4. Suborbital Activities in the United Kingdom, Australian, New Zealand, Italian and UAE Domestic Law

The chapter delves into the regulatory landscapes of the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates for suborbital activities, focusing on the purpose of regulation, classification of suborbital flights, and regulatory competence. It discusses the balance between encouraging economic growth and ensuring safety and compliance with international space law. The UK, for instance, has a complex regulatory framework with the Space Industry Act 2018 and the Space Industry Regulations 2021, while the UAE aims to attract global investments with a flexible regulatory environment. Australia and New Zealand also have distinct approaches, with Australia focusing on facilitating commercial space launches and New Zealand emphasizing the safe operation of its space industry. Italy, on the other hand, applies its aviation regulatory regime to suborbital activities. The chapter concludes by suggesting that the discretionary model of issuing administrative decisions may not be optimal for attracting competition in the suborbital sector.