UK Space Regulator: The Civil Aviation Authority
The Civil Aviation Authority, or CAA, regulates UK spaceflight activities. Our original November 2022 article introduced its licensing role as the country’s launch sector developed. The authority’s work connects space activities with questions of safety and oversight.
The CAA’s guide to getting started with licensing explains its role. However, the requirements for an individual operation depend on the proposed activity. Therefore, a general introduction cannot replace the guidance for a particular licence.
Different Activities and Licence Types
The UK space regulator handles several types of licences and permissions. These include launch and return operations, spaceports, range control and orbital operations. The CAA’s licences and permissions overview provides links to each area.
For example, operating a spaceport is different from operating a launch vehicle. Consequently, the information needed for each application can differ. The original article’s broad description should be read as an introduction to these roles, rather than one process that applies identically to every company.
UK Space Regulator: Reviewing an Application
The CAA publishes guidance on how it reviews applications. Its licensing guidance explains the framework under the Space Industry Act and Outer Space Act. In addition, it directs applicants to material relevant to their proposed activities.
Launch applications involve questions such as safety, environmental effects and security. The authority’s launch and return operator guidance describes those areas. It also encourages discussion before an application, so operators can consider their mission and timescale.
Following UK Launch Developments
The UK space regulator featured in our article while the first orbital launch attempt from UK soil was still ahead. That attempt later took place from Cornwall in January 2023. Accordingly, the original prediction of a launch in 2022 needed historical context.
Read our Cornwall spaceport article for the later outcome. Alternatively, browse RocketBreaks news for more stories. To investigate licensing itself, start with the CAA’s official information and the guidance for the activity concerned.