| Country | Main regime | Regulator | In short |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Communications Act and FCC rules; UCC Article 9 | FCC (licences); NOAA (remote sensing) | Security over the satellite and the operator's shares under the UCC; no security over the FCC licence itself, only its proceeds; transfer of control needs prior FCC consent. |
| United Kingdom | Outer Space Act 1986; Space Industry Act 2018 | Civil Aviation Authority (space licences); Ofcom (spectrum) | Security by English law share charge and debenture; operating a satellite needs a licence, which may be transferred only with the regulator's written consent. |
| France | Space Operations Act (Loi n° 2008-518) | Minister responsible for space, with CNES technical control | Security by French law pledges over shares and assets; any transfer to a third party of control of an authorised space object needs the minister's authorisation. |
| Germany | Satellite Data Security Act (SatDSiG) for high-grade imaging | Federal authorities under the SatDSiG; Federal Network Agency (spectrum) | No general space activities act yet; high-grade Earth observation systems need approval, and taking over their operation needs a permit. Germany has signed, but not ratified, the Space Protocol. |
| International: Space Protocol | Cape Town Convention Space Assets Protocol (2012) | UNIDROIT (depositary) | Would create an international registry for interests in satellites, but is not in force: it needs ten ratifications. |
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General information on public documents and law as at 28 Oct 2026, not legal advice on any transaction. Filed wording is quoted from the public document linked to it.