The Space Industry Regulations 2021

Medical surveillance

144.—(1) A spaceflight operator must ensure that—

(a) before classifying a crew member as a classified crew member, the crew member undergoes a medical examination by an approved doctor to determine the crew member’s fitness to perform duties as a classified crew member, and

(b) each classified crew member has at least one review of their health (“health review”) by an approved doctor once in every 12 months to determine whether the crew member remains fit to perform their duties.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), every crew member must submit to such a medical examination or health review when required by the spaceflight operator to do so.

(3) A spaceflight operator must ensure that the approved doctor who performs an examination or health review in accordance with paragraph (1)—

(a) determines that the crew member is—

(i) fit to work as a classified crew member,

(ii) fit, subject to certain conditions, to work as a classified crew member, or

(iii) unfit to work as a classified crew member, and

(b) in a case within sub-paragraph (a)(ii), specifies the conditions concerned.

(4) A spaceflight operator must, as soon as reasonably practicable, notify the crew member concerned of—

(a) the determination made by the approved doctor of the crew member’s fitness under paragraph (3)(a), and

(b) any conditions the approved doctor has specified in relation to the crew member under paragraph (3)(b).

(5) A spaceflight operator must allow an approved doctor access to any information the approved doctor may reasonably require in relation to the approved doctor’s functions under this regulation.