Chapter 3. Actions · Article 24. Space Flight Liability and Immunity Act · Last amended 2007 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceSection 8.01-227.8 defines participant, participant injury, space flight activities, and space flight entity for the Space Flight Liability and Immunity Act, largely by borrowing terms from the federal law that licenses commercial human spaceflight.
Full Text of § 8.01-227.8
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For purposes of this section:
"Participant" means any space flight participant as that term is defined in 49 U.S.C. § 70102.
"Participant Injury" means any bodily injury, including death; emotional injury; or property damage sustained by the participant.
"Space flight activities" means launch services or reentry services as those terms are defined in 49 U.S.C. § 70102.
"Space flight entity" means any public or private entity holding, either directly or through a corporate subsidiary or parent, a license, permit, or other authorization issued by the United States Federal Aviation Administration pursuant to the Federal Space Launch Amendments Act (49 U.S.C. § 70101 et seq.), including, but not limited to, a safety approval and a payload determination. "Space flight entity" shall also include any manufacturer or supplier of components, services, or vehicles that have been reviewed by the United States Federal Aviation Administration as part of issuing such a license, permit, or authorization.
Plain-English Summary
The section defines four terms. A “participant” is anyone who meets the federal definition of a space flight participant under 49 U.S.C. § 70102, the statute governing commercial human spaceflight. A “participant injury” is broad by design — bodily injury, including death, emotional injury, or property damage sustained by the participant — covering physical, psychological, and financial harm alike. “Space flight activities” means launch services or reentry services as those terms are defined in the same federal statute.
A “space flight entity” is any public or private entity — directly, or through a corporate subsidiary or parent — holding a Federal Aviation Administration license, permit, or authorization under the Federal Space Launch Amendments Act, including a safety approval or a payload determination. The definition also reaches manufacturers and suppliers of components, services, or vehicles that the FAA reviewed as part of issuing that authorization, so the immunity in § 8.01-227.9 can extend beyond the launch company itself to the regulated suppliers behind it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who counts as a participant under Virginia’s Space Flight Liability and Immunity Act?
Anyone who meets the federal definition of a space flight participant under 49 U.S.C. § 70102 — a person taking part in a licensed commercial launch or reentry.
What counts as a participant injury?
Bodily injury, including death, emotional injury, or property damage sustained by the participant.
What is a space flight entity under this article?
A public or private entity, directly or through a subsidiary or parent, that holds an FAA license, permit, or authorization for launch or reentry services, including a safety approval or payload determination.
Does the definition of space flight entity cover parts suppliers, or only the launch company?
Both. It also includes any manufacturer or supplier of components, services, or vehicles that the FAA reviewed as part of issuing the license, permit, or authorization.
Where do these definitions come from?
Largely from federal commercial spaceflight law, 49 U.S.C. §§ 70101 and 70102, which keeps Virginia’s civil immunity aligned with the activities and entities the FAA already licenses.
Amendment History
2007, c. 893.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Code of Virginia, published by the
Code of Virginia, Virginia Division of Legislative Automated Systems. Last verified July 16, 2026.
· Official source
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