Our licensing and permissions activities are designed to enable the emerging UK space sector whilst ensuring a safe and sustainable commercial space sector.
In carrying out these regulatory functions we are committed to follow the principles of the wider CAA and the Regulators’ Code.
- Do not jeopardise public health or the safety of persons or property
- Do not undermine national security
- Comply with the UK’s various international obligations
- Are not contrary to the national interest
- Take account of any environmental impact
We will continue to monitor performance once a licence has been granted to ensure that standards are maintained.
In assessing applications and conducting our oversight functions we commit to:
- A consistent but proportionate approach which takes account of the relative risk associated with the proposed activities.
- Reducing administrative burdens where possible by working with other regulators and facilitating the use of existing supporting evidence
- Engaging with industry, government, and other key stakeholders to support continuous improvement of our processes and the legislative framework we operate within.
We worked closely with the Department for Transport (DfT) and the UK Space Agency (UKSA), as an executive agency of the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT), in the development of the Space Industry Act (SIA) and the associated Space Industry Regulations and Guidance Material.
We continue to work closely with both Government Departments as they are accountable for key policy areas related to space. DSIT retains accountability for key policy areas including satellite payloads, Government liabilities and insurance and charges related to orbital operations. The DfT retains accountability for key policy areas including regulating spaceflight activities under the SIA (excluding in-orbit policy) and regulatory policy for security.
A fundamental principle under both the SIA and the Outer Space Act (OSA) is that the respective Secretaries of State are required to give their consent before the CAA can issue a licence under either the SIA or OSA. The Secretary of State for DSIT will give consent for orbital licences under either the SIA or OSA and the Secretary of State for DfT will give consent for spaceport, launch and range licences under the SIA.
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