The Director General of the Defence Aviation Safety Authority (DASA) has been appointed the Defence Space Safety Regulator and, with support from the DASA Directorate of Space, will release inaugural satellite safety regulations in 2025.
The 2025 Defence Instruction update sets the scope for a Defence Space Safety Program (DSSP) that will be used by the DASA to regulate and assure safety outcomes associated with space activities.
These space activities include the operation of space launch facilities and the launch, operation and return of space objects.
A framework will be set by DSSP for Defence to meet moral and legal obligation to ensure risks to the health and safety arising from space activities are eliminated or otherwise minimised.
The program also recognises and supports Defence's compliance with statutory safety requirements related to space activities and Australia's international treaty obligations and emerging international space sustainability guidelines.
DASA's Director of Space Sam Meure said the directorate was established to help space capability owners manage safety while maintaining Defence's flexibility in risk management.
"Having a Defence-based regulation team will also help cater for Defence's additional information security needs and provide direct and timely safety assurance to the Defence community," Dr Meure said.
Since the establishment of the Directorate of Space, the team have been working with the Australian Space Agency to harmonise safety regulations for both civil and Defence space activities.
"This approach lets commanders responsible for ensuring the safety of space activities use a similar approach, whether working solely within Defence or with commercial partners," Dr Meure said.
The DSSP is consistent with the safety obligations in the Space Launches and Return Act 2018 that recognises and supports Australia's compliance with international space treaty obligations and emerging international space sustainability guidelines.
"The DSSP will address the safety of space objects, vehicles or payloads that travel over 100km above sea level, and will be framed with reference to existing international regulations to prevent duplication of effort when seeking the required approvals," Dr Meure said.
"We are now turning our attention to further development and stakeholder consultation on the DSSP and associated space safety regulations.
"We have already developed our first set of draft regulations for a payload orbital permit which we will be consulting on in early 2025."
