The United Kingdom’s Outer Space Act

Prof Richard Crowther Chief Engineer, UK Space Agency

December 2011 Galloway Symposium 2011 Outline

• Outer Space Act • Licensing Process and Technical Evaluation • Practical Implementation • Way Forward UK Outer Space Act, 1986

• Statutory instrument addressing UK obligations under the international space treaties: – Outer Space Treaty (1967) – Rescue Agreement (1968) – Liability Convention (1972) – Registration Convention (1975) • Confers licensing powers on the Secretary of State Licensing Authority (UKSA)

• Secretary of State shall not grant a licence unless he is satisfied that the activities authorised by the licence will: – not jeopardise public health or the safety of persons or property – will be consistent with the international obligations of the United Kingdom – will not impair the national security of the United Kingdom

• Further the Secretary of State requires the licensee to conduct his operations in such a way as to: – prevent the contamination of outer space – adverse changes in the environment of the Earth – avoid interference with activities of others in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space socio-political review

maximum issue launch launch specific probable loss specific licence licence analysis pre-application initial accept for Inter-Agency Yes accept? Yes consultation screening review? Review

No payload environmental No issue payload licence PHASE 1 rejection letter review licence

PHASE 2

safety evaluation

PHASE 3

PHASE 4 LICENSING PROCESS Outer Space Treaty Rescue Agreement Liability Convention Registration 1967 1968 1972 Convention 1975

Outer Space Act 1986

Introductory Guidance Background Licensing Process, Timescales, Pre-Application Consultation, Initial Screening Definitions

LEVEL 1 Responsibilities Requirements System Risk Safety Requirements Procedures Responsibilities Procedures Risk Insurance Levels Compliance MPL Process Definition Management Organisation Roles/Timescales EI/EA Process Apportionment & Cover Requirements Methodologies Responsibility Criteria

Maximum Insurance System Risk Safety Plans & Environmental Environmental Probable Loss LEVEL 2 Certificate Assessment Impact Statement Analysis Specifications Assessment Procedures

Financial Safety Environmental LEVEL 3 Assessment Assessment Assessment

LEVEL 4 Licence

LICENCING DOCUMENTATION HIERARCHY Documentation Approach

• Level 1 – Guidance documents available to applicant • Level 2 – Data submissions made by applicant • Level 3 – Assessment documents based on submitted data • Level 4 – Notification of outcome (and licence)

• Clear audit trail between criteria, mission spec., evaluation, and decision

Use of Scenarios To Streamline Process

• High cost of licence assessment • Repeat applications tend to use same information so need process to re-use data if possible & use exception reporting • Use Scenario Approach – Baseline: first flight of vehicle – Profile: first flight for particular profile/derivative – Mission: repeat of previously successful profile

Baseline Data Applicant Submits Provided by PRE-FLIGHT POST-FLIGHT Baseline Data Applicant

BNSC Request Adequate No Additional Data ?

Monitors Submit Yes A Launch Report

Baseline Safety Analysis Monitors' Launch Report

Scenario Data Applicant Submits Provided by Scenario Data Applicant BASELINE PROFILE MISSION

Applicant Submits Flight Report GEO1  BNSC Request Adequate No Additional Data ? GEO2 

Applicant Yes Flight Report MEO1  GEO3  B Profile Safety Analysis MEO2  GEO3  Mission Data Applicant Submit Provided by Major Yes Mission Data Applicant A Anomaly? LEO1  ANOMALY

No GEO4 

BNSC Request Adequate No B Additional Data ?

Yes

Mission Safety A Analysis ACTIONS FOR SUCCESSOR B FLIGHTS

Licence Recommendation Models and Tools

• Satellite Collision Assessment for the UK Licensing Process (SCALP)

• Investigations into effect of proposed satellite operations • LEO and GEO regions • Operational orbit (excludes orbit acquisition and any de-orbit / re-orbit manoeuvre) • Overall assessment of collision risk licence applicant's payload poses to current on-orbit population • Supported by monitoring of the GEO ring of UK Registry objects Compliance Monitoring

GEOs

Starbrook operation by Space Insight commissioned by BNSC in 2006 to monitor UK registered space objects in GEO Criteria for Evaluation

• Best Practice (Qualitative and Quantitative) – International – European – National – National Agency (e.g. MOD) – National (Other state) • Standards – ISO/ECSS/PSS/BSI • Guidelines/Codes/Recommendations – UN/ITU/IADC/ESA Way Forward • Harmonisation of evaluation criteria through development of consensus measures • Emergence of credible Space Plane systems present a challenge to OSA implementation • “Long Term sustainability of space activities” initiative at UNCOPUOS welcomed, expected to help to inform UK licensing process • Issues surrounding transfer of ownership in orbit • Recently reduced insurance requirement to 60MEu • Modifying Act to remove unlimited liability burden on industry • More info: www.ukspaceagency.bis.gov.uk