The non-prescriptive approach of the Australian Space (Launches and Returns) regulations

17 Nov 2025

Conference

76^th International Astronautical Congress 2025 (IAC)

Title

The non-prescriptive approach of the Australian Space (Launches and Returns) regulations: Ensuring safety while supporting space industry

Abstract

Australia’s Space regulations were overhauled with the release of the Space (Launches and Returns) Act 2018, establishing a framework to ensure the safety of third-party people and property in line with global best practice, also establishing a flexible framework designed to support creative technologies emerging from the space launch and return commercial markets. Since then, the regulations have been successfully implemented across a wide variety of space activities, from sounding rocket launches to the world first lading of a commercial spacecraft at a commercial range.

This text discusses the flexible nature of the Australian Space regulations, showing how the structure of the regulation ensures safety without being prescriptive in the method for meeting the requirements of the Act and its associated Rules and standards*. The Australian legislation, released before the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Regulation Part 450 commercial space launch and returns updates, underpins a space activities assessment process that is risk-based. This allows applications to be developed at a level commensurate with the risk of the space activity being proposed. Since the regulations are not prescriptive, they also support a wide variety of technologies and approaches for space activities, keeping the regulatory environment open for emerging space industry.

While the regulations have been broadly effective, there is always room for improvement in any system. The Australian Space Agency has demonstrated a willingness to collaborate and listen to the space industry and has ushered through several updates to the legislation via addendums to the Rules. These updates have further improved the process and reduced the administrative burden for applicants, while maintaining safety for the public.

Additionally, since the regulations are not prescriptive, it can be difficult for a new applicant to understand ‘what good looks like’, and therefore, how to develop a comprehensive application that will match the risk of the space activity. This text also discusses some considerations applicants can make in developing a submission to ensure the right types and level of information is include for the activity being proposed.

*Space (Launches and Returns) (General) Rules 2019, Space (Launches and Returns) (High Power Rocket) Rules 2019, and Space (Launches and Returns) (Insurance) Rules 2019, Flight Safety Code, and the Maximum Probable Loss (MPL) Methodology

Key takeaways:

The Space (Launches and Returns) Act 2018 and associated Rules, Code and Methodology establish a defined path for space and high power launch applications. These regulations ensures that Australia aligns to its international obligations, as well as maintain a reasonable balance between the public safety, security, and national interests of space activities, and the removal of barriers to participation in, and innovation of, space activities.
The Space regulations are non-prescriptive – they identify a broad set of criteria that must be met, but do not specify what specifically must be provided to address those criteria. The paper provides examples that broadly cover the types of information that may be required to satisfy the regulations, depending on the complexity and risk of the proposed activity.
While the space regulatory framework in Australia is straightforward, it intersects with a range of other regulators and regulations, that may make it difficult for new applicants to navigate. This paper also includes a list of potentially intersecting regulatory environments and regulators for consideration by applicants.

Authors

Shena Howell, Senior Systems Engineer Shoal Group

Date

Monday 29 September 2025

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The non-prescriptive approach of the Australian Space (Launches and Returns) regulations

Interactive poster presentation

About Shoal

Shoal is complex systems design company. We use Systems Engineering combined with Modelling, Simulation and Analysis to help our clients define, analyse, decide, optimise, and deliver technology-intensive projects in complex environments across Defence, Space, Transport, Energy and Infrastructure.

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