provisions relating to statutory undertakers

47 Compensation in respect of planning decisions relating to spaceport safety etc: England and Wales and Scotland

48 Compensation in respect of planning decisions relating to spaceport safety etc: Northern Ireland

49 Amendment and revocation of orders

50 Powers in relation to land: notices

51 Application of criminal law to spacecraft etc

52 Offences on board spacecraft: supplementary

53 Penalties for offences under this Act

54 Offences under regulations

55 Offences under regulations: extended time limit in case of accident investigation etc

56 Defences

57 Offences by bodies corporate

58 Offences by partnerships

59 Civil sanctions

60 Appeals

61 Register of launches

62 Charging schemes

63 Provision of advice and assistance by or to an appointed person

64 Co-operation between Secretary of State and other public authorities

65 Agreements with other countries: compliance with requirements etc

66 Use of records and documentary evidence

67 Minor and consequential amendments

68 Regulations: general

69 Interpretation

70 Commencement

71 Extent

72 Short title

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 Particular conditions that may be included in licences

SCHEDULE 2 Training regulations: further provision

SCHEDULE 3 Safety regulations: further provision

SCHEDULE 4 Offences against the safety of spacecraft etc

SCHEDULE 5 Security regulations: further provision

SCHEDULE 6 Orders under sections 39 and 41

SCHEDULE 7 Powers in relation to land: quashing of orders

SCHEDULE 8 Powers in relation to land: compensation

SCHEDULE 9 Powers in relation to land: special provisions relating to statutory undertakers

SCHEDULE 10 Appeals in connection with spaceflight activities

SCHEDULE 11 Charging schemes

SCHEDULE 12 Minor and consequential amendments

Changes to legislation:

Space Industry Act 2018, Section 8 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 15 December 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.

Licences

8Grant of licences: general

(1)

Subject to the following provisions of this Act, the regulator may grant a licence under this Act if the regulator thinks fit.

(2)

The regulator may grant a licence under this Act only if satisfied that doing so—

(a)

will not impair the national security of the United Kingdom;

(b)

is consistent with the international obligations of the United Kingdom;

(c)

is not contrary to the national interest.

(3)

The regulator may not grant an application for a licence under this Act unless satisfied that—

(a)

the applicant has the financial and technical resources to do the things authorised by the licence, and is otherwise a fit and proper person to do them;

(b)

the persons who are expected to do, on the applicant’s behalf, any of the things authorised by the licence are fit and proper persons to do them.

(4)

If the regulator is not the Secretary of State, the regulator may grant a licence under this Act only with the consent of the Secretary of State.

(5)

Regulations may make provision about how applications for licences are to be made, considered and determined.

(6)

The regulations may in particular prescribe, or provide for a person responsible for determining an application to specify—

(a)

the form and contents of an application for a licence;

(b)

information to be provided in connection with an application;

(c)

the procedure for rectifying procedural irregularities;

(d)

time limits for doing anything required to be done in connection with an application and the procedure for extending any period so prescribed.

(7)

The regulations may also provide for—

(a)

the inspection of sites, facilities, equipment, spacecraft, carrier aircraft and other vehicles, and

(b)

the obtaining of information (whether by inspecting documents, interviewing individuals or otherwise),

by prescribed persons or persons of prescribed descriptions.