FAA Restricts Commercial Rocket Launches Amid Government Shutdown

Beginning next week, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued an emergency order restricting commercial rocket launches amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. Starting at six a.m. Eastern Standard Time on November tenth, commercial launches can only occur between ten p.m. and six a.m.

This measure aims to mitigate air traffic risks due to staffing shortages affecting the FAA, as the government shutdown has left many federal employees, including about ninety-five percent of NASA's workforce, furloughed.

The order is expected to primarily impact SpaceX, which has been launching Starlink satellites at an unprecedented rate, with over one hundred forty missions just this year. The timing is critical, as this coincides with the busiest launch cadence in U.S. history.

Other launch providers, such as United Launch Alliance and Rocket Lab, may also need to reassess their upcoming missions. Notably, the NASA ESCAPADE mission to Mars is scheduled for liftoff on November ninth, just before these restrictions take effect.

If this launch is scrubbed, the mission will not have a chance for a second attempt under the new rules. Delays for the United Launch Alliance's Atlas V launch of the ViaSat-3 F2 satellite are also likely, following previous scrubs earlier this week.

The FAA's decision reflects ongoing efforts to prioritize air traffic safety during this challenging time, as officials continue to work without pay while the shutdown persists. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the focus remains on assessing data to alleviate risk in the aviation system.

As these developments unfold, the implications for commercial spaceflight during governmental disruptions raise important questions about the future of the industry and its capacity to adapt to such challenges.