Outer Space Act 1986

5 Terms of licence. U.K.

(1) A licence shall describe the activities authorised by it and shall be granted for such period, and may be granted subject to such conditions, as the Secretary of State thinks fit.

(2) A licence may in particular contain conditions—

(a) permitting inspection by the Secretary of State of the licensee’s facilities, and inspection and testing by him of the licensee’s equipment;

(b) requiring the licensee to provide the Secretary of State as soon as possible with information as to—

(i) the date and territory or location of launch, and

(ii) the basic orbital parameters, including nodal period, inclination, apogee and perigee,

and with such other information as the Secretary of State thinks fit concerning the nature, conduct, location and results of the licensee’s activities;

(c) permitting the Secretary of State to inspect and take copies of documents relating to the information required to be given to him;

[F1 (ca) requiring the licensee to pay to the Secretary of State (whether on the grant of a licence, subsequently or both) any charges determined under a scheme under section 4A;]

(d) requiring the licensee to obtain advance approval from the Secretary of State for any intended deviation from the orbital parameters, and to inform the Secretary of State immediately of any unintended deviation;

[F2 (da) designed to secure compliance with—

(i) obligations of the United Kingdom under agreements entered into with other countries, and

(ii) any other international obligations of the United Kingdom;]

(e) requiring the licensee to conduct his operations in such a way as to—

(i) prevent the contamination of outer space or adverse changes in the environment of the earth,

(ii) avoid interference with the activities of others in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, [F3 and]

F4 (iii) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(iv) preserve the national security of the United Kingdom;

(f) requiring the licensee to insure himself against liability incurred in respect of damage or loss suffered by third parties, in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, as a result of the activities authorised by the licence;

(g) governing the disposal of the payload in outer space on the termination of operations under the licence and requiring the licensee to notify the Secretary of State as soon as practicable of its final disposal; and

(h) providing for the termination of the licence on a specified event.

[F5 (3) A licence must specify the maximum amount of the licensee's liability to indemnify Her Majesty's government in the United Kingdom under section 10 in respect of activities authorised by the licence.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 5(2)(ca) inserted (29.7.2021) by Space Industry Act 2018 (c. 5), s. 70(1), Sch. 12 para. 11(2); S.I. 2021/817, reg. 2, Sch. para. 117 (with reg. 3)

F2 S. 5(2)(da) inserted (29.7.2021) by Space Industry Act 2018 (c. 5), s. 70(1), Sch. 12 para. 11(3); S.I. 2021/817, reg. 2, Sch. para. 117 (with reg. 3)

F3 Word in s. 5(2)(e)(ii) inserted (29.7.2021) by Space Industry Act 2018 (c. 5), s. 70(1), Sch. 12 para. 11(4)(a); S.I. 2021/817, reg. 2, Sch. para. 117 (with reg. 3)

F4 S. 5(2)(e)(iii) omitted (29.7.2021) by virtue of Space Industry Act 2018 (c. 5), s. 70(1), Sch. 12 para. 11(4)(b); S.I. 2021/817, reg. 2, Sch. para. 117 (with reg. 3)

F5 S. 5(3) inserted (1.10.2015) by Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), ss. 12(3), 115(7); S.I. 2015/994, art. 11(f)