2 March 2025
As the United Kingdom’s space industry continues to grow, new environmental guidance has been launched to support spaceport and launch operators in choosing the UK.
The UK Spaceports and Launch Operators: Industry Good Practice Guidance for the Assessment of Environmental Effects, has been published by the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP) – formerly known as IEMA. A range of space and environmental industry experts has contributed to the guidance, a positive, industry-led initiative intended to clarify licensing requirements and set out recommended approaches to assessing potential significant environmental effects of space activities.
The United Kingdom currently has:
Ø Two launch sites holding Spaceport Licences – Spaceport Cornwall at Newquay Airport (horizontal launches) and SaxaVord Spaceport in Unst, Shetland (vertical launches).
Ø Two launch companies holding Launch Operator Licences – Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) and Skyrora.
RIGHT: A third launch operator, HyImpulse is vying to launch in the UK
in the near future after successful test launches is Australia in 2024.
Spaceport and launch operator applicants are required to submit an Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE), similar to an Environmental Impact Assessment, as part of their licence applications. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) takes the AEE into account, alongside other application information, when deciding whether to grant a licence and in setting any licence terms, conditions and reporting requirements.
The UK has already seen its first orbital-launch attempt, a horizontal (air-launch) mission from Spaceport Cornwall in January 2023. UK company Skyrora who hold a CAA launch operator licence are also advancing their launch capability.
German launch operator RFA is progressing towards an inaugural flight of its RFA ONE launch vehicle from SaxaVord Spaceport, which could become the UK's first orbital vertical launch. The RFA ONE is a 30 metre, two stage launch vehicle designed to deliver payloads of up to 1,300 kilograms to low Earth orbit.
SaxaVord Spaceport will have the capacity to support 60% of Europe’s orbital launches and as spaceflight activity expands, robust and proportionate environmental assessment will remain essential to ensuring sustainable growth.
The ISEP Spaceport and Launch Environmental Working Group, led by Aurora Environmental Consulting and Mott MacDonald, and including a diverse range of topic specialists, has worked closely with the CAA to produce this comprehensive guidance.
ISEP Impact Assessment policy and engagement lead, Dr Rufus Howard, said: “This new space industry guidance is designed to ensure the highest environmental standards in an emerging and technologically advanced sector.
“Through our independent good-practice guidance, training and professional standards, ISEP has helped shape the evolution of impact assessment practice in the UK and internationally for over three decades. This guidance reflects the cross-sector expertise of the UK’s leading space industry impact assessment practitioners.”
Ruth Fain, Director at Aurora Environmental Consulting, said: “A commitment to the long-term sustainability of space projects is one of Aurora’s founding principles. Having worked on all the early AEEs for vertical launch in the UK, it has been a privilege to co-author this guidance and share our knowledge for the wider benefit of the sector.
“We are proud to have brought together such a strong group of industry leaders to work with ISEP and launch this guidance which will support the UK in becoming a global leader in space sustainability.”
Julia Barrett, Mott MacDonald, Global Environment Practice Lead, said: “We’re very pleased to bring Mott MacDonald’s environmental advisory expertise to this exciting new field. It’s been a rewarding opportunity to apply our knowledge in a new context to help shape emerging approaches, ensuring innovation while safeguarding nature and strengthening long‑term environmental resilience.”
Rosemary Whitbread, Head of Space Regulation Policy at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “As the UK’s space regulator we’re talking to more and more launch companies planning to head to space from UK soil. As activity grows, it's vital that environmental impacts are minimised so the major benefits of space can be realised sustainably.
“This is a very welcome industry initiative that will support applicants, strengthen environmental responsibility and help pave the way for the future."
The guidance provides an overview of the AEE process, requirements, fundamental principles and recommended approach to environmental assessment, including:
– population and human health;
– biodiversity (for example, ecology, flora and fauna);
– air quality;
– noise and vibration;
– water (for example, quantity and quality);
– marine environment;
– climate (for example, greenhouse gas emissions, impacts relevant to adaptation);
– land, soils and peat;
– landscape and visual impact; and,
– material assets and cultural heritage (including architectural and archaeological impacts)major accidents and disasters;
– transboundary effects; and
– cumulative effects.
The guidance also provides recommended approaches to the consideration of major accidents and disasters and transboundary effects and assessment of cumulative effects, in relation to these topics.
