OpenLegislation

Space Industry Act 2018

2018 c. 5 · Enacted 15 March 2018 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 13 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 18 February 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 9 para. 7(aa)insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 436(b)(ii)
s. 47(3)(aa)insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 435(2)
s. 47(4)words insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 435(3)
s. 47(5)(a)words insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 435(4)(a)
s. 47(5)(b)words insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 435(4)(b)
s. 47(9)words omittedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 435(5)(a)(i)
s. 47(9)words insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 435(5)(a)(ii)
s. 47(9)words insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 435(5)(b)
Sch. 9 para. 3(1)(a)words omittedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 436(a)(i)
Sch. 9 para. 3(1)(aa)insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 436(a)(ii)
Sch. 9 para. 3(2A)insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 436(a)(iii)
Sch. 9 para. 7(2)(a)words omittedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 436(b)(i)
specified provision(s)amendment to earlier commencing S.I. 2021/817, Sch.The Space Industry Act 2018 (Commencement No. 2, Transitional and Savings Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 reg. 2
An Act to make provision about space activities and sub-orbital activities, and for connected purposes.[15th March 2018]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Regulation of spaceflight etc
  2. 1Introduction
  3. 2Duties and supplementary powers of the regulator
  4. 3Prohibition of unlicensed spaceflight etc
  5. 4Exemptions from licence requirement
  6. Range control
  7. 5Range
  8. 6Range control services
  9. 7Provision of range control services
  10. Licences
  11. 8Grant of licences: general
  12. 9Grant of operator licences: safety
  13. 10Grant of spaceport licence
  14. 11Grant of licences: assessments of environmental effects
  15. 12Terms of licences
  16. 13Conditions of licences
  17. 14Licences granted for specified periods
  18. 15Transfer, variation, suspension or termination of licence
  19. Exercise of regulatory functions by bodies other than Secretary of State
  20. 16Power of Secretary of State to appoint person to exercise functions
  21. Individuals taking part in spaceflight activities etc
  22. 17Informed consent
  23. 18Training, qualifications and medical fitness
  24. Safety
  25. 19Safety regulations
  26. 20Investigation of accidents
  27. 21Assistance etc with performance of regulator's safety functions
  28. Security
  29. 22Offences against the safety of spacecraft etc
  30. 23Security regulations
  31. 24Spaceport byelaws
  32. 25Provision of advice and assistance on security matters
  33. Enforcement etc
  34. 26Monitoring and enforcement by regulator
  35. 27Power to give directions: breach of licence condition etc
  36. 28Power to give directions: safety, security etc
  37. 29Power to give directions: international obligations of the UK
  38. 30Consultation about directions
  39. 31Further provision about directions
  40. 32Warrants authorising entry or direct action
  41. 33Power to authorise entry etc in emergencies
  42. Liabilities, indemnities and insurance
  43. 34Liability of operator for injury or damage etc
  44. 35Power or duty of Secretary of State to indemnify
  45. 36Obligation to indemnify government etc against claims
  46. 37Regulator etc not liable in respect of spaceflight-related actions
  47. 38Insurance
  48. Powers in relation to land
  49. 39Powers to obtain rights over land
  50. 40Orders under section 39: offences
  51. 41Power to restrict use of land temporarily
  52. 42Power of entry for purposes of survey
  53. 43Challenges to and commencement of orders
  54. 44Powers in relation to land: compensation
  55. 45Registration of orders
  56. Powers in relation to land: supplementary
  57. 46Special provisions relating to statutory undertakers
  58. 47Compensation in respect of planning decisions relating to spaceport safety etc: England and Wales and Scotland
  59. 48Compensation in respect of planning decisions relating to spaceport safety etc: Northern Ireland
  60. 49Amendment and revocation of orders
  61. 50Powers in relation to land: notices
  62. Offences and civil sanctions
