Space Industry Act 2018
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Lord Callanan (Lords)
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The Space Industry Act 2018 (c. 5) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
The act extended the regulatory framework for commercial spaceflight activities (involving both launch to orbit and sub-orbital spaceflight) to be carried out from spaceports in the United Kingdom and launches and other activities overseas by UK entities.[1] It operates in conjunction with the Outer Space Act 1986.[2]
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.[3] Applicants for licences will also be required to meet any requirements set out in secondary legislation made under this Act.[4]
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.
Amendment
| Space Industry (Indemnities) Act 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act to require operator licences authorising the carrying out of spaceflight activities to specify the licensee’s indemnity limit. |
| Citation | 2025 c. 35 |
| Introduced by | John Grady MP (Commons) Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Lords) |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 18 December 2025 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Space Industry Act 2018 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
In 2025, the 2018 act was amended by the Space Industry (Indemnities) Act 2025 to allow the Civil Aviation Authority to put caps on liability for damage or loss caused by spaceflight activities into licences.[5]
