The UK Space Agency laid a Departmental Minute before Parliament on November 12, 2026, setting out updated contingent liability arrangements for space activities in orbit. The changes follow new liability and insurance measures announced alongside the Space Strategy.
New Orbital Liability Arrangements
A Departmental Minute was laid before Parliament on November 12, 2026, by the UK Space Agency to update contingent liability arrangements. The updates arise from new liability and insurance measures announced alongside the Space Strategy on September 8.
The measures introduce a variable third-party liability limits approach for orbital operations with a default limit of 50 million pounds. Operators can qualify for reductions to 20 million pounds or zero pounds if they meet specific criteria.
Waivers and Insurance Reforms
The government is waiving operator third-party liability for innovative and novel space missions launched before the end of 2030, including In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing and lunar missions. These waivers will be included in licences issued after December 1 for such missions.
Additional reforms include new models for third-party liability insurance and the abolition of decommissioning funds for constellation operators in favour of monitoring financial health.
Key facts and where they come from
- The UK Space Agency laid a Departmental Minute before Parliament on November 12, 2026, detailing updated contingent liability arrangements.
A Departmental Minute is being laid before Parliament today setting out updated contingent liability arrangements
- The variable liability limits approach applies a default limit of 50 million pounds, with potential reductions to 20 million pounds or zero pounds.
with a default limit of £50 million to be applied in licences unless operators provide evidence to satisfy requirements for a reduction of the limit to either £20 million (if one of the criteria is met) or £0 (if both criteria are met)
- Operator third-party liability is waived for innovative and novel space missions launched before the end of 2030.
Waiving operator third-party liability for innovative and novel space missions launched before the end of 2030
