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Prohibited Cargo Policy

Effective date: [DATE]

1. Purpose

This policy defines cargo categories that may never be tendered through charterspace.io, and the disclosure obligations for cargo that is legal but export-controlled or dual-use (§3), or that carries physical or mechanical restrictions (§4). It applies to every Empty Leg listing and every Quote Request.

2. Absolutely Prohibited (no exceptions)

  • Weapons, munitions, or weapon components not otherwise authorized under an applicable government contract disclosed and verified separately from this Platform.
  • Nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons materials or precursors.
  • Cargo intended to cause harm, whose export is sanctioned, or whose destination/end-user is on an applicable denied-party or sanctions list.
  • Cargo for which the shipper cannot produce, on request, evidence of lawful title/origin.
  • Undeclared hazardous materials inconsistent with the operator’s certified handling procedures.
  • Any cargo prohibited under the launch operator’s own manifest policy, regardless of whether listed above.

3. Requires Disclosure + Valid License (export-controlled / dual-use)

Cargo that is legal to possess but subject to export control regimes — including items potentially controlled under the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR) Commerce Control List, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) U.S. Munitions List, the Wassenaar Arrangement, or equivalent regimes in the shipper’s jurisdiction — must be disclosed in full at RFQ time via the export-control questionnaire in the quote request form, and may only be tendered if the shipper holds any required export license, which must be identified (license number) in the RFQ.

Categories commonly requiring this disclosure include, without limitation: satellite components/technology, certain encryption-capable hardware/software, propulsion components, radiation-hardened electronics, and any item with a recognized military or intelligence application.

4. Requires Disclosure (physical / mechanical safety)

Separately from §3, some cargo cannot fly — or can fly only under additional conditions — for physical rather than legal reasons: what it is made of, what energy it stores, and what it does after separation. These constraints come from the launch operator, not from CharterSpace.IO, and they differ by vehicle and by mission.

Cargo in the categories below must be disclosed at RFQ time via the cargo safety self-certification in the quote request form:

  • Pressure vessels and other stored-energy systems, including propellant and gas storage and batteries.
  • Propulsion of any kind, propellants, pyrotechnic devices, and solid rocket motors.
  • Restricted plating, finishes and materials. Commonly restricted examples include cadmium, zinc and pure-tin plating and mercury-bearing compounds. These examples are not a complete list; the authoritative list for any given mission comes from the launch operator.

Disclosure under this section is a self-certification, not a technical review. CharterSpace.IO does not assess, verify, qualify or approve any shipper’s hardware, and nothing in this policy or in the RFQ form should be read as doing so. What actually binds a payload is the shipper’s and the Provider’s own interface documentation with the launch operator. Answering “Yes” to a question in this section does not by itself prohibit the cargo; it routes the request to the Provider for review, and the Provider decides.

5. Shipper Certification

By submitting an RFQ, the shipper certifies, under the export-control self-certification and the cargo safety self-certification — both captured by electronic signature at submission, with signer name, timestamp and IP address — that:

  1. The cargo description, mass, dimensions and volume provided are complete and accurate to the best of the shipper’s knowledge.
  2. The cargo does not fall under §2 of this policy.
  3. If the cargo falls under §3, the shipper holds and has disclosed a valid, applicable export license.
  4. If the cargo falls under §4, the shipper has disclosed it in the RFQ.
  5. The shipper will cooperate with any additional compliance review CharterSpace.IO or the Provider/operator requests.

6. Review & Rejection

CharterSpace.IO and/or the Provider may reject, hold, or request additional information on any RFQ at their sole discretion, including RFQs that pass automated self-certification but raise other compliance concerns. Rejected RFQs do not receive a refund of any fee unless otherwise required by law or separate agreement.

7. Reporting

CharterSpace.IO reserves the right to report suspected violations of export control law to relevant government authorities, and will cooperate with lawful government inquiries.

8. No Substitute for Independent Compliance

This policy is provided for Platform operational purposes and does not constitute legal or export-control advice. Shippers remain independently responsible for their own export-control compliance obligations.

9. Related Policies

See EULA §4, Terms & Conditions §8, and Risk Disclosure.

10. Contact

Compliance questions: [compliance@charterspace.io]