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Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017

Licences and permits - Launch licences

9: When launch licence may be granted

You could also call this:

"When you can get a licence to launch something into space"

Illustration for Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017

The Minister can give you a launch licence if they think you can do a safe launch. They must be satisfied that you can manage risks to public safety and have a plan to reduce orbital debris. Your launch must also meet New Zealand's international obligations and any other requirements. You must meet all these conditions before the Minister considers your application. The Minister checks if your launch is in New Zealand's national interest and if you are a fit and proper person to hold a launch licence, as explained in section 52.

The Minister thinks about what is good for New Zealand when deciding if your launch is in the national interest. They consider benefits to New Zealand, risks to national security, and how to reduce these risks. They also think about other important matters.

Before the Minister grants a launch licence, they must talk to the security Ministers, as stated in section 55. If a certain certificate is issued under section 55, the Minister cannot give you a launch licence.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6966445.

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8: Application for launch licence, or

"How to ask for permission to launch a vehicle into space"

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10: Conditions, indemnity, and insurance relating to launch licence, or

"Rules for having a launch licence: what you must do and insure"

Part 2Licences and permits
Launch licences

9When launch licence may be granted

  1. The Minister may grant a launch licence only if the Minister is satisfied that—

  2. the applicant is technically capable of conducting a safe launch; and
    1. the applicant has taken, and will continue to take, all reasonable steps to manage risks to public safety; and
      1. the applicant has an orbital debris mitigation plan that meets any prescribed requirements; and
        1. the proposed launch or launches under the licence are consistent with New Zealand’s international obligations; and
          1. the applicant and the proposed launch or launches meet any prescribed requirements.

            1. The Minister may, despite being satisfied of all the matters in subsection (1), decline to grant a launch licence if the Minister is not satisfied that—

            2. a proposed launch under the licence is in the national interest; or
              1. the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a launch licence (see section 52); or
                1. a person who is to have or is likely to have control over the exercise of the rights under the licence is a fit and proper person to have control over the exercise of rights under the licence (see section 52).

                  1. In considering the national interest for the purposes of subsection (2)(a), the Minister may have regard to—

                  2. economic or other benefits to New Zealand of the proposed launch:
                    1. any risks to national security, public safety, international relations, or other national interests:
                      1. the extent to which the risks can be mitigated by licence or permit conditions:
                        1. any other matters that the Minister considers relevant.

                          1. Before granting a launch licence, the Minister must consult the security Ministers in accordance with section 55.

                          2. The Minister must not grant a launch licence if a certificate is issued under section 55 in relation to the proposed launch.