The Space Industry Regulations 2021

Processing of US technology after a normal launch

201.—(1) Following the launch of a US launch vehicle or US spacecraft which proceeded as expected, the special launch operator must—

(a) not permit any UK participant to dismantle US related equipment unless that UK participant is authorised to do so by the US Government;

(b) either—

(i) destroy any US related equipment it used for the launch and which it does not need for further launch activities, or

(ii) send such equipment from the UK to a location approved by, and in a manner approved by, the Secretary of State and the US Government;

(c) return any US technical data it has to a location approved by the Secretary of State and the US Government;

(d) not permit any UK participant to take part in the recovery of a reusable US launch vehicle or US related equipment unless that UK participant is authorised to do so by the US Government and is supervised by a US participant;

(e) send any recovered US launch vehicle, recovered US spacecraft, or recovered components of a US launch vehicle or US spacecraft, from the UK to a location approved by, and in a manner approved by, the Secretary of State and the US Government;

(f) not permit any UK participant to study or photograph recovered US technology unless that UK participant is authorised to do so by the US Government.

(2) Where recovery of a reusable US launch vehicle is planned to take place in a country outside the UK, the special launch operator must notify the regulator of the location of the planned recovery at the earliest opportunity.

(3) On receipt of information under paragraph (2), the regulator must inform the Secretary of State promptly.