Space Industry Act 2018

26 Monitoring and enforcement by regulator U.K.

(1) The regulator is responsible for monitoring—

(a) spaceflight activities,

(b) the operation of spaceports,

(c) the provision of range control services by holders of range control licences, and

(d) associated activities,

for the purposes set out in subsection (2).

(2) Those purposes are—

(a) securing compliance with the provisions contained in and made under this Act, the conditions of licences under this Act and the international obligations of the United Kingdom;

(b) protecting public safety and the national security of the United Kingdom.

(3) Regulations may for any of those purposes—

(a) require information to be provided to the regulator by a person who—

(i) carries out spaceflight activities,

(ii) operates a spaceport,

(iii) occupies land forming part of a spaceport or is allowed access to such land for the purposes of the activities of a business carried on by the person,

(iv) provides range control services under a range control licence, or

(v) carries out associated activities;

(b) provide for the inspection of sites, facilities, equipment, spacecraft, carrier aircraft and other vehicles;

(c) make provision for the inspection of records and documents (including provision about the production of documents, the making available in legible form of information held otherwise than in legible form, the making of copies, the removal of documents for the purpose of inspection and their retention for that purpose for a reasonable period);

(d) provide for the appointment of inspectors;

(e) make provision about the powers and duties of inspectors appointed under the regulations;

(f) provide for the sharing of information between the regulator and other public authorities or international organisations responsible for regulating any aspect of spaceflight activities;

(g) restrict the disclosure of information obtained or shared under the regulations.

(4) The regulator—

(a) may investigate offences under this Act or under regulations made under this Act, and

(b) except in Scotland, may prosecute such offences.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 26(1)(2)(4) in force at 29.7.2021 by S.I. 2021/817, reg. 2, Sch. para. 45 (with reg. 3)

I2 S. 26(3) in force at 26.11.2018 by S.I. 2018/1224, reg. 2(jj)