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Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017

Licences and permits - Licence for launch of launch vehicle overseas

26: Conditions, indemnity, and insurance relating to overseas launch licence

You could also call this:

"Rules for launching something into space from another country"

Illustration for Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017

If you have a licence to launch something into space from another country, you must tell the Minister some things. You must say when and where you plan to launch, and what path you plan to take. You must also give details about the part of the launch vehicle that will go into space, like how high it will go and how long it will take to go around the earth. You must also follow any rules the Minister makes, and tell them if anything changes with your launch. You have to comply with any other conditions the Minister sets, which can include protecting national security or public safety, and making sure you do not harm the environment.

You must also have insurance to cover any problems that might happen when you launch something into space. The Minister can ask you to agree to pay back the government if someone makes a claim against them because of something you did. This can happen if someone says the government is responsible for something you did under the Outer Space Treaty or the Liability Convention, or under any other international law.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6966464.

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25: When overseas launch licence may be granted, or

"When can you get a licence to launch something into space from another country?"

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27: Duration of overseas launch licence, or

"How long an overseas launch licence lasts"

Part 2Licences and permits
Licence for launch of launch vehicle overseas

26Conditions, indemnity, and insurance relating to overseas launch licence

  1. A licensee must—

  2. provide to the Minister, in accordance with any prescribed requirements,—
    1. the date, location, and intended trajectory of each proposed launch under the licence; and
      1. details of the intended and actual basic orbital parameters (including the nodal period, inclination, apogee, and perigee) of any part of a launch vehicle that reaches or is intended to reach outer space; and
        1. any prescribed information relating to each launch; and
        2. comply with any request by the Minister under section 50; and
          1. notify the Minister, in accordance with any prescribed requirements, if any of the following occurs:
            1. in a case where the Minister has advised the licensee that the Minister treated a licence, permit, or other authorisation granted in a country other than New Zealand as satisfying any criteria under section 51, that licence, permit, or other authorisation changes, expires, or is revoked; or
              1. any part of a launch vehicle that reaches outer space is no longer in earth orbit (unless the licensee does not know, and could not reasonably know, that the part is no longer in earth orbit); and
              2. comply with any other conditions prescribed by regulations relating to the launch and operation of a launch vehicle; and
                1. comply with any other conditions imposed by the Minister including, without limitation, any conditions that the Minister considers necessary or desirable in order to—
                  1. give effect to New Zealand’s international obligations; or
                    1. protect national security or other national interests; or
                      1. ensure public safety; or
                        1. avoid potentially harmful interference with the activities of others in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space; or
                          1. minimise the risk of contamination of outer space or adverse changes in the earth’s environment; or
                            1. manage New Zealand’s potential liability under international law (including under the Liability Convention and the Outer Space Treaty).

                            2. An overseas launch licence must also contain conditions specifying (including in any manner prescribed by regulations) the type and amount of insurance that the licensee must hold.

                            3. The Minister may require a licensee, as a condition of the licence, to indemnify the Crown in whole or in part against—

                            4. any claim brought against the Crown under the Liability Convention or the Outer Space Treaty; or
                              1. any other claim brought against the Crown under international law in relation to an act or omission of the licensee under this Act.