FAA Orders Space Launch Restrictions during Government Shutdown
Will Ease Potential Conflicts With Air Traffic Given Lack of Controllers
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has placed restrictions on space launches and reentries as the government shutdown drags on.
“Commercial space launches and reentries will only be permitted between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. local time.”
FAA Statement
In a statement posted to the FAA website, the agency said that “Commercial space launches and reentries will only be permitted between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. local time.” Other restrictions dealt with aircraft operating under visual flight rules (VFR) and skydiving operations.
It is possible that the restrictions will be short-lived, given the movement happening now to break the stalemate in Washington that has kept the government closed for 40 days.
One flight that had hoped to get off the ground before the deadline was the second launch of the Blue Origin New Glenn orbital rocket. It was scheduled to launch NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars, but that launch was scrubbed Sunday due to unfavorable weather conditions. The company is now targeting Wednesday for the launch.
SpaceX Starlink operations may also be affected, though the launch of their next several Starlink missions fall within the FAA’s window for launches.
Duffy did not expressly address space launches in his statement, focusing on the impact of the shutdown on the aviation industry.