The Spaceflight Activities (Investigation of Spaceflight Accidents) Regulations 2021

UK Statutory Instrument 2021 No. 793 — creates 1 criminal offence.

Made

8 July 2021

In force from

29 July 2021

Extent

Not stated

Subject

Miscellaneous

Made under

Space Industry Act 2018

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations) — published with the instrument by the department that made it. © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

These Regulations make provision for the investigation of spaceflight accidents. Part 1 contains the interpretation provisions. Part 2 requires the Secretary of State to nominate a body to act as the space accident investigation authority (“SAIA”) for the United Kingdom, and makes provision for the appointment of inspectors for that body. Part 3 sets out what must be done after a spaceflight accident. Part 4 provides for the objective of safety investigations carried out under these Regulations, how the extent of a safety investigation is to be determined, and when a safety investigation may be reopened. It sets out when the Chief Inspector must investigate a spaceflight accident and when the Chief Inspector may do so, when SAIA may seek assistance with a UK safety investigation, what rights accredited representatives, their advisers and state experts have in a UK safety investigation, and how SAIA may participate in another state’s investigation. It provides for the powers of the investigator-in-charge of a safety investigation, and when those powers may be delegated. It also makes provision for the release of evidence to its owner and for the recovery of expenses by SAIA. Part 5 defines sensitive safety information and makes provision for its protection, setting out the circumstances in which information relating to a safety investigation may be disclosed. Part 6 makes provision in relation to the safety investigation report and safety recommendations. Part 7 provides for penalties for breaches of the Regulations. Part 8 provides for review of the operation of the Regulations for the purpose of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (c. 26). A full impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector is available from the Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 4DR and is published alongside the Explanatory Memorandum to this instrument on the legislation.gov.uk website.

Offences created by this instrument

• Penalties regulation 45 · Status not determined · Strict liability

What Parliament said about it

Contributions, debates and written statements mentioning this instrument by name. Parliamentary material is reused under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.

• Draft Contracting Out (Functions in Relation to Space) Order 2021 Draft Space Industry Regulations 2021 Draft Space Industry (Appeals) Regulations 2021 Draft Spaceflight Activities (Investigation of Spaceflight Accidents) Regulations 2021 Commons · General Committees · 28 June 2021
• Draft Contracting Out (Functions in Relation to Space) Order 2021 Draft Space Industry Regulations 2021 Draft Space Industry (Appeals) Regulations 2021 Draft Spaceflight Activities (Investigation of Spaceflight Accidents) Regulations 2021 Commons · General Committees · 28 June 2021 · Rachel Maclean

  I thank the hon. Member for Wythenshawe and Sale East for his consideration of and support for the draft measures, and for his helpful and constructive questions. The hon. Gentleman asked if the insurance and liability regime matches the ambition of other nations. I assure him that our review addresses the UK’s competitiveness. We want to be the first country in Europe to achieve a space launch—from UK soil—and we are confident that the measures will allow us to do that. He asked about the CAA. I assure him that it will be adequately resourced to take on these new functions, and preparations…

• Space Industry (Appeals) Regulations 2021 Lords · Grand Committee · 29 June 2021 · The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Vere of Norbiton) (Con)

  My Lords, these regulations relating to the space industry are made under the powers conferred by the Space Industry Act 2018, which I will call the SIA. The contracting-out order is made under the powers conferred by the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. There are four draft instruments before the Committee, each addressing a different aspect of the legal regime required to regulate commercial spaceflight from the UK. These instruments will apply to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as space is a reserved matter. Regulatory functions for satellite licensing under the…

• Spaceflight Activities (Investigation of Spaceflight Accidents) Regulations 2021 Lords · Grand Committee · 29 June 2021 · Baroness Vere of Norbiton

  That the Grand Committee do consider the Spaceflight Activities (Investigation of Spaceflight Accidents) Regulations 2021. Relevant document: 4th Report from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee

• Spaceflight Activities (Investigation of Spaceflight Accidents) Regulations 2021 Lords · Grand Committee · 29 June 2021

How Parliament handled it

Parliament's Statutory Instruments service has no record of this instrument, although it covers the period. Nothing is inferred from that.

Check the source

• This instrument on legislation.gov.uk The authoritative text, including amendments made since
• Other instruments from 2021