The Space Industry Regulations 2021

Space site security programme

170.—(1) Where there is a requirement to appoint a security manager for a space site(1) under Chapter 1 of Part 3 (eligibility criteria and prescribed roles for licensees), the security manager must draw up and maintain a security programme in respect of the space site for which that manager is responsible.

(2) The programme may, in the case of horizontal spaceports, be an annex to the existing aerodrome security plan.

(3) The licensee must comply with the requirements of the programme.

(4) The programme must—

(a) comply with the requirements mentioned in paragraph (5), and

(b) describe the methods and procedures mentioned in paragraph (6).

(5) The requirements are that the programme must—

(a) be kept up to date,

(b) be reviewed no more than 12 months after the date on which the licence was granted and, subsequently, at intervals not exceeding 12 months,

(c) be sent to the regulator as soon as possible following a review referred to in sub-paragraph (b),

(d) comply with international obligations of the United Kingdom and be consistent with such obligations,

(e) be site specific and proportionate to the type of activities being carried out on the site, and

(f) be based on a security risk assessment which—

(i) has been carried out by the security manager,

(ii) is reviewed no more than 12 months after the date on which the licence was granted and, subsequently, at intervals not exceeding 12 months, and

(iii) is kept up to date.

(6) The programme must describe—

(a) any physical barrier for the space site provided under regulation 172,

(b) the access controls to the space site put in place to prevent unauthorised access provided under regulation 173,

(c) the space site security restricted areas and controlled areas at the site (see regulation 174),

(d) the access controls for emergency services and post-emergency security procedures provided under regulation 175,

(e) security controls relating to prohibited articles (see regulation 176),

(f) the access controls for supplies, payloads and launch vehicles provided under regulations 177 and 178,

(g) guidance and procedures for assuring and approving suppliers (see regulation 179),

(h) the methods and procedures for surveillance of space sites provided under regulation 180,

(i) procedures for protection of hazardous material from unauthorised interference (see regulation 181),

(j) the methods and procedures for protection of carrier aircraft, launch vehicles and payloads at a spaceport pre- and post-integration (see regulations 182 and 183),

(k) the training, qualifications and national security vetting procedures necessary for individuals carrying out security functions at the space site provided under regulations 187 to 190,

(l) the procedures in place for protection of US technology at the site (see regulations 192 to 202),

(m) the security measures in place for a space site used in connection with the provision of range control services, and

(n) how compliance with methods and procedures specified in the programme is to be monitored by the security manager.

(7) In this regulation—

“existing aerodrome security plan” means the plan in force in relation to the aerodrome under section 24AE of the Aviation Security Act 1982(2);

“post-emergency security procedures” means the checks carried out by the licensee of all the areas that the emergency services have accessed after the emergency services have left the site to ensure that there has been no breach of security as set out in the space site security programme.

(1)

“space site” is defined in paragraph 5(3) of Schedule 4 to the Space Industry Act 2018. Regulation 2(2) makes provision for references to “space site” to be treated as if they include references to a ship from which a launch vehicle is launched or is to be launched, on which a launch vehicle or carrier aircraft is landed or is to be landing, spaceflight activities are controlled or are to be controlled, range control services are provided or are to be provided or from or on which one or more of these activities are carried out or are to be carried out.

(2)

1982 c. 36. Part 2A (security planning for aerodromes) of the Aviation Security Act 1982 was inserted by section 79 of the Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26) and applies to NASP directed aerodromes. Section 24AE (aerodrome security plans) was amended by section 15(3) of, and paragraph 186 of Schedule 8 to, the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22).