  63. 51Application of criminal law to spacecraft etc
  64. 52Offences on board spacecraft: supplementary
  65. 53Penalties for offences under this Act
  66. 54Offences under regulations
  67. 55Offences under regulations: extended time limit in case of accident investigation etc
  68. 56Defences
  69. 57Offences by bodies corporate
  70. 58Offences by partnerships
  71. 59Civil sanctions
  72. Appeals
  73. 60Appeals
  74. Miscellaneous
  75. 61Register of launches
  76. 62Charging schemes
  77. 63Provision of advice and assistance by or to an appointed person
  78. 64Co-operation between Secretary of State and other public authorities
  79. 65Agreements with other countries: compliance with requirements etc
  80. 66Use of records and documentary evidence
  81. General
  82. 67Minor and consequential amendments
  83. 68Regulations: general
  84. 69Interpretation
  85. 70Commencement
  86. 71Extent
  87. 72Short title
  88. Schedule 1: Particular conditions that may be included in licences
  89. 1Paragraph 1
  90. 2Paragraph 2
  91. 3Paragraph 3
  92. 4Paragraph 4
  93. 5Paragraph 5
  94. 6Paragraph 6
  95. 7Paragraph 7
  96. 8Paragraph 8
  97. 9Paragraph 9
  98. 10Paragraph 10
  99. 11Paragraph 11
  100. 12Paragraph 12
  101. 13Paragraph 13
  102. 14Paragraph 14
  103. 15Paragraph 15
  104. 16Paragraph 16
  105. 17Paragraph 17
  106. 18Paragraph 18
  107. 19Paragraph 19
  108. 20Paragraph 20
  109. 21Paragraph 21
  110. 22Paragraph 22
  111. 23Paragraph 23
  112. 24Paragraph 24
  113. 25Paragraph 25
  114. 26Paragraph 26
  115. 27Paragraph 27
  116. 28Paragraph 28
  117. 29Paragraph 29
  118. 30Paragraph 30
  119. 31Paragraph 31
  120. 32Paragraph 32
  121. 33Paragraph 33
  122. 34Paragraph 34
  123. 35Paragraph 35
  124. 36Paragraph 36
  125. 37Paragraph 37
  126. 38Paragraph 38
  127. 39Paragraph 39
  128. Schedule 2: Training regulations: further provision
  129. 1Paragraph 1
  130. 2Paragraph 2
  131. 3Paragraph 3
  132. 4Paragraph 4
  133. Schedule 3: Safety regulations: further provision
  134. 1Paragraph 1
  135. 2Paragraph 2
  136. 3Paragraph 3
  137. 4Paragraph 4
  138. 5Paragraph 5
  139. 6Paragraph 6
  140. 7Paragraph 7
  141. Schedule 4: Offences against the safety of spacecraft etc
  142. Hijacking of spacecraft
  143. 1Paragraph 1
  144. Destroying, damaging or endangering safety of spacecraft
  145. 2Paragraph 2
  146. Other acts endangering or likely to endanger safety of spacecraft
  147. 3Paragraph 3
  148. Endangering safety at spaceports
  149. 4Paragraph 4
  150. Offences in relation to certain dangerous articles
  151. 5Paragraph 5
  152. Powers exercisable on suspicion of intended offence under this Schedule
  153. 6Paragraph 6
  154. Prosecution of offences
  155. 7Paragraph 7
  156. Interpretation
  157. 8Paragraph 8
  158. Schedule 5: Security regulations: further provision
  159. 1Paragraph 1
  160. 2Paragraph 2
  161. 3Paragraph 3
  162. 4Paragraph 4
  163. Schedule 6: Orders under sections 39 and 41
  164. Part 1: Orders under section 39 and land orders
  165. Procedure where it is proposed to make, or apply for, an order under section 39 or a land order
  166. 1Paragraph 1
  167. 2Paragraph 2
  168. Objections to a proposed order
  169. 3Paragraph 3
  170. 4Paragraph 4
  171. 5Paragraph 5
  172. Procedure after making an order
  173. 6Paragraph 6
  174. Part 2: Orders under section 41 that are not land orders
  175. Procedure where it is proposed to make an order under section 41 that is not a land order
  176. 7Paragraph 7
  177. Procedure after making an order
  178. 8Paragraph 8
  179. Schedule 7: Powers in relation to land: quashing of orders
  180. Application to quash an order
  181. 1Paragraph 1
  182. Time limit
  183. 2Paragraph 2
  184. Determination of application
  185. 3Paragraph 3
  186. “The appropriate court”
  187. 4Paragraph 4
  188. Schedule 8: Powers in relation to land: compensation
  189. Part 1: Compensation in connection with diminution in value of interest in land
  190. Compensation for diminution in the value of interest in land
  191. 1Paragraph 1
  192. 2Paragraph 2
  193. Assessing compensation
  194. 3Paragraph 3
  195. Interest subject to mortgage or heritable security
  196. 4Paragraph 4
  197. Part 2: Compensation in connection with damage to land or interference with use etc of land
  198. Damage to land
  199. 5Paragraph 5
  200. 6Paragraph 6
  201. Disturbance in enjoyment of right in or over land etc
  202. 7Paragraph 7
  203. Part 3: General
  204. Disputes
  205. 8Paragraph 8
