Chapter 5 Cessation of launch of launch vehicle and handling of space accidents
Article 17
In any of the following circumstances, the competent authority may order cessation of launch prior to the launch vehicle detaches from the launch facility:
1. The launch activity violates the launch permit.
2. A space accident occurs or it is apparently likely a space accident will occur.
3. Where it is necessary to maintain national security and major public interest.
Upon its receipt of the competent authority order in the preceding paragraph, the launch permit applicant shall immediately stop the launch and take necessary measures to prevent occurrence of hazards. No more launch effort shall be made until the order to cease the launch is removed by the competent authority or the launch permit has been amended.
After issuing an order in the first paragraph, the competent authority shall promptly prepare and send a written document stating the reason to order cessation of the launch to the launch permit applicant.
Article 18
Upon occurrence of a space accident, the launch permit applicant shall report the competent authority within two hours when it is aware of the accident.
In the event the launch vehicle deviates from the original flight route or orbit during launch or return trip, the launch permit applicant shall report to the competent authority within 24 hours of occurrence of the fact.
Under the circumstances in the above two paragraphs, the launch permit applicant shall, as requested by the competent authority, submit tracking information in a timely manner and take necessary measures. Where a space accident is involved, the competent authority may, depending on the results of accident investigations or specific circumstances, order the launch permit applicant to submit an improvement plan within a time limit or revoke the launch permit.
When the competent authority orders to submit a correction plan within a time limit in accordance with the preceding paragraph, the launch permit applicant shall not perform any launch before the improvement plan is approved by the competent authority and implementation of the plan is completed.