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Summary of non-qualifying regulatory provisions 2019-20

Published 20 December 2021

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1. Business Impact Target

Non-qualifying Regulatory Provisions (NQRP) summary

Regulator: UK Space Agency (UKSA)

Business Impact Target Reporting Period Covered: 13 December 2019 to 16 December 2020.

1.1 Casework

Nine space operators have used the optional pre-application Traffic Light licensing process (which now includes two additional questions on security). The UKSA has issued 108 Outer Space Act licences to 5 operators during the reporting period, and written to 15 space operators to check they are complying with their licence conditions (no non-compliance notices issued).

The UKSA has undertaken significant additional casework related to one operator which filed for Chapter 11 proceedings in March.

1.2 Education, communications and promotion

The UKSA co-chaired two Regulatory Advisory Group meetings with representatives of the space industry, which, amongst other things, discussed the merits of potential future regulatory reforms.

The UKSA Spaceflight Programme has held four industry engagement events setting out the proposed approach to forthcoming secondary legislation to be enacted under the Space Industry Act 2018. Attendance at these events was optional and to date none of the material produced creates a new regulatory standard that businesses will be expected to follow.

UKSA collaborated with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority to produce draft regulations and guidance to implement the Space Industry Act 2018 (SIA). The Government has published two statutory consultations on the proposals, which include proposals to appoint the Civil Aviation Authority as the regulator for SIA functions.

DfT will own the secondary legislation once it is approved (expected to go to Parliament in 2021). UKSA and BEIS are also developing draft legislation to delegate certain Outer Space Act 1986 functions to the Civil Aviation Authority (also expected in 2021).

The UKSA is developing more detailed policy on Constellations, In-Orbit Servicing & Manufacturing (IOSM) and Active Debris Removal (ADR) to supplement the basic enabling policy already in place for such missions. The UKSA also continues to develop its policy approach on earth observation data security, alongside the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

1.4 Changes to management of regulator

The UKSA has recruited a Deputy CEO for Project Delivery and appointed a new Director of Regulation over the reporting period.

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