Operating a spaceport: rules and regulations
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-30)

Regulations you must comply with when operating a spaceport.

This page is up to date

We reviewed this page on 21 October 2025. We need to review it again on 21 April 2026.

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Licences

Apply for any licences you need to operate a spaceport.

Spaceport licence

Spaceports are sites where:
- spacecraft can be vertically launched
- horizontal launches of spaceplanes or carrier aircraft, from which a spacecraft will be launched at altitude (known as air launch), can take place
- launches of high-altitude balloons for space experience, experiments or air launch of rockets can take place
- spacecraft can make a planned landing
It will take at least 9 months for your application to be assessed.

Apply for a spaceport licence (CAA) (https://www.caa.co.uk/space/licences-and-permissions/spaceport/).

Guidance on applying for licences

Read general guidance on:
- spaceport licence applicants and licensees (CAA) (https://www.caa.co.uk/our-work/publications/documents/content/cap2212/)
- applying for licences under the Space Industry Act 2018 (CAA) (https://www.caa.co.uk/our-work/publications/documents/content/cap2209/)
- how space licensing works in the UK (CAA) (https://www.caa.co.uk/space/licences-and-permissions/getting-started-with-licensing/)
- Department for Transport (DfT) guidance to the regulator on environmental objectives for commercial spaceflight (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/commercial-spaceflight-regulation-environmental-objectives)
- carrying out an assessment of environmental effects (AEE) (CAA) (https://www.caa.co.uk/our-work/publications/documents/content/cap2215/)
Space Industry Act 2018

The Space Industry Act 2018 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/5/contents) is the legal framework for spaceflight activities carried out in the UK.

The following regulations provide rules for implementing the act:
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/792/contents)
- Spaceflight Activities (Investigation of Spaceflight Accidents) Regulations 2021 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/793/contents/made)
- Space Industry (Appeals) Regulations 2021 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/816/contents/made)
Space launch spectrum licensing

Identify which Ofcom space launch licences (https://www.ofcom.org.uk/spectrum/space-and-satellites/space-launch-uk) you may need.

Appoint a designated spectrum adviser to liaise with Ofcom. You can contact Ofcom by emailing xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Site planning and infrastructure

This section outlines some of the regulations you must comply with when planning the spaceport location, layout, and facilities.

Getting planning permission

Ensure you have the right planning permission (https://www.gov.uk/planning-permission-england-wales).

Complying with construction regulations

You must follow the:
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 for England, Wales and Scotland (HSE) (https://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/index.htm)
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2016 for Northern Ireland (HSENI) (https://www.hseni.gov.uk/articles/construction-design-and-management-regulations-northern-ireland-2016)
Safety

This section outlines some of the regulations you must follow to ensure you are compliant with safety and technical standards.

Ensuring risks are as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP)

You must comply with the CAA guidelines for assessing risk to be as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) (https://www.caa.co.uk/our-work/publications/documents/content/cap2220/).

Using explosive materials

If you use or store explosive materials, you must ensure you are compliant with the:
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) explosive materials regulations for England, Wales and Scotland (https://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/regulations/index.htm)
- HSENI explosive materials regulations for Northern Ireland (https://www.hseni.gov.uk/publications/manufacture-and-storage-explosives-northern-ireland-ni-acop)
Using radiation-emitting equipment

If you use ionising radiation, you must follow the:
- Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017 for England, Wales and Scotland (HSE) (https://www.hse.gov.uk/radiation/ionising/legalbase.htm).
- Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017 for Northern Ireland (HSENI) (https://www.hseni.gov.uk/articles/ionising-radiation)
Preparing for a radiation emergency

You must conduct a hazard evaluation.

If a radiation emergency is a possibility, you must prepare a consequence assessment and submit it to the relevant authority.

Read the:
- regulations for preparing for a radiation emergency (REPPIR 2019) in England, Wales and Scotland (HSE) (https://www.hse.gov.uk/radiation/ionising/reppir.htm)
- regulations for preparing for a radiation emergency in Northern Ireland (HSENI) (https://www.hseni.gov.uk/articles/ionising-radiation#toc-4)
Handling hazardous substances correctly

You must follow the:
- Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations for England, Wales and Scotland (HSE) (https://www.hse.gov.uk/comah/index.htm)
- Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations for Northern Ireland (HSENI) (https://www.hseni.gov.uk/articles/control-major-accident-hazards-regulations)
Transporting dangerous goods to and from the spaceport

If you transport dangerous goods, you must follow the:
- Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations 2009 (CDG) for England, Wales and Scotland (HSE) (https://www.hse.gov.uk/cdg/)
- Carriage of Dangerous Goods Regulations 2009 (CDG) for Northern Ireland (HSENI) (https://www.hseni.gov.uk/articles/carriage-dangerous-goods)
General health and safety requirements

You must also comply with all other relevant health and safety requirements.

For general advice, contact the:
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for England, Wales and Scotland (https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/index.htm)
- Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) (https://www.hseni.gov.uk/contacts/hseni-belfast-hq)
Liability, insurance and fees

As a spaceport licensee, you must be covered by insurance when conducting spaceflight activities at your spaceport.

Check the launch operator’s licence to ensure you are covered. If not, you’ll need to take out your own third-party liability insurance.

Read the CAA guidance on liability, insurance and licence application fee requirements for spaceport licences (https://www.caa.co.uk/space/resources/insurance-and-liability/).

You may also need general business insurance, such as Employers’ liability insurance (https://www.gov.uk/employers-liability-insurance).