The Space Industry Regulations 2021

CHAPTER 4 Information to be given to a human occupant before the consent form is signed

Information about operator’s spaceflight activities carried out by the spaceflight operator

209.—(1) In this regulation, references to “operator’s spaceflight activities” are to all such activities carried out by the spaceflight operator.

(2) At least 24 hours, but not more than one month, before a human occupant signs a consent form, the spaceflight operator must give that individual—

(a) the information referred to in paragraph (3),

(b) a copy of any safety recommendations made as a result of a safety investigation relating to the operator’s spaceflight activities, and

(c) information in writing and in an easily understandable form about any actions taken to improve safety following a spaceflight accident relating to the operator’s spaceflight activities.

(3) The information mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) is information in writing about—

(a) the number of launches that the operator’s spaceflight activities have involved,

(b) the number of persons who have died, sustained an injury or had a medical emergency as a result of taking part in the operator’s spaceflight activities, and

(c) the number of spaceflight accidents relating to the operator’s spaceflight activities and whether they occurred during the testing and development of the launch vehicle or during commercial operation.

(4) In this regulation “commercial operation” means any operation of the launch vehicle—

(a) which is available to the public, or

(b) which, when not made available to the public, is performed under a contract between the spaceflight operator and a customer, where the latter has no control over the spaceflight operator,

in return for remuneration or other valuable consideration.

Information about the operator’s spaceflight activities

210.  At least 24 hours, but not more than one month, before a human occupant signs a consent form, the spaceflight operator must give that human occupant—

(a) the details of the current risk assessment for the operator’s spaceflight activities in an easily understandable form,

(b) information in writing about the availability of emergency services in the event of an accident or medical emergency, and

(c) where that human occupant is a crew member or a launch vehicle task specialist, the information relating to exposure to cosmic radiation which is referred to in regulation 140(1).

Opportunity for questions

211.—(1) Before a human occupant signs the consent form, the spaceflight operator must—

(a) give the human occupant an opportunity to ask questions about the information given to that individual in accordance with regulations 209 and 210, and

(b) answer the questions in an easily understandable form.

(2) The questions referred to in paragraph (1)(a) may be raised, and answers referred to in paragraph (1)(b) may be given, in writing or orally.