Launch, operator and spectrum licences are personal to the holder and usually cannot be charged. Lenders lend against the company that holds them, and buyers must check they survive the deal.
Across the 3 regimes
ESA and EU
National laws today (France, Luxembourg, Italy and others). The proposed EU Space Act would require an EU authorisation, recognised across member states, from 2030.
United States
FAA licence for launch and reentry (Part 450); FCC authorisation for the satellite and its spectrum; NOAA licence for remote sensing.
UK and France
UK: Outer Space Act licence for UK persons abroad; Space Industry Act licence for spaceflight and spaceports in the UK; the CAA is regulator. France: LOS authorisation from the space minister, with CNES technical review.
The rest of this page sets out the 7 quoted provisions behind these cells, what is usually negotiated, and what lenders and buyers ask. It is free with a work email, along with the full tools, guides and register downloads.
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Related
- Tool: Satellite financing checklist
- Tool: Satellite finance clause library
- Checklist: Launch services agreement checklist
- Checklist: Satellite licensing and transfer checklist
General information on public law and standard terms as at 28 Oct 2026, not legal advice on any contract or transaction. Quoted wording is checked against the official text linked to it.