The National Security and Investment Act 2021 (Notifiable Acquisition) (Specification of Qualifying Entities) Regulations 2021 No. 1264

Regulation 2

SCHEDULE 14 U.K. Satellite and space technology

Interpretation U.K.

1.  In this Schedule—

“defence” has the meaning given to it by section 2(4) of the Official Secrets Act 1989;

“infrastructure” includes any of the following—

(a)

command and control stations;

(b)

ground stations, ground sites and ground support equipment;

(c)

software (including analysis software);

(d)

information technology and telecommunications networks (including fibre cables);

(e)

uplink and downlink terminals;

(f)

data processing and storage facilities (including databases);

(g)

satellites;

(h)

technological systems and equipment deployed in outer space or on earth;

“outer space” has the meaning given to it by section 13(1) of the Outer Space Act 1986(1);

“space activity” and “sub-orbital activity” have the meaning given to them by section 1(4) of the Space Industry Act 2018(2);

“spacecraft” has the meaning given to it by section 2(6) of the Space Industry Act 2018;

“space derived data” means data obtained from space activity or from ground stations receiving data from outer space or from both space activity and ground stations receiving data from outer space, including data relating to—

(a)

position, navigation and timing;

(b)

earth observation;

(c)

space situational awareness;

(d)

telecommunications;

(e)

signal intelligence;

(f)

remote sensing; and

(g)

research and development;

“space situational awareness” includes surveillance and tracking of satellites in outer space, monitoring and forecasting of weather in outer space, and mapping or detection of near earth objects or debris in outer space;

“testing” includes any service that provides quality assurance assessment of—

(a)

equipment or systems for space activity or services derived from space activity, including engines, component parts, radio frequency, software and systems;

(b)

facilities that manufacture, design or create any of the equipment set out in paragraph 3(e);

(c)

launch site equipment or facilities; and

(d)

equipment or facilities for transport of satellites, launch vehicles or their component parts between sites.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 14 para. 1 in force at 4.1.2022, see reg. 1(2)

Activity – satellite and space technology U.K.

2.  A qualifying entity carrying on activities that consist of or include operating, developing, producing, creating or using facilities for any of the activities set out in paragraph 3.

Commencement Information

I2 Sch. 14 para. 2 in force at 4.1.2022, see reg. 1(2)

3.  The activities referred to in paragraph 2 are—

(a) management of debris in outer space, including sending an object into outer space to remove debris;

(b) the provision of—

(i) in-orbit servicing, maintenance or manoeuvring of satellites;

(ii) in-orbit capabilities, including inspection services or life extension services, including refuelling, repair or relocation services; or

(iii) any technology or system—

(aa) that performs any of the activities set out in sub-paragraphs (a), (b)(i) and (b)(ii); or

(bb) which is designed to, or may be used to, disrupt, modify or interfere with satellites;

(c) the provision of satellite communications links, including radio frequency or optical links—

(i) between satellites in orbit;

(ii) between spacecraft and satellites in orbit;

(iii) between satellites in orbit and celestial bodies; or

(iv) from earth to outer space, and from outer space to earth;

(d) operating or maintaining the capability of secure infrastructure related to—

(i) space activity; or

(ii) sub-orbital activity;

(e) the manufacture or testing of spacecraft, launch vehicles, satellites, planetary probes, orbital stations, ground support equipment, or component parts of, or materials used in, any equipment set out in this sub-paragraph;

(f) the use of space-derived data for a defence purpose;

(g) the operation or control of infrastructure;

(h) the provision or processing of space situational awareness data by activity on earth or by space activity or by means of infrastructure for any of the following—

(i) sub-orbital activity;

(ii) orbital activity;

(iii) a defence purpose.

Commencement Information

I3 Sch. 14 para. 3 in force at 4.1.2022, see reg. 1(2)

(1)

1986 c. 38. The definition of “outer space” in section 69 of the Space Industry Act 2018 (c. 5) also refers to the Outer Space Act 1986. The Outer Space Act 1986 is amended by the Space Industry Act 2018 but does not have any amendments relevant to this definition.

(2)

2018 c. 5.