Guidance

UK commercial spaceflight: apply for a licence

How to apply for a licence to conduct a commercial spaceflight activity from the UK.

To apply for a licence to conduct commercial spaceflight activities from the UK:

  • read the guidance for the type of licence you require
  • complete an application
  • submit your completed application to the spaceflight regulator

You can contact the regulator from the earliest stages of considering whether to apply for a licence by emailing commercialspaceflight@caa.co.uk.

Applicant guidance

Background

On 29 July 2021, the following regulations came into force:

The legislation will support safe, sustainable spaceflight activities that will drive research, innovation and entrepreneurship, exploiting the unique environment of space.

It has been designed to support commercial operations and developed to foster an adaptable, outcomes-based regulatory regime that provides flexibility for:

  • industry to meet requirements
  • the regulator in how it assesses licence applications

The regulations were jointly developed by:

  • Department for Transport (DfT)
  • Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
  • UK Space Agency
  • Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

The CAA has been appointed to exercise the functions conferred on the regulator by or under the Space Industry Act 2018. This is in addition to regulating orbital activities under the Outer Space Act 1986.

For further information, email SpaceTeam@dft.gov.uk.

Updates to this page

Published 29 July 2021

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