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The Space Industry Act 2018 provides the legal framework for commercial spaceflight activities carried out from the UK. It establishes a licensing regime for spaceports, launch operators, and range control. The Act makes the UK one of the first countries to have a comprehensive domestic regulatory framework for commercial space launch and sub-orbital activities.
Pwyntiau allweddol
- Establishes a licensing regime for spaceflight activities from the UK — including launch, return to Earth, and operation of spaceports (Part 1)
- The Civil Aviation Authority is the regulator for spaceflight licensing
- Operators must hold a licence and comply with conditions on safety, environmental protection, and liability
- Establishes strict liability for operators for injury or damage caused by spaceflight activities to uninvolved third parties (Part 3)
- Requires operators to hold insurance or provide financial security against third-party liability (s.38)
- Provides for government indemnity for liabilities exceeding the operator's insurance cap
- Creates offences for conducting unlicensed spaceflight activities (s.3)