Space Industry Act 2018
The Space Industry Act 2018 (c. 2) is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom introduced by Chris Grayling as Secretary of State for Transport to create 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.
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | A Bill to make provision about space activities and suborbital activities; and for connected purposes. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2018 c. 2 |
| Introduced by | Chris Grayling (Commons) Lord Callanan (Lords) |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 15 March 2020 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 Transport Act 2000 |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
Outline of provisions
The Act prohibits the carrying on of spaceflight and specified associated activities without a licence and breach of this prohibition will be an offence. The Secretary of State is the regulatory authority and has a duty to secure public safety in carrying out his or her functions under the Act. There are powers to enable the Civil Aviation Authority or other persons to carry out functions on behalf of the Secretary of State. Applicants for licences will also be required to meet any requirements set out in secondary legislation made under this Act.[1]
It creates offences including:
- Hijacking of spacecraft
- Destroying, damaging or endangering safety of spacecraft
- Endangering safety at spaceports
- Possession of a firearm or explosive at a spaceport or on a spacecraft
Prosecutions under this act require the consent of the Attorney General for England and Wales or the Director of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland.