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Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017

Licences and permits - Payload permits

17: When payload permit may be granted

You could also call this:

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

Illustration for Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017

The Minister can grant you a payload permit if they are satisfied that you will safely manage the operation of the payload. You must have a plan to reduce orbital debris that meets the required standards. Your operation must also align with New Zealand's international obligations and meet any other necessary requirements.

The Minister can still refuse your permit even if you meet all the requirements, if they think your operation is not in the best interest of New Zealand. When deciding what is in the national interest, the Minister considers things like the benefits to New Zealand, any risks to national security or public safety, and how those risks can be reduced.

Before granting a permit, the Minister must talk to the security Ministers as outlined in section 55. If a certain certificate is issued under section 55 regarding your payload, the Minister cannot grant you a permit.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6966454.

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"Apply to launch something into space"

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18: Conditions, indemnity, and insurance relating to payload permit, or

"Rules for people with a permit to launch something into space"

Part 2Licences and permits
Payload permits

17When payload permit may be granted

  1. The Minister may grant a payload permit only if the Minister is satisfied that—

  2. the applicant has taken, and will continue to take, all reasonable steps to safely manage the operation of the payload; and
    1. the applicant has an orbital debris mitigation plan that meets any prescribed requirements; and
      1. the proposed operation of the payload or payloads under the permit is consistent with New Zealand’s international obligations; and
        1. the applicant and the proposed operation of the payload or payloads under the permit meet any other prescribed requirements.

          1. The Minister may, despite being satisfied of all the matters in subsection (1), decline to grant a payload permit if the Minister is not satisfied that the proposed operation of a payload under the permit is in the national interest.

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

          3. economic or other benefits to New Zealand of the proposed operation:
            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 payload permit, the Minister must consult the security Ministers in accordance with section 55.

                  2. The Minister must not grant a payload permit if a certificate is issued under section 55 in relation to the payload.