Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017

Enforcement and other matters - Offences - Offences relating to licences, permits, and authorisations

65: Launching without launch licence or overseas launch licence

You could also call this:

"Launching into space without the right licence is against the law"

Illustration for Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017

If you launch a launch vehicle without a launch licence, you commit an offence if you know or ought to know that a launch licence is required, as stated in section 7. You also commit an offence if you launch a launch vehicle without an overseas launch licence, knowing or ought to know that an overseas launch licence is required, as stated in section 23. If you commit either of these offences, you can be liable for a fine or imprisonment.

If you are an individual and you commit one of these offences, you can be imprisoned for up to 1 year, or fined up to $50,000, or both. You can be fined and imprisoned at the same time.

If you are a body corporate and you commit one of these offences, you can be fined up to $250,000.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM6966522.

Topics:
Business > Industry rulesEnvironment and resources > Conservation
Previous

64: Minister may declare debris protection area, or

"The Minister can create a special protected area to keep space technology safe"

Next

66: Launching or procuring launch of payload without payload permit or overseas payload permit, or

"Launching something into space without the right permit is against the law"

Part 3Enforcement and other matters
Offences: Offences relating to licences, permits, and authorisations

65Launching without launch licence or overseas launch licence

  1. A person commits an offence if the person—

  2. launches a launch vehicle without a launch licence contrary to section 7; and
    1. knows or ought to know that a launch licence is required.

      1. A person commits an offence if the person—

      2. launches a launch vehicle without an overseas launch licence contrary to section 23; and
        1. knows or ought to know that an overseas launch licence is required.

          1. A person who commits an offence against subsection (1) or (2) is liable on conviction,—

          2. in the case of an individual, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $50,000, or both; or
            1. in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not exceeding $250,000.