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
- Apply for a launch, range or spaceport licence
- Apply for an orbital licence
- Regulator’s licensing rules
- Applying for a licence under the Space Industry Act 2018
- Guidance for launch and return operator licence applicants and licensees
- Guidance for orbital operator licence applicants and orbital operator licensees
- Guidance for range control licence applicants and licensees
- Guidance for spaceport licence applicants and spaceport licensees
- Guidance for the assessment of environmental effects
- Guidance on appealing decisions made under the SIA and OSA
- Guidance on duties for all licensees under the SIA including monitoring and enforcement by the regulator
- Guidance on insurance requirements and liabilities under the SIA
- Guidance on security matters for applicants and licensees
- Guidance on the investigation of spaceflight accidents
- Principles and guidelines for the spaceflight regulator in assessing ALARP and acceptable risk
Background
On 29 July 2021, the following regulations came into force:
- Space Industry Regulations 2021
- Space Industry (Appeals) Regulations 2021
- Spaceflight Activities (Investigation of Spaceflight Accidents) Regulations 2021
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.