The Space Licensing and Safety Office implements the regulatory and safety regime for space activities in Australia and by Australians overseas. The Office has responsibility for enforcing the provisions of the Space Activities Act (1998) and the Space Activities Regulations (2001) as well as any other Agreements entered into by the Australian Government for space launch activities.
SLASO is headed by a Director who is responsible for ensuring public safety, emergency and incident investigations and for coordinating space related regulatory matters between government agencies.
Space Activities Act 1998 ('The Act')
The Act allows the Australian Government to regulate commercial space activities in Australia and by Australians worldwide.
The Act implements certain Australian obligations entered into under UN Space Treaties and specific space cooperation treaties including that with Russia. Among Australian UN obligations are space object registration and liability commitments should the object cause damage.
Departmental Role and Current Achievements
SLASO assesses applications for approval under the Act and has responsibility for the ongoing development of subsidiary regulations and guidance material. This ensures that space activities do not jeopardise public safety, property, the environment, Australia’s national security, foreign policy or international obligations. The Act also ensures that regulated activities are adequately insured for third-party purposes, and that accidents are investigated.
Since the establishment of the SLASO in June 2001, a number of space activities have been approved — two Hyshot launches at Woomera, the FedSat micro-satellite, the Optus C1 and three Optus D-series satellites.
SLASO also authorised/approved the return of the Japanese Hayabusa Spacecraft on Sunday 13 June 2010. Hayabusa was launched from Japan in 2003, to rendezvous with the Itokawa asteroid in 2005, and return a sample of the asteriod. The sample return capsule made a safe landing at the Woomera Prohibited Area and its contents will assist scientists in identifying the origins and evolution of the solar system.
Further Information
The Director of the Space Licensing and Safety Office is Dr Michael Green. For information on Australia's space licensing and safety regime, contact:
Tel: +61 2 6213 6986
Fax: +61 2 6213 7249
Email: director.slaso@innovation.gov.au
Web: www.space.gov.au
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