The first-ever launch into space from British soil is one step
closer today (29 July) as Transport Secretary announces a public consultation on the regulations for
the UK’s spaceflight programme.
The regulations to support the Space Industry Act 2018 will
enable a range of commercial spaceflight and associated
activities to take place in the UK, including from any of the
seven proposed spaceports in South West England, Scotland and
Wales, paving the way for the UK’s first ever space launch.
Government and industry have set a target to grow the UK’s share
of the global space market to 10 per cent by 2030 with the
Government having already awarded grants totalling nearly £40
million to establish commercial vertical and horizontal small
satellite launch from UK spaceports. Today’s consultation is part
of the necessary regulation to enable the first launches to take
place in the early 2020s.
Transport Secretary said:
“The UK’s space sector can strengthen our national capabilities,
create high-skilled jobs and drive future economic growth across
the UK.
"Getting the rules in place for space launches from UK territory
may seem like one small step. But it paves the way for a giant
leap in the development of our space sector. This is technology's
high frontier and we will soon be able to reach it with
specialist small payload launches from British soil.”
In parallel to the development of a new UK Space Strategy, the
Government has been engaging with industry and providing grant
funding to stimulate the UK launch market, and developing
international agreements.
On 16 June the UK and US governments signed the Technology
Safeguards Agreement. This paves the way for US companies to
operate from UK spaceports and export space launch technology.
Transport Minister said:
“The consultation will help to formalise our national approach to
space by bringing commercial spaceflight to the UK and creating
an environment which fosters growth in the sector.
“The steps taken today will join-up leading technology companies
to rural areas across Great Britain, levelling up local economies
and making them a leader in small payload space launches.”
Science Minister said:
“We want the UK to be the first place in Europe to launch small
satellites and in order to do that, we need business-friendly
regulations in place.
“Satellite launches will create new jobs right across the UK and
attract significant investment into our rapidly growing space
sector. This consultation brings these exciting opportunities a
big step closer.”
The spaceflight regulator role will also be handed over from the
UK Space Agency (UKSA) to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), who
will ensure that spaceflight and associated activities are
carried out safely and responsibly.
Richard Moriarty, Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation
Authority, said:
“We welcome the publication of this important consultation, and
the Government’s intention to appoint the UK Civil Aviation
Authority as the UK’s regulator for spaceflight, working closely
with the UK Space Agency and other partners.
“The UK has the chance to be at the forefront of spaceflight
development globally. We have a long and proud history of
satellite technology and space research, and the CAA wants to
support the industry to build on these foundations. Our vision is
for UK spaceflight to thrive as a competitive and, above all,
safe industry.”
Notes to editors
- Currently, the space activities of UK entities are governed
by the Outer Space Act 1986. This requires any UK entities who
procure the launch of a satellite and/or operate a satellite in
orbit to hold a licence. The UK has a well-established and
globally respected licensing regime for these activities.
- Whilst the Space Industry Act 2018 is now law, the draft
secondary legislation contained in this consultation is required
to create the regulatory framework necessary for commercial
launch operations to be licensed in the UK.
- Once in force, the Space Industry Act 2018 will work
alongside the Outer Space Act 1986 to regulate the spaceflight
and associated activities of UK entities.
- The rationale for appointing the CAA as the single
Spaceflight regulator, rather than sharing regulatory duties with
the UK Space Agency is to avoid a potential conflict of interest
for the UK Space Agency if it were to both encourage the
spaceflight market through Government grants and regulate the
industry that it issues grants to.
- Successive governments have followed a policy of separating
safety regulation from sector promotion to ensure regulation is
impartial.
- The seven proposed spaceports in South West England, Scotland
and Wales include both vertical spaceports (traditional rocket
launches) and horizontal spaceports (where a rocket is launched
from an aircraft in the air).
