Search Legislation

Title: (or keywords in the title)

Year:

Number:

Type:

Advanced Search

Space Industry Act 2018

Table of Contents
Content
Explanatory Notes

Explanatory Notes

Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
More Resources
More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
- the original print PDF of the as enactedversion that was used for the print copy
- lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
- confers power and blanket amendment details
- all formats of all associated documents
- correction slips
- links to related legislation and further information resources

Commercial spaceflight is a rapidly growing and evolving sector. The global market for small satellites is expected to grow rapidly in the coming decade, driven by the many small satellites that are expected to be built and launched. At present, by virtue of the Outer Space Act 1986 ("the OSA"), the Secretary of State is able to license activities carried out by United Kingdom nationals and companies in relation to space objects and outer space. The OSA was enacted primarily to implement United Kingdom obligations under the UN Space Treaties.1 Activities licensed under OSA have, to date, involved the licensing of small satellites launched overseas and the operation of satellites.
This Act provides for the creation of a regulatory framework to enable commercial spaceflight activities (involving both launch to orbit and sub-orbital spaceflight) to be carried out from spaceports in the United Kingdom.