Legislation – Space Industry Act 2018

2 Duties and supplementary powers of the regulator

3 Prohibition of unlicensed spaceflight etc

4 Exemptions from licence requirement

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

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

57 Offences by bodies corporate

58 Offences by partnerships

59 Civil sanctions

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

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

Which version?
Latest available (Revised)
Original (As enacted)

Changes to legislation:

Space Industry Act 2018, Section 12 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 05 April 2026. 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.

Changes to Legislation

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Licences

12Terms of licences

(1)

An operator licence may authorise the licensee to carry out—

(a)

any spaceflight activities, or

(b)

spaceflight activities of a particular description, or

(c)

one or more particular spaceflight activities.

(2)

An operator licence F1must specify a limit on the amount of the licensee’s liability under section 36 in respect of the activities authorised by the licence.

(3)

A spaceport licence must identify the site in respect of which the licence is granted.

(4)

A spaceport licence may—

(a)

authorise the operator of the spaceport to carry out launch activities at the spaceport, or

(b)

authorise the use of the spaceport for the carrying out, by another person, of launch activities which that person is authorised to carry out by an operator licence.

(5)

In subsection (4) “launch activities” means—

(a)

spaceflight activities,

(b)

spaceflight activities of a particular description, or

(c)

one or more particular spaceflight activities,

involving the launch of spacecraft or carrier aircraft.

(6)

A range control licence may authorise the licensee to provide—

(a)

any range control services, or

(b)

range control services of a particular description, or

(c)

particular range control services.