The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will restrict when commercial rockets can launch, citing heavy strain on the nation’s air traffic control system amid the ongoing government shutdown.
In an emergency order issued on Friday, the FAA stated that commercial space launches and reentries will be limited to nighttime hours, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. local time, starting Monday. The curfew is part of several new measures aimed at easing pressure on the National Airspace System. The same order also directs airlines at 40 major U.S. airports to reduce flights by up to 10 percent to alleviate “stress on the system.”
Air traffic controllers have gone unpaid since the shutdown began in early October, and the number of worker absences has climbed. The resulting staff shortages have slowed operations and caused widespread flight delays.
“My department has many responsibilities, but our number one job is safety. This isn’t about politics,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who is simultaneously serving as acting administrator of NASA, in a statement. “It’s safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week because of the proactive actions we are taking.”
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Duffy, who posts on social media multiple times a day, has frequently blamed Democrats for the consequences of the shutdown. He shared a video of himself on Friday, talking to air travelers at airports and asking people whether the reductions were a good decision.
Such limitations on commercial space launches are rare — perhaps unprecedented — and could affect some upcoming missions. The first mission expected to fall under the restriction is a SpaceX Falcon 9 flight carrying Starlink satellites. It is now scheduled for Monday evening or early morning hours of Tuesday from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
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Blue Origin’s planned New Glenn launch, which will carry twin Mars spacecraft for NASA, is set to blast off this Sunday, before the restrictions take effect; however, any delay could push it into the ensuing days.
“We have been working closely with the FAA to ensure that New Glenn’s upcoming launch of the ESCAPADE Mission to Mars can proceed,” the company said in a post on X. “We will continue to work with the FAA to maintain the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System.”
The FAA can modify or lift restrictions if companies request changes and demonstrate “good cause,” according to the order. The agency expects to roll back the curfew, as well as other operational limits, once the government has restored funding and the stress has been relieved.