Space launches and the UK marine environment

Abstract

Government’s vision is for the UK to be at the global forefront of small satellite launch and emerging space transportation markets. The UK Spaceflight Programme, LaunchUK, aims to establish commercial vertical and horizontal small satellite launch from UK spaceports, with the first launches taking place from the early 2020s. This will support the Government’s aim of growing the UK’s global market share of the space sector to 10% by 2030. To meet this vision and aim, the UK Government is funding a range of industry-led projects including funding to support a new spaceport in Sutherland, Scotland, and a horizontal launch site at Cornwall Airport Newquay. The potential environmental risks of such spaceports, and their ancillary activities, need to be fully assessed under the Space Industry Act 2018, since it is envisaged that various stages of the launch vehicles will be jettisoned into the marine environment. However, it is unknown whether these will be in UK territorial, other countries exclusive economic zones (EEZ), or international waters. Here we set out the regulatory context of these activities, provide an initial assessment of the potential marine impacts from such launches and the potential jettisoned debris that may be generated and highlight any unaddressed regulatory issues.