UK Spaceport Licensing Requirements Under the Space Industry Act 2018
To operate a spaceport in the UK, compliance with the Space Industry Act 2018 and Civil Aviation Authority regulations is essential, requiring operators to secure licenses and conduct safety and environmental assessments. Recent licenses include those for Spaceport Cornwall and SaxaVord, with a full application assessment taking at least nine months. Operators must also engage with local planning and adhere to safety management and insurance obligations.
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To operate a spaceport in the UK, compliance with the Space Industry Act 2018 and regulations from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is mandatory. Operators need to secure licenses, prepare safety cases demonstrating ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable), conduct environmental assessments, and implement security strategies.
Recent licenses include Spaceport Cornwall's horizontal launch license awarded in 2022 and SaxaVord's vertical launch license in 2023. A CAA-issued spaceport operator license is required, with a full application assessment taking at least nine months.
Operators must ensure local planning compliance, adhere to safety management system requirements, and maintain necessary insurance. The Space Industry Act outlines operator liability, indemnity powers, and insurance obligations. Operators must engage early with the CAA and ensure a comprehensive approach to safety, environmental assessments, and coordination with airspace and marine authorities.
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