On 18 April 2026, the Space Activities Act came into force, marking the first regulation of its kind in Poland. What does this mean in practice?

Until now, Polish companies operating in the space sector—whether building satellites, operating them, or managing space objects—have operated in a largely unregulated environment. There has been no national permitting system in place, nor have clear rules on liability been established. The legal framework has consisted solely of international agreements and very limited sector-specific regulations. However, this is now changing.

Space Activities Act: What will change?

  1. Requirement to obtain a permit. Before the Act came into force, no national legislation required private entities to obtain any permit to conduct space activities. From now on, a permit granted by the President of the Polish Space Agency (POLSA) is required to conduct space activities (i.e. the launch or attempted launch of a space object into outer space, its operation, management, or removal from outer space, including by deorbiting). The statutory time limit for issuing a permit is six months. Failure to obtain a permit may result in a fine of up to 500 times the average salary and full liability for any damage without the possibility of recourse against the State Treasury.
  2. Strict liability. The operator is liable for damage caused by a space object on the Earth’s surface or to aircraft. This liability applies regardless of fault, including where the damage results from force majeure, and it cannot be excluded under contractual provisions.
  3. Compulsory third-party liability insurance. Operators are required to maintain third-party liability insurance with a sum insured of up to 60 million euros per occurrence.
  4. National Register of Space Objects. A public register maintained by POLSA. Operators are required to register a space object within seven days of its launch. As the register is public, it allows anyone to verify who operates a given space object.
  5. Procedure for investigating space incidents. A formal procedure for investigating space incidents, modelled on the accident investigation bodies in the aviation sector.

Who is affected by the new law?

The new law affects any entity that manufactures satellite components, operates small satellite constellations, provides satellite data services, plans to carry out launch operations, or collaborates with foreign partners through space joint ventures.

Implications for M&As

The new space law also has significant implications for M&A transactions. In particular, careful attention should be paid to the rules governing the transfer of licences, scrutiny of changes in shareholding structures from a national security perspective, and a range of due diligence aspects (including insurance, registry entries, inspection history and ongoing proceedings). These factors constitute a key regulatory component of transactions in this sector and should be factored into transaction structuring, including in terms of timing and complexity.

Summary

The new law demonstrates that Poland recognises the significant importance of the space sector and is committed to creating a predictable legal environment in this area. This commitment is well-founded, as Poland is now one of the most active players in the space sector within the CEE region, boasting a rapidly growing ecosystem of tech companies and an increasingly strong position in European Space Agency (ESA) programmes. Legislation that keeps pace with these developments is not merely a formality, but a cornerstone for further growth.

Contact:

Marcin Lewiński – Attorney-at-law, Counsel in the Transaction and Contract Counselling Team