The French spatial law anticipates the main components of the future EU space law, and already incorporates new uses of space.
Référence de textes
• Decree n ° 2024-625 of June 28, 2024 modifying the provisions relating to the authorizations of spatial operations
• Order of June 28, 2024 modifying the decree of February 23, 2022 relating to the composition of the three parts of the file
• Order of June 28, 2024 modifying the decree of March 31, 2011 relating to technical regulations
Objet :
• Integration of many new concepts with regard to launchers, reusable launchers.
• Taking into account technical and technological developments, as well as new orbit services, and maneuvering devices
• Maximum orbital lifetime depending on the orbits, and the type of objects (constellations).
• Specific technical requirements for constellations
• New cybersecurity obligations, and active protection approach
• Evolution of administrative provisions and submission of authorization request
• New debris collection obligations greater than or equal to 1mm (!)
• New provisions on the maximum lifespan in operation or after withdrawal, with specific case of constellations.
Summary of update
Launchers
• Details on the concepts of "headdress" and "floor" of a launcher, "deployer" as a launcher with its own propulsion/control, allowing orbit injection.
• Consideration on the launchers with capacity to return to land of a recoverable launcher, with taking into account the landing sites deported to the sea
• Security considerations on the back -to -site school year and the risks of victims on the ground
• Precision on the neutralization of the launcher (destruction) automatically, commission of inquiry
• Securing approach and obligation of safety measures against maliciousness (Eg. Encryption TM/TC)
• Spatial objects and orbit services
• Special case of missions to the points of Lagrange or with liberation orbit.
• Introduction important on the concepts of "service vehicle", "vehicle operations", "target", "meeting phase", "approach", "contact", "mooring", "attaché", "separation and distance", "parking", "corridor", "no return", with all the associated security aspects
• Obligation of control and reporting plan for authority (CNES), as well as validation of procedures, declarations of anomaly.
• Obligation of identification by space monitoring systems within 3 days as soon as in position
• Considerations on maneuvering systems (collision prevention, coordination between operators, etc.), detailing orbit services (debris collection, survival/collision, local area, etc.)
• Maximum lifespan before an atmospheric return of 3 times the duration of operational phase maximized at 25 years (and 3 years for phases of less than a year).
• Details on the orbit cemetery and protected regions
• Prevention of radioelectric interference, coordination obligations with other operators
• Securing approach and obligation of safety measures against maliciousness (Eg. Encryption TM/TC)
Constellations and mega Constellations
• Considerations on constellations and "coordinated spatial objects"
• Precision on the concept of constellation (10 satellites at least), and "mega-constellation S"
• Prevention of collisions, autonomous safety capacities
• Maximum duration of release of the orbit after removal of service from 2 to 5 years depending on the size of the constellation
• Separation of intra-constellation plans and between mega-constellations
• Limitation of optical disturbances by design so as not to impact astronomical observation.
• File and authorization of space operations
Details on the constituent elements of the authorization request file
• Changes that regulate the change of use, significant modification of the conditions of operations, as well as the extension of duration of operation linked to an already existing authorization
• Form and rephrared adjustments allowing better understanding
• Abrogation of the possible exemption from justification for insurance and financial guarantee when it comes to a geostationary position occupied for a fixed period.
Conclusion
• This is a major evolution of the spatial law, but also "improvements", aimed at better application of the law by operators, and taking into account technological or operational changes/services in this field (e.g. orbit capture of a target by a maneuvering device)
• The launcher aspects evolve significantly, making it possible to cover more precisely the authorizations related to the different phases of operations, as well as all the cases of reusable launchers.
• The integration of concepts of coordinated spatial objects will particularly interest small satellite operators, so the concept of constellation and mega-constellation thus allowing the obtaining of an authorization for several space objects, but with new very precise obligations.
• All activities related to the orbit service (EG. Refueling, takeover, etc.) as well as target capture/recovery etc. are now covered by space law.
• Safety (protection approach) anticipates one of the pillars of the European spatial law on the TM/TC link protection with launchers and space objects.
• In the same way the compulsory collection of debris, and the maximization of the duration in orbit follow the future principles of the European spatial law.
• The lifespan in low orbit is now maximized at 25 years, this to avoid orbital pollution, while satellites have always been in orbit since the late 1950s (Eg. Vanguard1 launched in 1959).
• Objects part of constellations will have to "free up" the place, as well as prevent any embarrassment to astronomical observations from the ground or space.
• The possibility of exemption no longer allows the maintenance to a temporary geostational orbital position without having all insurance and financial guarantees. This may impact possible temporary orbit transfers.
ELA supports you in the practical implementation of this major development of the spatial law, both in its technical, security, and authorization management aspects!
