Regulatory Action - The FAA issued an emergency order restricting US airspace, grounding all commercial rocket launches between 6:00 a m and 10:00 p m Eastern time, effective November 10th [1][2] - The curfew is implemented to address fatigue among air traffic controllers amid the ongoing government shutdown [2] - The FAA has not specified how long the curfew will last, only that it will remain in effect until canceled, likely until the shutdown is over [7] Industry Impact - The move applies to all commercial operators, including SpaceX, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, Relativity, and United Launch Alliance [3] - Industry experts warn the move could force significant scheduling shifts, nighttime staffing costs, and a ripple effect across the supply chain and the launch schedule [8] - SpaceX rescheduled Starlink 6-87 to the opening of the evening window on Monday, 10 p m Eastern time [5][6] Mission Considerations - Blue Origin states they are working with the FAA to ensure New Glenn's upcoming launch of the Escapade mission to Mars can proceed [7] - Several missions could be affected, including Blue Origin's Escapade mission, SpaceX Starlink missions, Rocket Lab's Suborbital Electron, and SpaceX's Sentinel 6B mission [4][5] - The order does not affect NASA, so if SLS was on the pad, it could launch [3]
FAA Issues Emergency Order; Launch Curfew Begins Monday
The Launch Pad·2025-11-08 00:50