The federal government shutdown, now in its 38th day, prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a temporary emergency order Thursday banning commercial rocket launches during “rush hours” of air traffic.
The FAA also directed commercial airlines reduce domestic flights from 40 “high-performing airports” across the country in phases starting Friday. The agency said FAA Administrator Brian Bedford's order is intended to address “safety risks and delays associated with air traffic controller staffing limitations caused by the ongoing cessation of appropriations.”
The government considers air traffic controllers essential workers, so they continue to work without pay until Congress passes a federal budget and President Donald Trump signs it into law. The effects of the shutdown, which initially hit federal workers hardest, are now spreading to the economy as a whole.
Airspace sharing
Vehicles traveling to and from space share the skies with aircraft, requiring close coordination with air traffic controllers to clear airspace for rocket launches and atmospheric reentries. The FAA said its order, which restricts commercial air traffic, launches and re-entries, is intended to “ensure aircraft safety and flight efficiency.” [National Airspace System]”
In the statement explanation of orderThe FAA said the air traffic control system was under “strain” due to the outage.
“With ongoing delays and unpredictable staffing shortages that cause fatigue, the risk is further increased and the FAA is concerned about the system's ability to support the current volume of operations,” the regulator said. “Accordingly, the FAA has determined that additional mitigation measures are necessary.”
Starting Monday, the FAA said commercial space launches will only be allowed between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. local time, when the nation's airspace is calmest. The order limits commercial returns to the same overnight period. The FAA licenses all commercial launches and re-entries.