Référence de textes
• Decree n ° 2024-625 of June 28, 2024 modifying the provisions relating to the authorizations of spatial operations
• Order of June 28, 2024 modifying the decree of February 23, 2022 relating to the composition of the three parts of the file
• Order of June 28, 2024 modifying the decree of March 31, 2011 relating to technical regulations
Objet :
• Integration of many new concepts with regard to launchers, reusable launchers.
• Taking into account technical and technological developments, as well as new orbit services, and maneuvering devices
• Maximum orbital lifetime depending on the orbits, and the type of objects (constellations).
• Specific technical requirements for constellations
• New cybersecurity obligations, and active protection approach
• Evolution of administrative provisions and submission of authorization request
• New debris collection obligations greater than or equal to 1mm (!)
• New provisions on the maximum lifespan in operation or after withdrawal, with specific case of constellations.
Summary of update
Launchers
• Details on the concepts of "headdress" and "floor" of a launcher, "deployer" as a launcher with its own propulsion/control, allowing orbit injection.
• Consideration on the launchers with capacity to return to land of a recoverable launcher, with taking into account the landing sites deported to the sea
• Security considerations on the back -to -site school year and the risks of victims on the ground
• Precision on the neutralization of the launcher (destruction) automatically, commission of inquiry
• Securing approach and obligation of safety measures against maliciousness (Eg. Encryption TM/TC)
• Spatial objects and orbit services
• Special case of missions to the points of Lagrange or with liberation orbit.
• Introduction important on the concepts of "service vehicle", "vehicle operations", "target", "meeting phase", "approach", "contact", "mooring", "attaché", "separation and distance", "parking", "corridor", "no return", with all the associated security aspects
• Obligation of control and reporting plan for authority (CNES), as well as validation of procedures, declarations of anomaly.
• Obligation of identification by space monitoring systems within 3 days as soon as in position
• Considerations on maneuvering systems (collision prevention, coordination between operators, etc.), detailing orbit services (debris collection, survival/collision, local area, etc.)
• Maximum lifespan before an atmospheric return of 3 times the duration of operational phase maximized at 25 years (and 3 years for phases of less than a year).
• Details on the orbit cemetery and protected regions
• Prevention of radioelectric interference, coordination obligations with other operators
• Securing approach and obligation of safety measures against maliciousness (Eg. Encryption TM/TC)
Constellations and mega Constellations
• Considerations on constellations and "coordinated spatial objects"
• Precision on the concept of constellation (10 satellites at least), and "mega-constellation S"
• Prevention of collisions, autonomous safety capacities
• Maximum duration of release of the orbit after removal of service from 2 to 5 years depending on the size of the constellation
• Separation of intra-constellation plans and between mega-constellations
• Limitation of optical disturbances by design so as not to impact astronomical observation.
• File and authorization of space operations
Details on the constituent elements of the authorization request file
• Changes that regulate the change of use, significant modification of the conditions of operations, as well as the extension of duration of operation linked to an already existing authorization
• Form and rephrared adjustments allowing better understanding
• Abrogation of the possible exemption from justification for insurance and financial guarantee when it comes to a geostationary position occupied for a fixed period.
Conclusion
• This is a major evolution of the spatial law, but also "improvements", aimed at better application of the law by operators, and taking into account technological or operational changes/services in this field (e.g. orbit capture of a target by a maneuvering device)
• The launcher aspects evolve significantly, making it possible to cover more precisely the authorizations related to the different phases of operations, as well as all the cases of reusable launchers.
• The integration of concepts of coordinated spatial objects will particularly interest small satellite operators, so the concept of constellation and mega-constellation thus allowing the obtaining of an authorization for several space objects, but with new very precise obligations.
• All activities related to the orbit service (EG. Refueling, takeover, etc.) as well as target capture/recovery etc. are now covered by space law.
• Safety (protection approach) anticipates one of the pillars of the European spatial law on the TM/TC link protection with launchers and space objects.
• In the same way the compulsory collection of debris, and the maximization of the duration in orbit follow the future principles of the European spatial law.
• The lifespan in low orbit is now maximized at 25 years, this to avoid orbital pollution, while satellites have always been in orbit since the late 1950s (Eg. Vanguard1 launched in 1959).
• Objects part of constellations will have to "free up" the place, as well as prevent any embarrassment to astronomical observations from the ground or space.
• The possibility of exemption no longer allows the maintenance to a temporary geostational orbital position without having all insurance and financial guarantees. This may impact possible temporary orbit transfers.
ELA supports you in the practical implementation of this major development of the spatial law, both in its technical, security, and authorization management aspects!