  206. Statutory undertakers
  207. 9Paragraph 9
  208. Interpretation
  209. 10Paragraph 10
  210. Schedule 9: Powers in relation to land: special provisions relating to statutory undertakers
  211. Part 1: Compensation
  212. Application of this Part
  213. 1Paragraph 1
  214. Assessment of compensation
  215. 2Paragraph 2
  216. Amount of compensation
  217. 3Paragraph 3
  218. Part 2: Adjustment of the functions of statutory undertakers
  219. Modification of powers and duties of statutory undertakers
  220. 4Paragraph 4
  221. Relief of statutory undertakers from obligations
  222. 5Paragraph 5
  223. Procedure before making an order under paragraph 4 or 5
  224. 6Paragraph 6
  225. Objections to order under paragraph 4
  226. 7Paragraph 7
  227. Special parliamentary procedure
  228. 8Paragraph 8
  229. Power of entry for purposes of survey
  230. 9Paragraph 9
  231. Compensation for damage to land
  232. 10Paragraph 10
  233. Schedule 10: Appeals in connection with spaceflight activities
  234. Part 1: Appeal panels
  235. Appeal panels
  236. 1Paragraph 1
  237. Part 2: Rights of appeal
  238. Appeals: refusal to grant licence
  239. 2Paragraph 2
  240. Appeals: decisions in connection with licences
  241. 3Paragraph 3
  242. Appeals: other decisions
  243. 4Paragraph 4
  244. Part 3: Determination of appeal
  245. Permission to appeal
  246. 5Paragraph 5
  247. Circumstances in which panel may not accept an application
  248. 6Paragraph 6
  249. Determination of application for permission to appeal
  250. 7Paragraph 7
  251. When appeals may be allowed
  252. 8Paragraph 8
  253. Determination of appeal
  254. 9Paragraph 9
  255. Determination of appeal: further provision
  256. 10Paragraph 10
  257. Determination of appeal: time limit
  258. 11Paragraph 11
  259. Part 4: Procedure
  260. Representations in relation to an application for permission to appeal
  261. 12Paragraph 12
  262. Intervention in an appeal
  263. 13Paragraph 13
  264. Determination of application for permission to intervene
  265. 14Paragraph 14
  266. Procedure regulations
  267. 15Paragraph 15
  268. Part 5: Fees
  269. Fees
  270. 16Paragraph 16
  271. Schedule 11: Charging schemes
  272. Definitions
  273. 1Paragraph 1
  274. Charging by the CAA
  275. 2Paragraph 2
  276. Charging by persons other than the CAA
  277. 3Paragraph 3
  278. Content of charging schemes
  279. 4Paragraph 4
  280. Consultation
  281. 5Paragraph 5
  282. Effect of licence conditions
  283. 6Paragraph 6
  284. Duty to charge
  285. 7Paragraph 7
  286. Schedule 12: Minor and consequential amendments
  287. Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 (c. 18)
  288. 1Paragraph 1
  289. Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43)
  290. 2Paragraph 2
  291. Civil Aviation Act 1982 (c. 16)
  292. 3Paragraph 3
  293. Aviation Security Act 1982 (c. 36)
  294. 4Paragraph 4
  295. Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48)
  296. 5Paragraph 5
  297. Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60)
  298. 6Paragraph 6
  299. Airports Act 1986 (c. 31)
  300. 7Paragraph 7
  301. Outer Space Act 1986 (c. 38)
  302. 8Paragraph 8
  303. 9Paragraph 9 Not yet in force
  304. 10Paragraph 10
  305. 11Paragraph 11
  306. 12Paragraph 12
  307. 13Paragraph 13
  308. 14Paragraph 14
  309. Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12))
  310. 15Paragraph 15
  311. Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990 (c. 31)
  312. 16Paragraph 16
  313. Airports (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (S.I. 1994/426 (N.I. 1))
  314. 17Paragraph 17
  315. Police Act 1997 (c. 50)
  316. 18Paragraph 18
  317. Transport Act 2000 (c. 38)
  318. 19Paragraph 19
  319. 20Paragraph 20
  320. 21Paragraph 21
  321. 22Paragraph 22
  322. Sexual Offences 2003 (c. 42)
  323. 23Paragraph 23
  324. Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44)
  325. 24Paragraph 24
  326. 25Paragraph 25
  327. Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1500 (N.I. 9))
  328. 26Paragraph 26
  329. Terrorism Act 2006 (c. 11)
  330. 27Paragraph 27
  331. Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52)
  332. 28Paragraph 28
  333. Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 (c. 28)
  334. 29Paragraph 29
  335. Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1216 (N.I. 1))
  336. 30Paragraph 30
  337. 31Paragraph 31
  338. Energy Act 2013 (c. 32)
  339. 32Paragraph 32
  340. Modern Slavery Act 2015 (c. 30)
  341. 33Paragraph 33