The FAA has issued an emergency order limiting commercial space launches and reentries from Florida to between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. local time, effective Nov. 10, 2025, amid the federal government shutdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the step is a safety-driven response as air traffic controllers work without pay. The curfew could affect time-sensitive missions—such as Blue Origin’s NASA ESCAPADE and some ISS flights—although the full impact on upcoming launches is still uncertain.
FAA Imposes Night-Only Window for Florida Commercial Rocket Launches Amid Federal Shutdown
The FAA has issued an emergency order limiting commercial space launches and reentries from Florida to between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. local time, effective Nov. 10, 2025, amid the federal government shutdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the step is a safety-driven response as air traffic controllers work without pay. The curfew could affect time-sensitive missions—such as Blue Origin’s NASA ESCAPADE and some ISS flights—although the full impact on upcoming launches is still uncertain.
15:59, 07.11.2025Technology
FAA orders launches restricted to overnight hours as shutdown continues
As the federal government shutdown moves into its second month, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued emergency restrictions that will limit commercial space activity from Florida to nighttime hours. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a package of measures tied to the funding lapse, including a roughly 10% reduction in flights at 40 of the nation's busiest airports and new curfew rules for launches.
In a Nov. 6 emergency order the FAA directed the following effective period:
"It is hereby ordered that, beginning at 6:00 a.m. EST on November 10, 2025, and until this Order is cancelled, Commercial space launches and reentries will only be permitted between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. local time."
Duffy emphasized the decision is driven by safety concerns as air traffic controllers and other critical personnel continue to work without pay. In a Nov. 6 post on X (formerly Twitter) he wrote that the Department of Transportation’s top priority is safety and that these steps are designed to reduce operational risk while controllers remain on duty during the funding lapse.
Why this matters
Florida is approaching a near-record year for rocket launches, and the new window could affect time-sensitive missions that require precise launch timing. Examples cited by officials and news coverage include Blue Origin’s planned launch of NASA’s ESCAPADE mission and certain missions headed to the International Space Station, both of which depend on narrowly defined launch opportunities to achieve correct trajectories.
Potential impacts and uncertainties
- Launch providers may need to reschedule or adjust launch plans to meet the 10:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m. local-time window.
- Time-critical missions could face delays or trajectory changes if they cannot be accommodated in the overnight window.
- The full list of affected flights and any cascade effects on launch manifests remain unclear until agencies and companies assess specific schedules.
Officials say the measures are temporary and will remain in place only until the emergency order is cancelled. How individual launches will be affected will depend on mission requirements, available launch windows and coordination between the FAA, launch providers and range operators.
Reporting: Brooke Edwards, Space Reporter, Florida Today. Contact: bedwards@floridatoday.com • X: @brookeofstars. This story originally appeared on Florida Today.