(1)A person to whom this Act applies shall not, subject to the following provisions, carry on an activity to which this Act applies except under the authority of a licence granted by the Secretary of State.
(2)A licence is not required—
(a)by a person acting as employee or agent of another;
or
(b)for activities in respect of which it is certified by Order in Council that arrangements have been made between the United Kingdom and another country to secure compliance with the international obligations of the United Kingdom.
(3)The Secretary of State may by order except other persons or activities from the requirement of a licence if he is satisfied that the requirement is not necessary to secure compliance with the international obligations of the United Kingdom.
(4)An order shall be made by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(1)The Secretary of State may grant a licence if he thinks fit.
(2)He shall not grant a licence unless he is satisfied that the activities authorised by the licence—
(a)will not jeopardise public health or the safety of persons or property,
(b)will be consistent with the international obligations of the United Kingdom, and
will not impair the national security of the United Kingdom.
(3)The Secretary of State may make regulations—
(a)prescribing the form and contents of applications for licences and other documents to be filed in connection with applications;
(b)regulating the procedure to be followed in connection with applications and authorising the rectification of procedural irregularities;
(c)prescribing time limits for doing anything required to be done in connection with an application and providing for the extension of any period so prescribed ;
(d)requiring the payment to the Secretary of State of such fees as may be prescribed.
(1)A licence shall describe the activities authorised by it and shall be granted for such period, and may be granted subject to such conditions, as the Secretary of State thinks fit.
(2)A licence may in particular contain conditions—
(a)permitting inspection by the Secretary of State of the licensee's facilities, and inspection and testing by him of the licensee's equipment;
(b)requiring the licensee to provide the Secretary of State as soon as possible with information as to—
(i)the date and territory or location of launch, and
(ii)the basic orbital parameters, including nodal period, inclination, apogee and perigee,
and with such other information as the Secretary of State thinks fit concerning the nature, conduct, location and results of the licensee's activities ;
(c)permitting the Secretary of State to inspect and take copies of documents relating to the information required to be given to him ;
(d)requiring the licensee to obtain advance approval from the Secretary of State for any intended deviation from the orbital parameters, and to inform the Secretary of State immediately of any unintended deviation;
(e)requiring the licensee to conduct his operations in such a way as to—
(i)prevent the contamination of outer space or adverse changes in the environment of the earth,
(ii)avoid interference with the activities of others in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space,
(iii)avoid any breach of the United Kingdom's international obligations, and
(iv)preserve the national security of the United Kingdom;
(f)requiring the licensee to insure himself against liability incurred in respect of damage or loss suffered by third parties, in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, as a result of the activities authorised by the licence;
(g)governing the disposal of the payload in outer space on the termination of operations under the licence and requiring the licensee to notify the Secretary of State as soon as practicable of its final disposal; and
(h)providing for the termination of the licence on a specified event.
(1)A licence may be transferred with the written consent of the Secretary of State and in such other cases as may be prescribed.
(2)The Secretary of State may revoke, vary or suspend a licence with the consent of the licensee or where it appears to him—
(a)that a condition of the licence or any regulation made under this Act has not been complied with, or
(b)that revocation, variation or suspension of the licence is required in the interests of public health or national security, or to comply with any international obligation of the United Kingdom.
(3)The suspension, revocation or expiry of a licence does not affect the obligations of the licensee under the conditions of the licence.